Just as I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly started ringing.

I glanced at the unfamiliar number on the screen.

Ever since my information had been leaked and then my phone got smashed during the kidnapping incident, I’d lost contact with many people, so lately I’d been receiving calls from unknown numbers often.

Thinking it might be a client, I answered without much thought.

"Hello?"

"Alicia... it’s me."

The moment I heard the voice on the other end—

my expression froze completely.

Lilian.

A low chuckle came from the phone.

"Surprised?"

My grip around the phone tightened instantly.

"What do you want, Lilian?" I asked coldly.

"So even after everything, you still dare ask me that?" she mocked lightly.

Then her tone suddenly sharpened.

"I see you’ve become quite smug now that you’re carrying Alexander’s child."

My heart skipped violently.

How did she know about my pregnancy?

"Lilian," I said coldly, forcing myself to stay calm, "after everything that’s happened, you should understand your place and leave us alone."

A mocking laugh escaped her lips.

"I’m the one who should leave?"

"Alicia... the person who doesn’t belong here is you."

"You’re a jinx."

My fingers stiffened instantly.

"You killed your own father."

"And now Alexander lost his CEO position because of you."

"Even Chairwoman Roseline died because of you."

"How do you still sit there pretending you’ve done nothing wrong?"

My chest tightened painfully.

But I forced myself to stay composed.

"Whether I’m a jinx or not has nothing to do with you," I replied coldly. "The only thing you can do now is bark through a phone."

"You really are shameless," Lilian sneered.

"Chairwoman Roseline favored you so much, yet you still caused her death and act innocent."

My breathing became uneven.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Then suddenly, Angela’s words from earlier flashed through my mind.

My voice instantly turned colder.

"What did you do to my grandmother that night?"

Lilian chuckled softly.

"What?"

"Didn’t Alexander tell you?"

The moment she said that—

my heart sank heavily.

"He’s still covering things up for me," Lilian continued smugly.

"The person Alexander truly loves has always been me."

"Do you really think carrying his child means you’ve replaced me in his heart?"

My hand clenched tightly around the phone.

"What did you do to my grandmother?" I repeated through gritted teeth.

This time, Lilian finally answered.

"I went to see her that night."

"Of course, she told me to stay away from you and Alexander."

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

"So I told her I wouldn’t."

"And I also told her that once she died, Alexander planned to divorce you and marry me instead."

My eyes widened completely.

Lilian continued casually,

"She got so angry... she collapsed right in front of me."

For a moment, my entire mind went blank.

"Do you know why your grandmother agreed to see me that night when I arrived at the mansion?"

Lilian chuckled softly before continuing,

"Because she was afraid."

"Afraid that after she died, I’d return to Alexander’s side."

"Even until her very last moments... she was still desperately trying to protect you."

Even during her final moments...

Nana had still been trying to protect me.

But something felt wrong.

How could I trust Lilian so easily?

Maybe this was all part of another scheme.

As if sensing my doubt, Lilian suddenly laughed again.

"If you think I’m lying, then think about it carefully."

"Alexander found out I cheated on him in college."

"He also discovered the kidnapping years ago wasn’t even his fault."

"And yet..."

"He still kept me in the country."

"He still protected me."

Her voice became softer and more poisonous.

"Doesn’t that already tell you who he truly cares about?"

Rage surged through me instantly.

"You’re going to pay for what you did to my grandmother," I said through trembling breaths.

"I’ll find you myself if I have to."

But instead of fear—

Lilian burst into laughter.

"No, Alicia."

"You’re the one who caused your grandmother’s death."

"And sooner or later..."

"Alexander will discard you for me."

"Just wait and see."

The call disconnected immediately afterward.

Silence filled the car.

My hand slowly lowered from my ear.

Tears welled uncontrollably in my eyes, but I shut them tightly, forcing them back.

No.

I couldn’t trust Lilian’s words so easily.

I needed to hear the truth from Alexander himself.

And until then—

I refused to let myself fall apart.

Alicia’s POV

A moment later, we arrived at the villa.

Jim parked by the entrance, and I quietly stepped out of the car before walking into the house.

"Ma’am, you’re home," Maria greeted softly.

"Mm."

"Do you need help going upstairs?"

"No, it’s okay. I’ll wait for Alexander here. Just get me some warm water."

"Alright, ma’am."

Maria quickly returned with a glass of warm water, and I settled onto the couch quietly.

An hour passed.

Alexander still hadn’t returned.

Maria came over again, concern written all over her face.

"Ma’am, should I help you upstairs now?"

I shook my head lightly.

"No... I’ll wait here."

Unable to convince me, she simply brought over a blanket instead and carefully wrapped it around me before leaving.

I curled up silently on the couch.

About thirty minutes later, I finally heard the front door open.

Alexander walked inside.

He casually removed his jacket and tossed the car keys onto the table before walking toward me.

The exhaustion on his face was obvious.

His eyes were tired, and even his movements seemed heavier than usual.

"Why are you curled up down here?" he asked softly as he sat beside me.

"Should I carry you upstairs?"

"No."

I looked up at him quietly.

"I need to ask you something first."

A trace of confusion crossed his face.

"What is it?"

I slowly sat up properly and stared directly at him.

"Alexander..."

"What really happened to Nana?"

For the first time since entering the villa, his expression changed.

He looked slightly caught off guard.

Silence filled the living room.

Then he closed his eyes briefly and rubbed his temple before speaking.

"I already told you... Nana’s health had been deteriorating for a while"

"You’re still choosing to lie to me?"

My voice cracked slightly.

Alexander’s eyes widened faintly.

He went silent again.

Then he closed his eyes once more, as though trying to gather his thoughts.

Just as he was about to speak, I pressed further.

"That night..."

"Did Lilian go to meet Nana?"

Alexander hesitated.

Then slowly...

he nodded.

"Yes."

The moment the word left his mouth

something inside me completely shattered.

The tears I had been desperately holding back finally spilled uncontrollably down my face.

I couldn’t stop them anymore.

I didn’t want to believe Lilian’s words.

But deep down...

I already knew they were true.

Grandma had agreed to meet Lilian because of me.

And afterward

she collapsed.

My chest hurt so badly it felt hard to breathe.

How could I deserve this?

How could I ever deserve Nana’s sacrifice?

The last time she was hospitalized, she could barely even speak...

yet she still tried to reconcile Alexander and me.

And now...

even during her final moments—

she had still been protecting me.

A broken sob escaped my lips.

If separating from Alexander could have kept Nana alive...

then I would rather never have entered his life at all.

But it was already too late.

Everything had already happened.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder

if loving Alexander had only brought disaster to the people around me.

If I had never married him...

perhaps none of this would have happened.

Nana worried about me until her very last breath.

And in the end...

I had only become the source of the pain she carried with her to the very end.