Alexander POV.
I woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that felt like someone was taking a jackhammer to my skull.
Groaning, I pushed myself up, the sheets twisted around my legs.
My mouth felt like sandpaper, and as I ran a hand through my hair, the night came back to me in flashes….her face, the bar, my hand gripping her arm.
Christiana.
The memory hit me like a slap to the face, and I slumped back, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. I’d been an idiot, a complete, utter idiot. My own voice from last night echoed in my head: “Did he touch you? Your hands, your body?” I winced, pressing a hand to my temple. What the hell had I been thinking? I’d torn down every inch of pride I’d built up in a single night, laid bare every weak part of me, and for what?
For the first time in years, I felt like I was losing myself.
I dragged myself out of bed and staggered to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. I gripped the sink and looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection looking as ragged as I felt. There was a weight in my chest, something sharp and heavy, that only seemed to grow as I remembered the look in her eyes. She’d been angry…furious even, but there had been something else, something that only twisted the knife deeper.
I could still hear her voice in my head, that mix of anger and hurt. “You’re a fool, Alex. A complete fool.”
She was right.
I let out a deep breath, trying to pull myself together, but the hangover wasn’t just physical… it was like her presence lingered, that sharp reminder of every mistake I’d made, of every reason she had to hate me.
“Good job, Alex,” I muttered to myself, my voice heavy with sarcasm. “Way to really make an impression.”
I closed my eyes, jaw clenched. I knew what I had to do. I’d made up my mind, but it felt like ripping out a piece of myself. For Christiana’s sake…for the kids, I’d keep my distance. She’d never forgive me if I showed up at her door again, not after last night. But that didn’t mean I’d leave her without protection.
I knew Bianca was free, lurking somewhere, and with every nerve in my body, I sensed she’d come back with a vengeance. It was a game of caution now, and I couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes. Not with the people I cared about most on the line.
So I’d keep out of Christiana’s way. I’d make sure she was safe, but from afar. She wouldn’t even know I was there, watching, protecting.
But the thought settled in my chest like poison, the knowledge that this was how it had to be.
The morning light barely filtered through my room when I heard the knock. I hadn’t called for anyone, so I assumed it was James, maybe with some documents or just checking in as he often did.
“Give me a moment,” I called out, trying to summon the energy to deal with the outside world, not realizing the whirlwind that was about to barge in.
Before I could say anything further, the door flew open. My heart jumped, and I turned, ready to reprimand whoever it was… but my words froze in my throat.
There, standing in the doorway, was Christiana….and our children.
The kids spotted me immediately. “Daddy!” they squealed in unison, their little faces lighting up as they ran toward me. For a second, I couldn’t move. I simply stared, stunned, as they barreled across the room, their small arms flinging around me as they crashed into me.
I knelt, gathering them into my arms, still trying to believe they were real. The feel of their warmth, the way they buried their faces in my neck, it was everything. I held onto them tightly, their laughter filling the room, and a wave of emotion threatened
to overwhelm me. Christiana had brought the kids to see me. I felt as though I were in some kind of dream.
1/3
.
1:55 PM
Chapter III
“Missed you so much, Daddy!” Ethan said, pulling back enough to look at me, his big brown eyes filled with pure joy.
“Me too, Daddy!” Emma chimed in, her tiny fingers brushing over my face as if reassuring herself I was there.
“Oh, you two troublemakers,” I laughed, squeezing them a little tighter. “I missed you more than you could ever imagine.”
My eyes shifted to Christiana, who stood near the doorway, watching us with a soft smile that felt as unfamiliar as it was heartwarming. She was still, her expression gentler than I’d seen in a long time. And that smile…it wasn’t her usual restrained or forced one. It was real.
As I hugged the kids, she spoke, her voice soft yet sincere, “I… I’m sorry, Alex.” She cleared her throat, as if pushing through her own hesitation. “I tried to keep the kids away, but… you’re their father. Nothing can change that.”
Her words sank in, melting away something I hadn’t realized I was holding onto. I glanced up at her, feeling a raw gratitude that I couldn’t put into words. “Thank you, Christiana,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
She nodded, her gaze meeting mine, and for a brief moment, there was none of the usual frost in her eyes. There was something softer, something that made my chest tighten. It was as if we’d both set aside all the bitterness, all the hurt, just for this moment.
I ruffled Ethan’s hair, then Emma’s, before pulling back. “How about you two go outside with your mom for a second? Daddy needs to freshen up, but I’ll be right out, okay?”
They both nodded enthusiastically, and I gave them one last hug before they bounced over to Christiana. She guided them out, her hand on Emma’s shoulder, while two of her bodyguards stationed themselves just outside the door. As the door clicked shut, I leaned back, taking a deep breath to collect myself.
I moved to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face, trying to clear my head. It was as though everything that had gone wrong over the past few days had been erased, replaced with this simple, unexplainable peace.
The sound of running water filled the bathroom, steam moving around me like a thick fog. I leaned against the cool tiles of the shower, letting the spray drench me. It was a pathetic attempt to wash away the alcohol clinging to my senses, but I felt light hearted. With this unexpected visit. The kids here. And Christiana.
Her laughter, her scorn, the way her eyes lit up when she was angry. I gripped the edge of the shower, trying to ground myself, but the weight of everything pressed down harder.
Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked open, and my heart raced. I turned, wondering who in the hell was that, but as the figure stepped into the light, I froze. It was Christiana.
“Christiana?” I breathed, disbelief flooding my senses.
She stood there, breathing heavily as she pushed the door closed behind her. The steam wrapped around her like a veil, and for a moment, it felt surreal…like a scene pulled from a dream. My heart pounded, anticipation and confusion intertwined within me.
Before I could say another word, she stepped into the shower, fully clothed, and closed the distance between us. The fabric of her dress clung to her body, soaking up the water, and I could only stare, utterly stunned.
“Christiana, what are you doing?” I managed to choke out, but she silenced me with a fierce kiss.
It was quick, unexpected, and everything I had longed for yet feared. Her lips pressed against mine with a desperation that took my breath away, igniting a fire deep within me. The taste of her was intoxicating…sweet, warm, and full of a yearning I hadn’t realized I needed so desperately.
My body reacted instinctively, pulling her closer, my hands moving to her waist, feeling the soft curve of her hips beneath the wet fabric. It was like being plunged into icy water and fiery flames all at once. I could hardly think. This felt foreign, and yet it felt so incredibly right.
She broke the kiss just as quickly as it had begun, pulling back to look into my eyes. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and the vulnerability I saw in her gaze tore at my heart. “I…”
“What was that?” I interrupted, still recovering from the shock of it all. “Are you serious right now?”
2/3
Chapter III
She bit her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. “I don’t know, Alex. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you drowning in this,” she gestured to the water pouring down around us, “alone.”
My mind raced, trying to process her words while still grappling with the sensation of her body so close to mine. “You can’t just come in here and kiss me like that and expect me to…”
But she silenced me again, leaning in to rest her forehead against mine, her eyes closing briefly as she gathered herself. “I didn’t expect it, either. I just… I needed. I needed to feel something.”
Her honesty hit me harder than the alcohol had. The warmth of her body against mine sent shivers through my skin. “Of course I am something,” I admitted, voice low and strained. “I’ve been a wreck since last night.”
The corner of her mouth turned up slightly, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like everything was right in the world. But just as quickly, reality crashed back in, and the weight of the situation hit me. “You shouldn’t be here, Christiana. I’m not the man you think I am. Don’t come here because of pity. I’m a mess”
“Stop,” she whispered, stepping back slightly, her hands still resting on my shoulders. “I don’t care who you are right now. I just want to be here. With you.”
It felt like a dream, a momentary escape from the chaos that had consumed us both. But the doubts raced in my mind, threatening to ruin this unexpected moment.
Before I could respond, she leaned in again, capturing my lips with hers, and I lost myself in her warmth, the world outside fading away. In this moment, it was just the two of us…lost, tangled in the steam and uncertainty of everything we hadn’t said, everything we hadn‘
t resolved.
And I was left wondering if this was a dream…or perhaps the beginning of something real.
