Alexander pov.
Flashback.
I raised my head as Emily slammed the divorce papers in front of me, her expression furious. Her eyes narrowed at me with a hatred that froze me in place.
“I want a divorce, Alexander. I’m really tired of this! I’m tired of living like this. Just sign the papers, and I’ll take Felix and leave. I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore!” she yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks as her words hit me like a bitter sting.
This was the third time this month that Emily had demanded a divorce. I didn’t know what had changed, but it all started two months ago. One day, I came home, and she was different-cold. Every ounce of love she had for me seemed to vanish in an instant, like it had never been there to begin with.
I stared blankly at the paper on the desk before flicking my cold gaze to her. Without a word, I reached out and tore it into shreds, letting the pieces fall to the ground.
“Alexander!!” She yelled out in shock, falling to the ground to gather the shredded papers.
I casually reached for the cigar in front of me, then picked up the golden lighter she had given me for my birthday.
“Alexander, why would you do this? Why can’t you just sign the damn papers and let me leave?” she cried. A mocking smirk spread across my lips as I puffed out the smoke.
“Why? So you can move in with your little boyfriend you’ve found?” I said, leaning back in my chair.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she sat on the ground, staring at me as though she were looking straight at the devil.
“H-how did you find out? When did you know? No, wait, did you have me followed?” she stammered.
I tilted my head to the side and scoffed, my expression cold and unchanged.
“Stupid girl, do you even know who I am?” I asked, my tone casual, masking the hurt gnawing at my chest. “It’s pretty admirable that you had the guts to go behind my back and cheat. But what you shouldn’t have done was assume I wouldn’t find out. Do you take me for a fool?”
I exhaled slowly, my voice edged with bitterness. “You are not as smart as you think, sweetheart. You’re lucky I decided to overlook your betrayal, but now you’re standing here asking for a divorce?”
I chuckled darkly. “Perhaps I’ve been too nice. Maybe I should have killed that bastard you’re cheating on me with.”
I paused, my gaze narrowing into a glare as she stiffened and looked at me in horror. “Maybe I will-to teach you a lesson.”
She gasped, realizing I was serious about my threat. Dropping to her knees, she shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
“I-I’m sorry, Alexander. I truly am. I don’t know what came over me. Please, don’t be angry,” she pleaded, inching closer to me. “Don’t hurt him. He’s not at fault-it’s all on me. If you need someone to blame-if you want to kill anyone,” she struck her chest with her palm, “then… kill me.”
My hand clenched into a fist at her words, rage surging through me. Kill her? Did she truly believe I wasn’t capable of that? Her betrayal alone deserved such a punishment, yet here she was, still defending the bastard she cheated with-still willing to risk her life for him.
A dark smirk tugs at my lips, and in the blink of an eye, I’m already standing, my hand reaching for my gun. Before she can process what’s happening, I grab her by the collar and slam her against the wall, casually pressing the barrel to her temple.
She gasped in fear, her eyes shooting up to meet my cold gaze. Her body went rigid, her lips trembling as she felt the cold metal pressed to her head.
“AAlexander, what are you doing?” she managed to ask, making me chuckle dryly.
“What do you think I’m doing? You asked for death; I’m just granting your wish,” I leaned closer, our faces just inches apart. “What? Are you scared? Did you think I wouldn’t put a bullet through that skull of yours right now?”
“Alexander-”
“You’re damn lucky you’re the mother of my child, or else you would regret ever doing what you just did.” I cut her off, roughly grabbing her chin and pulling her closer. “Do not cross me ever again, and do not see him if you don’t want to look at his dead body and then follow him after. Maybe in the afterlife, you fools can finally be together, but in this life, you are mine, Emily only mine and you better remember that.”
“Do you understand?” I hissed, and she closed her eyes, nodding shakily.
“Use your words, sweetheart,” I demanded.
“Yyes, I understand,” she obeyed, her eyes opening to meet mine in fear.
I smiled in satisfaction, my hand reaching out to gently caress her head. “Good girl, now don’t ever bring up the word ‘divorce’ in front of me again. Just be the good wife and mother you always were, because if you don’t…” I leaned back, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear before leaning in close to whisper.
“I will kill him in the most brutal way you can ever think of.”
My smile faded as I pulled away from her, watching as she collapsed to the ground. Without sparing her another glance, I turned and walked toward the door. Behind me, I heard her faint mutterings, her words aimed at me.
“You’re a monster, Alexander. No one will ever love you. You’ll be forever alone,” she whispered, her voice trembling with bitterness.
I paused, glancing back at her with a cold, calculating look, a faint smirk spreading on my lips.
“I don’t want to be loved, Emily. I want to be feared.”
___
Present day.
I groaned, my eyes fluttering open as I woke to yet another haunting dream-the day I had uttered those words to her, the same day I had received the call from the stranger: my wife was dead.
My gaze remained cold as I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t escape.
Emily… I was the one who had killed her. She had taken Felix and tried to flee from me. Then, the car accident happened. It was all my fault. I had caused her death.
I clenched my hands into fists but groaned, my hand instinctively reaching out to my stomach as the events of yesterday finally clicked into place, and everything came rushing back.
I had gotten shot, yet I didn’t feel anything. It wasn’t like this was the first time.
I sighed and tried to get up but froze as I heard something beside me. My first instinct was to reach for my gun, but as I turned and saw who it was, I stopped mid-motion. My brow raised as I noticed her lying on the bed beside me, her eyes closed, her mouth muttering softly as she snored.
“Ramen, ramen,” she muttered, her tongue flicking across her bottom lip in a grin.
For a brief moment, my heart seemed to stop, and I couldn’t move or react. I watched her, as though I were in some trance.
“Emily,” I whispered breathlessly, before I could stop myself. She groaned, her eyes fluttering open slowly as she woke up.
For a split second, it felt like time had stopped-everything became a blur. She was the only one I could see. No-she was the only one I needed to see.
Her eyes widened when she saw me, and she gasped. “A-Alexander, you’re awake-”
Before she could finish, before my brain could catch up to my actions, I gripped her hand and shifted our positions, pulling her beneath me in one swift motion.
She inhaled sharply, her words cut off as I leaned in and crashed my lips onto hers.
Emily.