Christiana’s POV
I stormed into Alex’s office, my mind racing with both anger and confusion I didn’t even bother knocking. The door swung open, and there he was, sitting behind his desk, calm and collected, like he hadn’t just ruined a man’s entire career.
“Christiana,” he greeted, his eyes immediately softening at the sight of me. It made my throat tighten, but I shoved the feeling aside. I was here for a reason.
“We need to talk,” I said, cutting straight to the point. “About Roger Wilkes.
His expression remained steady, almost amused, like he knew exactly why I was there.
“Ah, Alex said, leaning back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him. “I see Grace’s news has reached you.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t expect me to find out.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t stop it. The frustration, the confusion it was all bubbling too close to the surface. “Did you do it?”
His smile widened slightly, a small, almost proud tilt of his lips. “I did.”
I blinked, momentarily thrown off by how casual he was about it. “You destroyed his business, Alex.”
“And I’d do it again,” he replied without missing a beat, his gaze locking onto mine. There was no remorse in his voice, no hesitation. “Roger Wilkes almost ruined you, Christiana. Stole your guests, tampered with your invitations. What did you expect me to do?”
I couldn’t believe him. I didn’t ask for your help.
His eyes darkened, his gaze becoming more intense. “You didn’t have to.”
My chest tightened, but I refused to let him get to me. I crossed my arms, forcing myself to maintain control. “I don’t want you in my affairs, Alex. You had no right to intervene like that.”
He stood up from behind his desk, his movements slow and deliberate as he walked around to stand in front of me. I had every right,” he said, his voice quieter now but no less determined. “Anyone who tries to hurt you has me to answer to.”
He was close, too close. I could feel the warmth of his body, the faint scent of his cologne filling the space between us. heart pounded in my chest, but I wouldn’t let him see how much he was affecting me.
My
“I
“I don’t need you,” I said, my voice shaky but firm. “You chose Bianca five years ago. You left.”
Alex’s jaw clenched at the mention of her name, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he reached out and gently tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. His touch was soft, yet it sent a jolt through my body.
“And I regret it every day,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you and the kids are my priority. I’m still investigating the fire outbreak. Whoever tried to hurt you and the children will be caught. I won’t let anyone get away with it.”
My heart was racing, pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. His words hung in the air between us, heavy and filled with an emotion I wasn’t ready to confront. I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin, the intensity in his gaze.
For a brief moment, I was frozen. Five years of buried emotions were swirling inside me, rising to the surface against my will.
But I couldn’t let him back in. Not after everything.
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18:09 Fri, Oct 18
Chapter 70
I slapped his hand away from my chin, the sound of it sharp in the quiet room. “Don’t,” I said, my voice trembling. It was the second time today that he had gotten this close. This intimate. First in the morning at the hotel, and now this,
Alex didn’t flinch. His eyes remained fixed on mine, searching for something, maybe a crack in my armor. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
“I’m fine on my own.” I added, stepping back, needing to put distance between us. “I don’t need you coming to my rescue.”
He exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair, but his gaze never wavered. “Whether you need me or not, Christiana, I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. But it was harder than I wanted to admit. Because despite everything, the anger, Utment…there was still a part of me that ached for him. A part of me that remembered what it felt like to be loved by Alex.
And that terrified me.
But I wouldn’t let it show. Not now. Not ever.
“I told you,” I said, my voice cold and distant, “I don’t need your help.”
Alex watched me for a moment, his expression unreadable.
I turned to leave, feeling the tension between us thicken with each passing second. But just as my hand reached for the door handle, I felt it. his arms wrapping around me from behind. His warmth surrounded me, pulling me in before I had a chance to fight it.
“Christiana,” Alex whispered, his voice raw, as if he was holding something back. His grip was firm but gentle, his breath hot against the back of my neck. “Please, just listen to me.”
I stiffened in his embrace, my heart hammering in my chest. His closeness always made it difficult to think straight, and he knew it. “Alex, let go,” I warned, trying to keep my voice steady, but there was a crack in it I couldn’t hide.
He didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled me closer, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder. “I want you to forgive me,” he said, his voice low, almost pleading. “So we can stop this this constant back and forth. I want us to be together again. The kids would be so happy.”
My heart twisted painfully at his words. The kids. He was using them again, like a trump card, and it hurt more than I wanted to admit. I tried to step out of his hold, but he wouldn’t let me.
“Alex,” I said through clenched teeth, forcing myself to stay calm, though anger was simmering beneath my skin. “It’s not about what the kids want right now. It’s about what I want.”
His hold on me loosened slightly, and I could feel his body tense behind me. I turned around slowly, meeting his eyes. There was a softness there, a vulnerability I hadn’t seen in years. But I couldn’t let myself be swayed.
“You need to stay out of my life, I continued, my voice firm, though the words felt like jagged glass on my tongue. “You can be in the kids‘ lives, of course. You’re their father, and I’d never deny you that. But don’t think you can use them to get to me. It won’t work.”
His jaw clenched, and for the first time since I walked into his office, I saw frustration flash across his face. He took a step back, his hands dropping to his sides as he ran one through his hair, clearly agitated.
“That’s not what I’m doing,” he muttered, but there was a roughness to his voice now. “I’m not trying to manipulate you. Christiana. I just want what’s best for them. For us.”
I crossed my arms, refusing to be drawn in by the sincerity in his eyes. What’s best for the kids is you being their father, not trying to play hero in my life. I don’t need you to fix my problems, Alex. And I certainly don’t need you barging in and making decisions for me.”
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FII, UCI 18
Chapter 70
His frustration boiled over then, and he let out a sharp breath, stepping closer, his eyes hardening. “What about Daniel Brooks? Is he part of what you want?”
I felt my blood run cold at the mention of Daniel’s name, and a flash of anger ignited in my chest. “This has nothing to do with him.” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. Leave Daniel out of this.”
But Alex wasn’t backing down. His frustration was written all over his face now, his voice taking on an edge I hadn’t heard before. “He’s got everything to do with this, Christiana. You think I don’t notice the way he looks at you? The way he’s always around?”
My anger flared, burning hot in my veins. “Daniel is a friend, I spat, taking a step toward him. “You don’t get to decide who I have in my life, Alex. You lost that right when you chose Bianca five years ago. Or have you forgotten?”
His expression tightened at the mention of her name, and I could see the conflict in his eyes, He was holding something back, something he wasn’t ready to admit, but I didn’t care.
“I don’t care what you think about Daniel or anyone else, I continued, my voice low and cold. “You don’t get to use the kids. as an excuse to worm your way back into my life. That chapter is closed, Alex.
He stared at me, his frustration boiling beneath the surface, but there was something else there too, something deeper. Something that made my heart pound, even as I tried to push it away.
“Christiana,” he said quietly, his voice full of an intensity that made my chest tighten. “I’m not going to stop. I’m not going to pretend I don’t care, or that I can just walk away from you.”
“I know I made mistakes, he continued, his voice rough but steady. “But I’m here now. I’m not giving up on you. And anyone who tries to hurt you or the kids? They’ll have to go through me.”
My heart was racing again, faster than before, and it took everything in me not to let my emotions show. But his words, his presence, were doing things to me that I didn’t want to acknowledge.
I wanted to scream, to push him away, but something held me back. I hated that he was right there, digging into feelings I had buried for years, feelings I wasn’t ready to face again. It felt like he was regenerating every emotion I had tried so hard. to kill, and I hated him for it.
I turned away, my breath shaky. I needed to get out of here, away from him, before I did something I would regret.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling
that no ma
I
how far I ran, Alex would always be there, waiting
And that scared me more than anything.
