Alexander’s POV

When Jane relayed the results of the shareholders’ meeting, I was sitting in the study, trying to review some documents.

Alicia’s eating had improved slightly since last night, and for the first time in days, I had allowed myself to relax a little. At least she didn’t seem like she was just forcing herself anymore.

I thought I could finally focus on something else.

I was wrong.

The moment Jane finished explaining the contents of Nana’s will, every document on my desk suddenly lost its importance.

After ending the call, I walked onto the second-floor balcony.

The evening breeze brushed against my face as I lit a cigarette.

The flame flickered briefly before disappearing.

I took a slow drag and exhaled, watching the smoke dissolve into the air.

My thoughts were far heavier than the cigarette in my hand.

I never imagined things would end like this.

Before Nana passed away, she had met with Lilian.

After learning that, I had spent countless nights blaming myself.

Even during our last conversation in the hospital, I thought she was only trying to comfort me because she didn’t want me carrying the guilt after she was gone.

I thought she would be disappointed in me.

Disappointed in the mess I had made of my marriage.

Disappointed in the choices I had made.

Disappointed in the grandson she had raised.

But even after everything...

She still chose to protect me.

The shares.

The position.

The responsibility.

In the end, she had entrusted all of it to me.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

What right did I have?

For the first time in a very long time, I felt afraid.

Not afraid of losing power.

Not afraid of losing money.

Not even afraid of public criticism.

I was afraid of failing.

Nana had spent her entire life building and protecting Blackwood Dominion.

Now she had placed that responsibility in my hands.

What if I disappoint her?

What if I fail her the same way I had failed Alicia?

The thought settled heavily in my chest.

I lowered my gaze and tapped the ash from my cigarette.

Then my eyes drifted toward the villa.

Alicia had come downstairs for breakfast earlier that morning.

Afterward, she had returned to the bedroom to rest.

The doctor had said her condition was improving, but every time I looked into her eyes, I could still see traces of the grief she was carrying.

The guilt.

The sadness.

The exhaustion.

As for Nana leaving five percent of the company’s shares to Alicia...

Truthfully, that didn’t surprise me.

Nana loved Alicia as if she were her own granddaughter.

Perhaps even more than that.

The woman had spent years worrying about Alicia’s future.

What concerned me was something else entirely.

Would Alicia even accept it?

Knowing her, I wasn’t sure.

Alicia had never been someone who relied on others.

She didn’t care much about wealth, status, or inheritance.

When she graduated, Nana had given her more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Anything she wanted could have been handed to her without effort.

Yet Alicia refused.

She insisted on working.

Insisted on earning her own achievements.

That was why Nana arranged for her to enter the company in the first place.

And from there, Alicia climbed every step through her own ability.

Her promotions weren’t gifts.

They were earned.

Anyone else in her position would have chosen an easy life surrounded by luxury.

But Alicia had always been different.

That was one of the things I admired most about her.

I stood there for a long while, lost in thought.

Eventually, the cigarette burned out between my fingers.

I crushed it in the ashtray and turned back toward the villa.

No matter what happened, Alicia deserved to know.

And sooner or later, we would have to talk about Nana’s final decision.

Taking a deep breath, I left the balcony and headed toward our room.

When I entered the room, Alicia was sitting on the bed scrolling through her phone.

I paused slightly.

It was the first time in days I’d seen her holding it.

Since returning from the hospital, she’d spent most of her time staring blankly into space or sitting quietly on the balcony.

Hearing my footsteps, she looked up.

Our gazes met.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I walked over and sat beside her.

"Something?" she asked, her brows furrowing slightly.

I nodded.

"I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Nana’s will was read today."

Alicia lowered her phone.

"I see."

Her voice was calm.

"So who became the new chairman?"

I took a slow breath.

"Nana left nineteen percent of her shares to me."

Alicia looked surprised for a moment, but not shocked.

Almost as though she’d expected it.

Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Congratulations."

"Your hard work didn’t go to waste."

The moment she smiled, I felt my chest tighten.

It wasn’t because I’d regained control of the company.

And it wasn’t because she’d congratulated me.

It was because after days of seeing nothing but pain in her eyes—

She finally smiled.

A real smile.

For the first time in what felt like forever.

I must have stared too long because she suddenly frowned.

"Is there something on my face?"

She quickly checked her reflection on her phone.

I couldn’t help smiling.

"No."

"I’m just happy to see you smile."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, making me almost laugh.

After a moment, I remembered the rest of what I’d come to say.

"The will included something else."

Her expression immediately turned serious.

"What is it?"

I hesitated briefly.

"Five percent of Nana’s shares were left to you."

Alicia froze.

The color drained from her face.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Nana left five percent to you."

For several seconds she simply stared at me.

Then she slowly shook her head.

"No."

"I can’t accept that."

Her voice trembled.

"How can I?"

"Nana already gave me everything."

I remained silent.

"She gave me a family."

"She gave me a home."

"She gave me people who cared about me."

Her eyes began to redden.

"And even at the end..."

"She was still protecting me."

Tears gathered in her eyes.

I gently reached for her hand.

"I know."

"If I were you, I’d probably feel the same way."

She lowered her head.

"But Nana wasn’t the type to make decisions she didn’t mean."

"If she left those shares to you, then she had a reason."

I squeezed her hand lightly.

"And since it’s her final wish..."

"We should respect it."

Alicia remained quiet for a long moment.

Eventually, she nodded.

Though reluctantly.

A soft sigh escaped me.

At least she wasn’t rejecting it completely anymore.

Then she suddenly looked up.

Her eyes wide.

As though remembering something.

A shadow flashed across her eyes.

Then she lowered her gaze again briefly before looking back at me.

"Alexander."

Her voice was soft.

"Can you take me to the mansion?"

I frowned immediately.

"The mansion?"

She nodded.

"There’s something I need to do."

I studied her face.

There was determination there.

A determination I hadn’t seen in days.

Whatever it was, it clearly mattered.

After a moment, I nodded.

"Alright."

Alicia stood up from the bed.

"I’ll get ready."

I watched quietly as she walked toward the closet and closed the door behind her.