Christiana’s POV
I finally managed to rein in my emotions, my breath steadying as I faced Alex. His cold smirk still lingered, making my blood run cold. I forced myself to maintain a facade of calming and asked, “Who told you the kids were yours?”
Alex’s eyes remained steady, unblinking “I know they’re mine.”
I tried to keep my voice even, though it quivered with the effort. “The kids aren’t yours. Get that out of your head.”
A flash of anger crossed Alex’s face as he countered, “The kids are mine. They look exactly like me–especially Ethan. And Emma,
My mouth fell open in shock. He knew their names? How deep had he dug? A suffocating silence enveloped us, the kind that makes every second feel like an eternity. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath, eyes flicking between Alex and
me.
I turned away from him, the weight of his words pressing down on me. I needed to escape, to find a place to breathe because things were happening too fast.
But Alex’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and accusatory. “You planned to hide my kids from me?”
I spun back around, facing him. “For Pete’s sake, the kids aren’t yours. Stop being delusional and stay the hell away from me.”
He moved swiftly, catching my wrist with a firm grip. His eyes bore into mine, his gaze fiem. “The only person who is delusional here is you, Christiana. Lying that those kids aren’t mine.”
This struck a nerve in me.
I glared at him, struggling to free my hand from his grip. It wasn’t tight but was firm enough to assert his dominance. “How dare you!” I hissed, wriggling my hand free,
Alex’s gaze hardened. “How is it possible that we divorced five years ago, and now you have five–year–old twins?”
I ground my teeth, barely able to control my rage. “The kids belong to someone else.”
Alex’s expression shifted from anger to fake curiosity. He leaned closer, dropping his smirk. “Who is their father?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The truth was caught in my throat, trapped between my need to protect my children and the overwhelming pressure from Alex’s interrogation.
I spun on my heel, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of Alex’s question. I needed to distance myself from him, from this tangled mess of emotions. My heart pounded in my chest as I took quick, angry steps away from him. “The kids have a different father,” I lied, trying to sound convincing.
Alex’s chuckle cut through the tension like a knife. “You expect me to believe that? I’ve seen how much Ethan and Emma resemble me.”
I didn’t look back as I continued walking, my steps quickening. “Leave me alone, Alex. The kids are not yours. You don’t have any right to be here.”
He matched my pace effortlessly, his voice growing more insistent. “You can’t shut me out like this. I’m their father. They need
to know me”
I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much he had hurt me and how his presence was a constant reminder of a past I wanted to leave behind. But I couldn’t let him see how much his words affected me. “Get the hell away from me!” I shot back, my voice trembling with fury and fear.
As I rounded a corner. I realized I had been so caught up in our argument that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. My foot caught on a loose piece of debris, and I stumbled forward. Panic surged through me as I felt myself lose balance.
In a flash, Alex’s hand was there, gripping my arm tightly. He pulled me back, his strong presence anchoring me. I was startled by his sudden proximity, my heart racing from both the scare and the shock of his unexpected help.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You almost fell.”
10:18 PM c
Chapter 9
I yanked my arm away from him, my face flushed with embarrassment and irritation. “I don’t need your help, Alex.”
He frowned, concern etched in his features. “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”
I glared at him, unable to mask my disdain. “I don’t want you near me or my children. Just leave us alone.”
I could still feel his eyes on me as I stormed toward the garage. His voice trailed after me, persistent and infuriating. My heart felt like it was about to burst from my chest, memories of the past flooding back with every step I took
Alex’s accusations and endless pursuit were like daggers twisting into old wounds. The pain of his betrayal, the coldness of our divorce, replayed in my mind. I could almost see him, standing in that lawyer’s office, his face a mask of indifference as he signed away our life together. The bitterness of those moments was still raw, a festering wound that Alex seemed determined to reopen
I reached my car, flinging open the door and sliding into the driver’s seat. My hands shook as I gripped the wheel, trying to steady my breathing. I glanced in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Alex’s frustrated expression as he approached the
car.
*Stay away from me, Alex!” I shouted, my voice trembling with rage and desperation. “Stay away from my children and my property. You’ve already caused enough damage!”
Alex’s face twisted with anger as he roared back, “You can’t keep me away from my kids! I’ll do whatever it takes to be a part of their lives. You can’t stop me!”
I slammed the car door shut, the metal thudding with a finality that matched the pounding in my chest. As I started the engine and backed out of the parking space, Alex’s voice continued to echo in the air, a non–stopping eminder of the fight we were locked in.
“You can’t hide from me!” he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine. “I’ll find a way to get close to them, no matter what!”
I didn’t look back as I drove away, the familiar streets blurring past in a haze of anger and frustration. My heart pounded with anger and determination. Alex’s threats and his presence were a storm I had no intention of weathering. I would protect my children from him, from his wealth and power, and from the pain he had already caused.
As the cityscape faded behind me, I clenched my jaw unti
lit hurt.
I knew Alex wouldn’t give up easily, but neither would L.
