Alicia’s POV

Alexander watched me cry, his brows knitting tightly together.

He reached out instinctively, gently wiping the tears from my face.

"Don’t cry," he said softly. "It’s not your fault. It’s mine..."

Not my fault?

But if Alexander had known Lilian was meeting Nana that night...

and still said nothing to me...

Then what was I supposed to think?

The only thing I could think about now was that Nana had tried to protect our marriage, tried to force Lilian to leave—

and in the end, it had cost her life.

I pushed his hand away.

My eyes were red from crying, but my voice had turned frighteningly calm.

"Don’t comfort me anymore."

Alexander froze slightly.

"We both know why Nana agreed to meet Lilian."

"Alicia..."

I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his.

My eyes were still, almost emotionless, like the surface of a frozen lake.

"Alexander," I said quietly, "this was our fault."

The moment those words left my mouth, Alexander’s expression changed instantly.

"Alicia, don’t say that—"

But I cut him off.

Alexander had always been someone who focused only on moving forward.

To him, the past was something to leave behind once it was over.

But I wasn’t like him.

I remembered everything.

Every feeling.

Every wound. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Every moment.

And once those emotions rooted themselves inside me, I could never truly let them go.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to steady my breathing.

Then I looked back at him.

"I need to see Lilian."

Alexander’s expression darkened immediately.

"Stop being unreasonable. You need to rest."

Ignoring his words, I slowly sat up straighter.

"No."

My voice trembled slightly.

"I need to see her."

"I need answers."

"I can’t let her get away with this."

When Alexander remained silent, I pushed the blanket away and stood up.

"If you won’t take me to her, then I’ll find her myself."

"Alicia."

Within seconds, Alexander stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

His voice turned low and firm.

"Lilian isn’t at the hospital."

"She disappeared a few days ago."

"I’ve already sent people to search for her."

"Go upstairs and rest first. Once I find her, I’ll let you know."

I stared at him as though he had just said something absurd.

Then I laughed bitterly.

"You really let her walk away?"

Alexander frowned.

"What?"

I looked straight at him, my voice filled with disbelief.

"You’re still protecting her?"

"Is that it?"

"Are you afraid I’ll hurt her?"

"Alicia, what are you talking about?"

A sharp pain twisted inside my chest.

"So what she said was true after all..."

Alexander’s expression stiffened slightly.

I let out a cold laugh.

"You told me you’d make sure she left the country."

"And yet she’s still here."

"How long has it been already?"

"If you weren’t protecting her..."

"then why hasn’t she disappeared yet?"

"Alicia," Alexander said firmly, taking a step closer, "did you meet Lilian?"

I didn’t answer.

I simply stood there as tears continued streaming silently down my face.

The more I cried, the more Alexander’s expression showed concern.

"Alicia," he said again, his voice softer this time, "what did Lilian say to you?"

"You can’t let her words affect you like this."

But I couldn’t believe him anymore.

Not now.

Not when everything around me felt like a lie.

Ignoring him completely, I stepped forward again, determined to leave.

This time

Alexander grabbed my wrist.

He suddenly grabbed me and pulled me into his arms.

"Calm down!"

"I am calm!" I snapped, struggling against him as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

Right now, all I wanted was to find Lilian.

I needed the truth.

"It’s you, Alexander!" I cried through gritted teeth. "You’re the one blinded by her!"

"You love her that much?"

"You don’t even care about Nana anymore?"

"If you’re going to lie to me, then at least come up with something believable!"

"With all your power in Velaridge City, how could you possibly not find one person?!"

Alexander tightened his grip on my wrists, trying to stop me from hurting myself while I struggled violently against him.

But I forcefully pulled free and hurried toward the stairs.

"You don’t have a conscience!" I shouted, my voice breaking apart. "Nana cared about you so much, yet you’re still protecting the woman who killed her!"

Alexander followed closely behind me in silence.

The moment I reached the second floor, he suddenly lifted me into his arms.

"Put me down, Alexander!"

I struggled furiously against him, hitting his shoulder repeatedly.

"I’m going to find Lilian!"

"How can you still protect her after everything she’s done?!"

"You have no right to control me!"

The moment those words left my mouth, something inside Alexander finally snapped.

"You think I want to control you?" he said sharply.

His voice was low, but the exhaustion and frustration inside it were impossible to miss.

He carried me straight into the master bedroom before carefully placing me onto the bed.

The second my feet touched the mattress, I immediately tried to stand again.

But Alexander pushed me back down gently yet firmly before pulling me tightly into his arms.

"Alicia," he said hoarsely, "you’re not in the right state right now."

"Calm down first, and we’ll talk afterward."

"I am calm!" I cried.

"I want to leave!"

"You don’t have the right to stop me"

"You want to leave?" Alexander interrupted suddenly.

His jaw tightened as he stared at me.

"Where exactly are you planning to go?"

"What are you trying to do?"

"It’s none of your business!"

I shoved against his chest with all my strength, but he didn’t move at all.

A moment later, he released me willingly.

The second he let go, I rushed toward the closet, grabbed a suitcase, and began throwing clothes inside.

"What are you doing, Alicia?" Alexander asked tiredly.

"We’re getting divorced," I said without looking at him.

"I’m not staying here with you anymore."

"Not when you’re still protecting the person responsible for my grandmother’s death."

"Alicia," Alexander said helplessly, "where will you go in your condition?"

"You’re pregnant."

"I already told you—I genuinely don’t know where Lilian is."

But I couldn’t believe him anymore.

Not after everything.

All I could think about was escaping.

Because staying near him felt suffocating.

The thought that he was still protecting Lilian—

still protecting the woman connected to Nana’s death—

made it impossible for me to remain there any longer.

Alexander stood silently near the doorway, his expression grim as he watched me pack.

After stuffing a few things into the suitcase, I bent down and grabbed the handle.

But the moment I lifted it

something suddenly tightened inside my lower abdomen.

I froze.

A strange fluttering sensation spread through my stomach, followed almost immediately by a sharp cramp.

The suitcase slipped from my hand and crashed onto the floor.

Alexander’s expression changed instantly.

"Alicia?"

Another sharp pain came.

I instinctively grabbed my stomach as my knees nearly gave out beneath me.

Alexander rushed forward immediately.

"What’s wrong?"

"My..."

My breathing became uneven.

"My baby..."

Fresh tears spilled from my eyes as panic completely consumed me.

Alexander’s face turned pale.

Without another word, he scooped me into his arms and rushed downstairs.

"Hold on," he said hurriedly, his voice tight with fear. "I’m taking you to the hospital right now."

But my mind was already in complete chaos.

All I could do was clutch my stomach tightly while tears blurred my vision.

"My baby..."

"My baby..."

Alexander carefully laid me in the backseat before quickly getting into the driver’s seat.

And moments later

the car sped out of the estate.