Chapter 219: Everything is slipping further away

The doctor paused.

"Has she been engaging in conversations? Going out? Doing anything she enjoys?"

I fell silent.

The truth was...

I didn’t know.

I didn’t really know what Alicia enjoyed. At that moment

guilt struck me really hard.

I didn’t even know her preferences.

Though had I tried a few things in the last few days.

I had tried taking her out.

Suggested going for walks.

Asked if she wanted to watch movies.

Tried talking about the baby.

Tried talking about names.

But every conversation ended after a few words.

Every attempt felt like throwing a stone into a bottomless lake.

Except when she’d engage a little, if it was about the baby.

Eventually, I answered honestly.

"I’ve tried. She doesn’t seem interested in anything."

The doctor sighed again.

"Then her emotional condition is worse than I thought."

After ending the call, I immediately contacted Jane and instructed her to find the best therapist available.

Once the arrangements were made, I lowered my phone and stood there alone in the hallway.

The villa was quiet.

The doctor’s words continued echoing in my mind.

Eating disorder.

Psychological pressure.

Emotional distress.

Slowly, memories of the past few days resurfaced.

Alicia forcing herself to eat after every reminder about the baby.

Alicia pushing food around her plate.

Alicia taking only a few bites before stopping.

Alicia throwing up yet trying to continue eating.

Then suddenly it hit me.

She wasn’t eating because she wanted to.

She wasn’t eating because she was recovering.

She was forcing herself.

For the baby.

The realization struck me harder than I expected.

Even after losing Nana.

Even while blaming herself.

Even while drowning in grief.

She was still trying to protect our child.

Meanwhile, I had foolishly assumed she was gradually getting better.

A bitter smile appeared on my lips.

I had spent all this time worrying about her refusing food.

But I never realized she had been fighting herself every single day just to swallow a few bites.

My gaze drifted toward the closed bedroom door.

At that moment, the distance between us felt greater than ever.

Because while I was trying to find ways to help her...

Alicia was carrying all her pain alone.

The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I walked back to the bedroom and quietly pushed the door open.

Alicia was lying on the bed motionless, her back facing the door.

She looked so small.

So distant.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

I stood there silently, considering it.

After what felt like forever, I made up my mind.

Quietly closing the door again, I dialed a number.

"Hello?"

Aiden’s voice came through the receiver.

"It’s me."

There was a brief pause.

"Mr. Blackwood?"

His surprise was obvious.

"Alicia has been detached lately. It’s affecting her ability to eat."

I leaned against the wall.

"Can you come talk to her?"

I remembered how comfortable Alicia always seemed around him.

The day she discovered the scandal with Lilian.

The day she slapped me at the hospital.

The day she left furious.

Yet after spending time with Aiden, she had returned calmer.

Happier.

A silence followed.

Then Aiden’s voice turned cold.

"What did you do this time, Alexander?"

My grip tightened around the phone.

"I thought she is pregnant with your child."

His tone grew sharper.

"And you still won’t give her a break?"

I said nothing.

Perhaps because I didn’t know how to defend myself anymore.

Another moment passed.

Then he finally asked,

"Where is she?"

"At the estate."

"I’ll be there soon."

The call ended.

I lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen.

Then I headed downstairs.

The villa was silent.

Too silent.

I walked toward the garage and opened the car door.

A cigarette pack and lighter were still hidden inside.

I stared at them for several seconds.

Back when Alicia first mentioned divorce, I had started smoking for the first time in my life.

It became the only thing that dulled the pain.

Then I found out about the baby.

And the urge to smoke slowly dissapaered.

I told myself things would get better.

That the child was a second chance.

That Alicia would eventually see my sincerity.

But now...

Everything seemed to be slipping further away.

Nana was gone.

Alicia barely looked at me anymore.

And every time she did, I could see the distance between us.

I pulled out a cigarette.

For a long moment, I simply stared at it.

Then I lit it.

The small flame flickered in the darkness.

I took a slow drag and exhaled.

The smoke disappeared into the night air.

Just like the certainty I once had.

Alicia’s POV

I lay on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling when I heard footsteps approaching.

I didn’t bother looking.

I already knew who it was.

The footsteps stopped beside the bed.

"Alicia, how about I help you downstairs?"

"No, it’s okay," I replied without moving.

"There’s someone here to see you."

His voice was quiet, almost as though he was forcing himself to speak.

"I don’t want to see anyone."

Right now, I didn’t feel like meeting anyone, especially not in this state.

"Don’t you at least want to know who it is?"

My brows furrowed slightly and I finally turned my head.

"You’ll want to see for yourself. Trust me."

I couldn’t think of anyone who would come looking for me.

Uncle Steve had already visited.

If it were Sophie or Ariana, they would have called first. Besides, both of them were currently away on business trips.

"If you can’t walk, I’ll carry you."

Seeing how persistent he was being, I finally let out a sigh and pushed myself upright.

Alexander immediately stepped forward as if intending to carry me, but I stopped him.

"I can walk. It’s been a while since I moved around anyway."

He hesitated before stepping back.

I slipped into my shoes and slowly walked out of the room while he followed quietly behind me.

We descended the stairs in silence.

When I reached the living room, I noticed a familiar figure sitting on the couch.

Only after taking another step forward did I recognize him.

"Aiden?"

I couldn’t hide my surprise.

He immediately stood up.

He was dressed entirely in black.

"Alicia."

A smile appeared on his face, but the moment his eyes landed on me, he froze.

Only for a second.

But I noticed it.

Hurt.

Sympathy.

Sadness.

Several emotions flashed through his eyes before disappearing.

Honestly, I wasn’t surprised.

I knew how different I looked now.

"It’s been a while," he said, forcing a smile back onto his face.

"Yeah."

I sat down across from him.

"How’s filming going?"

"It’s good. We’re almost done with the current project."

"That’s good to hear."

Without realizing it, I glanced around.

But Alexander was nowhere in sight....