My CEO Ex: Let Me Go.-Chapter 13

"You’re back?" Alexander asked.

I didn’t even glance at him, choosing instead to head upstairs without a word.

His gaze darkened as he watched me disappear around the corner at the top of the stairs.

After sitting downstairs for a moment, Alexander stood up and walked upstairs, heading straight for the master bedroom. He pushed open the door, only to find the room empty, the sound of running water from the bathroom filling the silence. Vivienne was taking a shower.

Alexander swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and loosened his collar before reaching for a bathrobe from the closet. He made his way to the bathroom to shower.

When he returned from the bathroom, he almost ran into me as I stepped out.

I had forgotten to grab my pajamas. My hair was still damp, and I was wrapped in a bath towel that hung loosely from my chest, barely covering my hips. My neck was graceful, my shoulders slender and rounded. The towel barely concealed the fullness of my body. Alexander seemed to recall how it had felt. My long legs, pale as milk, were exposed, smooth like satin.

Our eyes met.

I quickly looked away, walking toward the walk-in closet. "I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight," I said casually, grabbing my pajamas.

Alexander turned to face me. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means nothing. I’m just letting you and her have your way," I sneered, catching a faint whiff of alcohol on him.

Alexander leaned lazily against the doorframe. "Is this because I asked you to toast Isabella?"

"Can’t I be angry?" I raised an eyebrow, irritated by his nonchalant tone.

I was angry, but it wasn’t just about the toast.

It was how his friends treated Isabella that had me seething. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"You’re going to call Isabella ’Sister-in-law’ sooner or later. Why make a fuss now?"

"Don’t worry. After the divorce, I’ll never call someone like her ’Sister-in-law,’" I snapped.

"Vivienne!" Alexander’s expression darkened.

"What do you want from me?"

Alexander stood up straighter and walked toward me. "You call Isabella a ’homewrecker,’ but what about the guy outside the studio?"

I didn’t understand why he was bringing up Julian.

When I didn’t answer, Alexander pressed on. "Is he the one you like? Ever since I got back from my business trip, you’ve been pushing me away. I bet you’ve already decided on the divorce, haven’t you?"

I couldn’t believe Alexander was turning this around on me. I almost laughed in disbelief. "That’s because—"

I stopped mid-sentence, cutting myself off. "Do whatever you want with your thoughts."

"Because what? You want to stay pure for the guy you like? Go ahead, do whatever you want. You can’t explain yourself, can you? No wonder you agreed to the divorce so quickly. You knew I’d give in to you and Isabella. I even took the blame in front of Pop-Pop and Nana." His dark eyes pierced through me as he voiced his assumptions slowly.

"How could you think that?" I whispered.

"Isn’t it true? You want to make room for us, or are you planning to run off with that guy?"

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

Tonight, my heart felt as if it had been shredded, numb with the pain.

I closed my eyes helplessly. "Think whatever you want. I’m going to rest now."

I was exhausted and didn’t want to fight with Alexander anymore.

I turned to walk away.

"Wait." Alexander grabbed my wrist. "You sleep in the master bedroom, and I’ll take the guest room."

Before he could finish his sentence, I gasped as he pulled me toward him. I lost my balance and tumbled sideways.

Alexander’s long arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his chest.

"Are you okay?"

"I’m fine." I shook my head, still in shock.

Suddenly, my bath towel slipped to the floor.

A chill ran through me.

I froze, my face flushed with embarrassment, and I fumbled, quickly clutching the towel to cover myself. "You... you can’t look."

"I’ve seen it before."

Alexander watched me in my panic and couldn’t help but tease.

But with an involuntary glance, his eyes caught a glimpse of my bare skin—the curve of my waist, so slender it seemed like one hand could hold it. He swallowed, unable to tear his gaze away.

"Aren’t you going to the guest room? Go ahead."

I quickly pulled the towel to my chest, my body trembling slightly.

When I lifted my gaze, I met Alexander’s dark, intense eyes. They seemed to pull me in, trapping me in their depth.

I froze.

His handsome face was inches from mine, and his warm breath brushed my face.

I couldn’t help but close my eyes, waiting.

But the kiss I expected never came.

I opened my eyes.

Alexander had already taken a few steps back. "Sorry, I’ll go to the guest room. You should rest."

He stood at the door for a moment, closing his eyes as if trying to forget the scene that had just played out in his mind.

He had almost kissed me.

He was out of his mind.

He was about to divorce Vivienne, and soon be with Isabella. How could he...

He reassured himself that Vivienne’s seductive body, standing there half-naked, was enough to make any normal man react.

Alexander rubbed his brow.

...

The sound of the door slamming shut made me stiffen in place.

The cold air in the room seeped into my skin.

I quickly pulled the blanket over myself, curling up in the corner of the bed, burying my face in it. Tear drops leaked from the corners of my eyes, soaking into the sheets.

His cold, retreating back struck me like a slap to the face.

With just a little tenderness from him, I had fallen for it. How pathetic was I?

Not long ago, he had made me toast to Isabella, and with just a little teasing, I had offered myself.

Did he notice? I threw myself at him, and he didn’t even glance my way.

His loyalty to Isabella was undeniable.

I had only humiliated myself.

He must think I’m cheap.

Then again, he never saw me as his wife. To him, I was just a plaything—something he indulged in when he felt like it, and discarded when he didn’t.

Compared to Isabella, I was nothing but a fool.

Vivienne, remember—stop longing for what doesn’t belong to you.

Get the divorce over with.

I can’t be here anymore. I want to leave. I miss my dad.

I want to quit everything and disappear somewhere with mountains and rivers, quietly give birth to this child, and raise them on my own.

Boom—

Thunder rumbled outside.

I suddenly jolted awake, my heart pounding.

I stared into the darkness, gasping for breath, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

Fire, blood—flashes of those images filled my mind, impossible to escape.

Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the sharp screech of brakes and saw my father’s bloodied body, his bones exposed.

Boom—

I gritted my teeth, trembling, sweat pouring down my forehead.

My breathing grew more frantic, and the images before me blurred.

This is bad.

I forced myself out of bed, stumbling in the dark, fumbling through drawers until I found my medication. I opened the bottle and shook out a pill.

Just as I was about to take it, I remembered—she’s already pregnant. I couldn’t take it anymore.

Shaking, I put the pill back, crawled back into bed, and curled up into a ball.

It’ll be fine. Just hold on a little longer. It’ll be fine.

Thunder rumbled again, and the occasional flash of lightning made the silent night even more terrifying.

Then, I heard the faintest sound—the door handle turning.

The sound was weak, but in the stillness of the room, it was piercing.

My body stiffened, like a cat shocked by electricity. I tensed, shrinking deeper into the blanket, peeking out with one eye at the door, holding my breath, not daring to move.

The door creaked open.

A tall figure stepped into the room.