"I heard from Alexander that you were hospitalized," Aiden said carefully. "How are you feeling now?"

"Much better."

The lie came out effortlessly.

Maria soon brought juice and snacks before quietly leaving us to talk.

Aiden picked up a gift box filled with fruits and handed it over.

"Aiden, you really didn’t have to."

"Of course I did. What kind of uncle visits a baby empty-handed?"

His tone was light, but I could hear the hesitation beneath it.

"I came on short notice, so I didn’t have time to prepare anything special. Next time, I won’t forget."

He laughed softly.

I managed a faint smile.

A moment later, Maria returned carrying a bowl of washed fruit.

"Mrs. Alicia, since you couldn’t eat the soup earlier, please have some fruit instead."

The memory of throwing up immediately resurfaced.

My face scrunched slightly.

"I can’t"

"It’s okay," Aiden interrupted gently.

"I’ll make sure she eats."

Maria looked relieved and left again.

Then Aiden stood up and moved to the couch beside mine.

There was plenty of room between us, yet he deliberately sat closer.

He picked up an apple and a fruit knife.

"Do you still like apples?"

A faint smile appeared on my face.

"I still remember how you used to beg me to peel them for you."

The memory resurfaced immediately.

Back then, whenever Dad wasn’t home yet, I would run after Aiden with an apple in my hand because I was too scared to use a knife myself.

Aiden would always make me help him finish chores before agreeing.

For the first time in days, my smile widened slightly.

Only slightly.

But Aiden noticed.

And I could tell he was satisfied by it.

Slowly, he began peeling the apple.

Back then, life had felt simple.

We laughed easily.

We smiled without effort.

But people changed.

Life changed.

Sometimes the cheerful little girl I used to be felt like someone I no longer recognized.

"You really don’t have to do that," I said quietly.

"I’m full."

Aiden looked up.

"But you don’t look healthy, Alicia."

The seriousness in his voice instantly made me look at him.

"This isn’t the Alicia I know."

I fell silent.

How was I supposed to explain any of this?

How could I tell him that the one person who had always protected me was gone?

How could I tell him that I felt responsible?

That every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was Nana’s face?

That the person I blamed was still out there somewhere?

And that my own husband seemed determined to protect her?

Aiden must have noticed the shift in my expression.

He put down the knife and gently took my hand.

"Alicia."

His voice softened.

"I know you’re grieving."

"But the past can’t be changed."

His grip tightened slightly.

"And some things are simply beyond our control."

I lowered my gaze.

"Your grandmother passed away."

His words hurt.

But they were true.

"What matters now is your future."

"And your baby."

I remained silent.

"Do you think Uncle Joanne would want to see you like this?"

My eyes widened slightly.

Aiden continued.

"Do you think he saved you that day just so you could destroy yourself now?"

The tears immediately began gathering in my eyes.

"And do you think Mrs. Roseline Blackwood would want this either?"

I couldn’t answer.

Because I already knew.

Neither of them would.

My father had given his life protecting me.

Nana had spent her final moments worrying about me.

Neither of them would want me trapped in guilt forever.

"Your priority now should be yourself and your baby."

The tears finally spilled over.

Aiden immediately released my hand and awkwardly wiped them away.

"Hey, don’t cry."

His expression turned guilty.

"I’m sorry."

"I know I’m being blunt."

"But I can’t watch you like this and stay quiet."

I nodded.

For the first time in days, something inside me felt lighter.

Not healed.

Not even close.

But clearer.

Aiden smiled and picked up the apple again.

"Now eat."

"I already peeled it."

"If you don’t, you’ll have to help me with chores."

A laugh escaped through my tears.

A real one.

Maybe because, for the first time since Nana’s death, I finally understood something.

No amount of guilt would bring her back.

But I still had someone to protect.

My baby.

Nana had protected me until her final breath.

The least I could do was protect the child she had been so excited to meet.

I accepted the apple and ate it.

Then another piece.

And another.

To my own surprise, I finished the entire apple and even ate some additional fruit afterward.

Only after making sure I was alright did Aiden finally stand up.

Before leaving, he promised to visit again.

I walked him to the door and watched him leave.

When his car disappeared through the gates, I slowly headed back upstairs.

My thoughts were clearer than they had been in days.

My baby was my first priority now.

Nothing mattered more.

Not grief.

Not guilt.

Not even my anger.

I would protect my child no matter what.

With that thought in mind, I pushed open the bedroom door.

Alexander was standing on the balcony.

His back faced me.

At first, I thought he was simply looking outside.

Then my eyes landed on what was between his fingers.

A cigarette.

I froze.

For as long as I had known Alexander, he had never smoked.

Not once.

Yet now smoke drifted quietly into the evening air.

He stood there silently, shoulders tense, as though carrying a weight too heavy to put down.

Something tightened painfully inside my chest.

I wasn’t the only one falling apart.

Alexander was too.

The villa that once felt warm now felt filled with grief, misunderstandings, guilt, and pain.

And for the first time, a thought quietly surfaced in my mind.

I didn’t get the chance to think any further about it.

Alexander suddenly turned around.

Our gazes met.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he lowered his eyes, extinguished the cigarette, and tossed it into the ashtray nearby.

"Feeling better?" he asked quietly.

His voice was hoarse.

His eyes looked tired.

Heavy with emotions I couldn’t quite understand.

Sadness.

Guilt.

And something else.

Something that looked almost like jealousy.

I frowned slightly.

Jealousy? 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Why would Alexander be jealous?

The thought felt ridiculous.

Besides, there were far more important things to worry about.

"Mm."

I looked away first.

"I’ll freshen up and go to bed."

"Alright."

He nodded.

Then after a brief pause, he added,

"I’ll be in the study for a while."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the room.

I stood there quietly, staring at his retreating figure.

For some reason, he looked lonelier than ever.