Alexander pov
She hadn’t woken up since yesterday, and it had affected me more than I cared to admit. I wasn’t even sure what emotion was clawing at me, was it the frustration over what she had done, throwing herself in front of my mother just as I pulled the trigger? Or was it the worry that came from watching her lie there, pale and still, showing no sign of waking up?
“The bullet went through her shoulder. She lost quite a bit of blood, but she should be able to wake up soon,” Daniel said, his expression tired as he removed his glasses, his eyes meeting mine. “So don’t worry and get some rest, Alexander. You haven’t slept since yesterday.”
I didn’t say anything for a brief moment, my gaze fixed on Valentina as I leaned back against the wall, hands tucked into my pockets, my expression unreadable.
“Where is the kid?” I asked eventually.
Daniel sighed for the second time before answering.
“He wouldn’t stop crying and kept asking to be with Valentina, so I gave him something mild to calm him down. He’s asleep for now.” He replied, then stepped a little closer, his voice hesitant as if unsure whether to continue.
“Alexander…” he called softly.
I finally tore my gaze away from Valentina and looked at him, silently waiting for him to speak.
When he didn’t speak, I turned my attention back to Valentina, watching her closely, still trying to make sense of what I was feeling.
What was this emotion, the dull ache in my chest? Was it guilt for shooting her… or something else? I couldn’t quite place it. I had never felt this way toward anyone before, not even Emily when she was alive. It was strange. Unfamiliar.
“Alexander, what I’m trying to say is…” Daniel paused, then continued, “Mother, I know you’re angry at her for what she did, and you’ve forgiven her too many times already. But could you forgive her this time too? I swear, if you do, I’ll make sure she never shows her face again. I’ll keep her far away from you. But please, just forgive her.”
He said it all in one breath, but when I didn’t respond, silence filled the room.
I tilted my head slightly, narrowing my gaze on Valentina, the corners of my lips tugging down into a frown.
“You’re a doctor, right?” I asked Daniel, my voice low and calm as I turned to him with a raised brow.
Daniel blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question, but he quickly responded, “As far as I know, yes, I am a doctor.”
I gave a small nod, pushing myself off the wall and stepping closer to him. My height easily towered over his, and I watched as his eyes widened, his throat bobbing with a nervous gulp.
“Uh… Alexander, are you mad about what I said? I-I was only suggesting- if you don’t want to-” he froze mid-sentence and instinctively closed his eyes when I raised my hand, flinching as if expecting a blow but I pointed at my chest instead.
“Then can you tell me why this place feels weird?” I asked, and Daniel slowly pried his eyes open, narrowing them in confusion as they flicked to my chest.
“W-What?”
I took a deep breath, tapping my chest lightly. “This place. It feels weird and stuffy. I don’t understand what it means. You’re a doctor, shouldn’t you be able to figure that out?”
His eyes widened instantly at my words, and he stepped closer, placing a hand over my chest.
“You feel stuffy in your chest? Since when? Is the pain sharp? Dull? Where exactly- here? Or here?” he asked in a rush, moving his hand around like he was examining a patient.
I stared at him with a blank expression, unmoved.
“Wait- what are the other symptoms, Alexander? And wow, what kind of exercises do you do? You’re so muscular, your chest is like rock-”
Before he could finish that sentence, I narrowed my eyes and swatted his hand away. He stumbled backward, falling to the side with a yelp.
Daniel stared at me in disbelief, his mouth hanging open like he couldn’t believe I’d actually done that.
“Don’t touch me,” I muttered under my breath, brushing off the spot on my chest where his hand had been before turning away and walking over to the bed. I sat down beside Valentina, running a hand through my hair in frustration.
Of course he wouldn’t know. What had I been expecting, asking an idiot like him?
“Get out,” I hissed, my tone low and sharp.
Daniel scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide as they met mine.
“But Alexander, you said your chest-”
“Out. Now,” I cut him off, my voice hard with irritation as I shot him a glare that made his mouth snap shut instantly.
“O-okay, if you need me, I’ll be with Felix. Don’t forget to rest. And if the pain in your chest gets worse, let me know,” Daniel stammered before bolting toward the door like the devil himself was chasing him. He disappeared without a backward glance.
I frowned, turning my gaze to Valentina, studying her face closely.
She looked exactly like Emily but their personalities were worlds apart. Even their gazes were nothing alike. The way Valentina looked at me… it wasn’t the same.
I wasn’t dumb. I knew Emily despised me. She hated me. Just like my mother, she thought I was a monster, someone incapable of love. She thought I was cruel.
And maybe she wasn’t wrong. Maybe I was cruel. But despite everything, I would never hurt her. Even when she cheated on me, I didn’t lash out for me. The only reason I ever threatened her was because I didn’t want Felix caught in that kind of mess.
Felix was a sensitive and smart kid. I didn’t want him dragged into the mess of a divorce or a custody battle and there was no way in hell I was going to let my son go especially not to live under the same roof with another man.
But this girl- she was different. She didn’t look at me with hate. She didn’t look at me with disgust. Instead…
“Just take back what you said about Alexander and never speak about him like that again. Alexander is not a monster, like you claimed. He’s not heartless. He’s not some tool for you to use. Even when he’s cold, he’s still your son. And what? You were bragging about sending assassins after your own child? How twisted are you? Have you ever thought about how that would make him feel?”
Her words echoed in my head and my frown deepened as I reached for my chest, my fingers brushing against it.
There it was again- that damn ache.
I needed a drink. A strong one.
Without thinking twice, I was about to get up and pour myself a drink but froze instead as a soft voice stopped me in place .
“Why… why did you have to cheat on me with the woman who caused my miscarriage? It could have been anyone but her. Why her?”
I blinked in surprise and snapped my gaze to her, watching as she murmured under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were tightly shut, her body shifting slightly as though trapped in some kind of nightmare.
“I know you didn’t love me. I- I know, but I’m not lying. She really pushed me down the stairs. It wasn’t a mistake! So why would you blame me? Why would you sleep with her on the day we lost our child? Why would you betray me, Damien? Why…?”
Damien.
Her ex-husband.
Before I realized it, my hand had curled into a tight fist. But instead of reacting, I reached out and gently held her hand, giving it a slight squeeze in an attempt to wake her.
Almost instantly, her eyes fluttered open, dazed and filled with confusion as they locked onto mine.
“Damien,” she whispered.
My gaze darkened at the name, but I kept my voice even as I asked,
“You… how do you feel”
However, my words were cut off as she suddenly held my hand and pulled me toward her, catching me completely off guard as her lips came crashing against mine.
I froze, my body going rigid, eyes darkening as instinct kicked in and I began to pull away. But then-she gripped my hand tighter, refusing to let go.
Her lips trembled as she whispered,
“Alexander.”
Just that. Just my name.
And it was all it took for me to lose every ounce of restraint and kiss her back.