Alexander looked at Michael steadily. "I’m sure about my decision."

Michael pressed his lips together before asking the question that had been weighing on him.

"Do you love her?"

Alexander knew immediately that he meant Alicia.

For the first time that night, his expression faltered. He lowered his gaze slightly, as though even he did not know how to answer.

After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "I don’t know if it’s love."

He paused, then added, each word slower than the last,

"But I know I don’t want to divorce her."

Michael said nothing.

Alexander’s eyes drifted toward the dark window beside them. His reflection stared back at him—calm on the surface, unsettled underneath.

"Just thinking about her leaving," he continued quietly, "it feels like something inside me would be torn out."

Michael frowned. "Maybe you’re only used to being married. Two years living together... habits form. Once you’re single again, you’ll move on."

Alexander remained silent.

Whether he had heard the words or dismissed them entirely, Michael could not tell.

After a moment, Michael sighed. There was disbelief in it, perhaps pity too.

"What about Lilian?" he asked. "Has she agreed to end things?"

Alexander’s brows drew together faintly.

"She doesn’t get to decide that."

Michael looked at him sharply.

After all those years with Lilian, after everything between them, was it truly so easy for Alexander to walk away?

Compared to the two years he had spent married to Alicia, did all that history mean nothing?

People always seemed to treasure what was new and forget what was old.

At least, that was how Michael saw it.

Realizing there was no point saying more, he stepped back.

"I hope you know what you’re doing."

Then he turned and walked away down the corridor.

Alexander stayed where he was.

The hallway was quiet now. Only the faint noise from the private room carried through the closed door.

He stood by the window for several seconds, Alicia’s face rising unbidden in his mind. Her voice. Her eyes. The way she smiled when she thought no one noticed.

His jaw tightened slightly.

Then he turned and walked back toward the room where she was waiting.

Meanwhile back inside the private room, ‎a few minutes into the game, the laughter in the room slowly faded.

‎Raphael’s smile disappeared. He leaned forward, staring hard at the board.

‎Alicia sat quietly in Alexander’s seat, her expression gentle and composed as she moved another piece into position.

‎Raphael looked up in disbelief. "You know how to play."

‎Alicia blinked innocently. "A little."

‎The room erupted with laughter again.

‎Raphael gritted his teeth and focused. Sweat had begun to gather faintly at his temple.

‎Three moves later, Alicia lightly set down her queen.

‎"Check."

‎At that moment, the door opened.

‎Alexander walked back in, loosening the cuff of his sleeve as he entered. He stopped near the doorway when he saw the scene before him.

‎The room was silent.

‎Raphael was frozen over the board.

‎Alicia sat in Alexander’s chair, calm and elegant, while every eye was fixed on her.

‎One of the men turned and said with a laugh, "Alexander, your wife is about to beat Raphael."

‎Alexander’s gaze settled on Alicia, dark and unreadable. Then, slowly, the corners of his lips lifted.

‎Raphael looked up bitterly. "You never said she was this terrifying."

‎Alexander walked over and stopped behind Alicia’s chair, one hand resting lightly on the backrest.

‎His voice was calm, but pride was unmistakable.

‎"Seems," he said, eyes still on Alicia, "I underestimated my wife too."

Alicia merely sat there, glancing between the two men with an innocent expression, as though she had nothing to do with their exchange.

"Well, Raphael is my friend," Alexander said lazily. "I suppose I should help him save some face."

He flashed Raphael a teasing smile before turning back to Alicia.

"It’s getting late. Shall we go?"

His gaze softened noticeably when it landed on her.

"Alright," Alicia replied as she rose to her feet.

"I’ll cover tonight’s bill," Alexander said while leading her toward the door of the private room.

Raphael laughed behind them.

"It was a good game today," he said, looking at Alicia. "But next time, I’d like a rematch—when I’m better prepared to defeat you."

Alicia smiled faintly.

"I’ll look forward to it."

After exchanging farewells with the others, Alexander naturally took Alicia’s hand into his own and led her out of the room.Several gazes followed their joined hands, but no one said a word about it as they watched them out of the room.

As they waited for the elevator, two men approached.

One appeared slightly older than Alexander, dressed in an expensive tailored suit. The other looked younger, likely an assistant.

"CEO Blackwood. What a coincidence."

The older man smiled politely.

"Mr. Summer." Alexander gave a brief nod, his expression unreadable.

Lucas Summer.

Lilian Summer’s elder brother and heir to the Summer cooperation.

Alicia had heard of him before, but this was their first time meeting.

"I didn’t expect to run into you here today," Lucas said warmly. "It’s been quite some time since we last met."

"Indeed." Alexander’s tone remained flat. "Good to see you again."

After a few polite exchanges, Lucas continued with a knowing smile.

"You’ve taken very good care of Lilian since she returned. I heard you even hosted a grand birthday celebration for her."

He chuckled lightly.

"She’s truly lucky to have someone like you."

Alexander only gave a faint nod.

He offered no further response, making it clear he had no interest in continuing that topic.

Lucas’s eyes shifted briefly to Alicia before he spoke again.

"I still remember when Lilian was in university, always following behind you." He smiled nostalgically. "Time really flies. Now she’s a grown woman, always busy with work."

He paused deliberately.

"All her peers are already married. Some even have children. Yet all she seems to care about is her career."

Alicia instantly understood the meaning beneath his words.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her handbag, though her face remained calm.

At the same time, she felt Alexander’s hand tighten subtly around hers.

"Everyone chooses their own path," Alexander replied indifferently.

His tone ended the matter.

Realizing Alexander had no interest in discussing Lilian, Lucas finally turned his attention to Alicia.

"CEO Blackwood, may I ask who this lady is?"

"Alicia Sinclair."

Alexander answered without hesitation.

Lucas’s eyes flickered with recognition.

"So you’re the mysterious Miss Sinclair, nice to meet you."

As he spoke, his gaze dropped meaningfully to their joined hands.

"I’m flattered," Alicia replied with a polite smile.

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

"After you, CEO Blackwood."

Alexander led Alicia inside first. Lucas and his assistant followed behind.

Inside the elevator, Alicia could feel Lucas occasionally glancing at her.

The Summer family had once been nothing more than modest business owners. It was only after Alexander began dating Lilian—and later joined the Blackwood Corporation, opening doors through collaboration—that the Summers rapidly rose into Velaridge’s elite business circle.

Lucas glanced at Alexander carefully before speaking again.

"Miss Sinclair, you seem equally devoted to work. Do you have anyone special in your life?"

He smiled.

"If not, perhaps I could introduce you to someone suitable."

Before Alicia could answer, Alexander spoke first.

"Thank you, but there’s no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Summer."

As he said it, he slid an arm around Alicia’s waist and drew her closer to his side.

Lucas’s expression changed for a split second.

Shock flashed across his face before he quickly concealed it behind a polite smile.

This time, he said nothing more.

The elevator stopped at the underground parking level of the club.

After stepping out, they exchanged brief farewells before each party headed toward their respective cars.

Only after getting into the back seat of his vehicle did Lucas’s expression finally darken. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The assistant in the front seat turned around cautiously.

"I looked into it, sir. CEO Blackwood wasn’t here for any business matters tonight."

He hesitated before continuing.

"He came to meet a few close friends."

Lucas’s jaw tightened.

The scene in the elevator replayed in his mind.

He slowly closed his eyes, trying to sort through everything he had just witnessed.

When the rumors about Alexander and Alicia first surfaced online, Lucas had asked Lilian about them directly.

She had insisted there was nothing to worry about.

Hadn’t Alexander even organized a lavish birthday celebration for her?

But what Lucas saw tonight was no ordinary interaction.

Whenever Lilian was mentioned, Alexander dismissed it in front of Alicia.

And throughout the encounter, he had kept Alicia close by his side.

Protectively.

Naturally.

As though it were the most normal thing in the world.

Something was wrong...