Aunt Angela went to the kitchen to check on the dinner preparations, leaving Alexander and me alone in the living room.

‎Alexander noticed that I hadn’t touched the cup of coffee in front of me and frowned slightly.

‎"Why don’t you drink coffee anymore?" he asked, looking at me curiously. "You used to like it."

‎I froze for a moment, caught off guard.

‎But I recovered quickly.

‎"The doctor said I shouldn’t have anything too strong anymore because of my stomach."

‎Alexander didn’t look convinced. He seemed about to say something when the front door suddenly opened.

‎A burst of quick footsteps echoed through the hallway.

‎"Uncle Alexander!"

‎A small figure came racing into the living room and launched herself straight at him.

‎Alexander caught her easily, lifting her onto his lap as she laughed.the little girl smiled brightly, shouting, "Uncle! You came to see me!"

‎"Yes, Uncle came to see you. Did you miss me?"

‎She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick Peck on the cheek. Her soft voice replied, "Yes I did."she said dramatically

‎Alexander chuckled softly before setting her down.

‎"You’re taller again," he said.

‎"Because I’m growing," she replied proudly.

‎Bella’s bright eyes immediately shifted toward me, where I sat quietly beside him.

‎She tilted her head and stared at me for a moment, her little lips pursed in confusion.

‎"Who are you?" she asked bluntly. "Why are you sitting beside Uncle?"

‎My smile faltered—

‎but only for a second.

‎Alexander spoke immediately.

‎"Bella, this is my wife, Alicia."

‎Bella’s eyes widened.

‎"No way!"

‎"You should call her Aunt Alicia," he added.

‎Her pout was so adorable I might have laughed under different circumstances.

‎"So... you’re Uncle’s wife?"

‎I forced a smile and kept my tone calm.

‎"You must be Bella. Nice to meet you."

‎I held out my hand.

‎"Go on," Alexander urged. "Say hello to your aunt."

‎Bella hesitated, then shook my hand seriously.

‎She stepped closer and studied me for several long seconds before nodding to herself.

‎"You’re very beautiful."

‎This time, I couldn’t help smiling for real.

‎With her round face, wide eyes, and solemn little expression, she was too adorable.

‎She looked around six years old, yet strangely mature for her age.

‎Then she turned back to Alexander with complete seriousness.

‎"Uncle, why didn’t you tell me about your wife?"

‎Alexander’s smile faltered.

‎He glanced at me, then at Bella.

‎Before he could answer, Aunt Angela returned from the kitchen.

‎"Bella dear, you’re back."

‎Bella immediately pointed at me.

‎"Grandma, Uncle Alexander’s wife is so pretty!"

‎Across the room, Angela’s expression stiffened.

‎"Bella," she said sharply. "Come here first and wash your hands."

‎"I already washed them at school."

‎"Now."

‎Bella sighed dramatically and began trudging toward the stairs.

‎"I’m going!" she shouted before running up anyway.

‎The room fell silent again.

‎Watching how carefree she was, the corners of my lips lifted faintly.

‎But deep inside, I couldn’t push the thought aside.

‎Alexander came here often on business trips.

‎He was clearly close to Bella.

‎Yet this was the first time she had ever heard of me.

‎Then I remembered the conversation I had overheard earlier.

‎Two years ago, Angela had opposed our marriage.

‎I had always wondered what Alexander said to make her stop interfering.

‎Now I knew.

‎He had assured her that he would divorce me.

‎Since the beginning, I had been the only one truly inside this marriage.

‎To Alexander, I had only been an obstacle he intended to remove sooner or later.

‎Perhaps that was why even Bella knew nothing of my existence.

‎I had never been worth mentioning.

‎Never truly his wife.

‎Never someone important.

‎If that was true—

‎then why was he changing now?

‎Did he simply feel guilty for how he had treated me all these years?

‎Was everything that had happened between us these past few weeks only an attempt to make amends?

‎If it was just guilt—

‎Then what place did I hold in his life now?

‎

Aunt Angela glanced at me with open disdain before turning and walking back into the kitchen.

Alexander and I were left alone.

He turned toward me, clearly about to say something.

But I noticed a staff member passing by and stood up immediately.

"Could you please show me the bathroom?"

The woman nodded politely.

"This way, ma’am."

I followed her without looking back, though I could feel Alexander’s gaze on me the entire way—until I was certain he could no longer see me.

Once inside the downstairs restroom, I took a moment to steady myself.

I stood before the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

My face looked slightly pale.

I turned on the tap and splashed cool water over my skin, then smoothed my hair and adjusted my blouse before stepping back out.

As I made my way toward the living room again, I could already hear a small voice chattering nonstop, followed by Alexander’s calm replies.

When I entered, my steps slowed.

Bella sat beside him on the sofa, speaking excitedly with both hands moving as she told some story.

Alexander listened patiently, his expression softer than usual.

A loose curl had fallen across Bella’s cheek.

Without hesitation,he reached over and gently tucked it behind her ear.

The movement was instinctive.

Careful.

Tender.

I stopped walking without realizing it.

For one brief moment, a thought flashed across my mind—

‎Would he accept my child the same way?

‎His child.

‎Our child.

‎Would he look at them that way too?

‎Would those hands be just as gentle?

‎Would that cold man everyone feared become soft so easily... for someone so small?

‎My fingers unconsciously moved to rest against my lower stomach.

‎Before the thought could go any further, Alexander looked up and met my gaze.

‎I quickly lowered my hand and looked away, forcing my feet to move again.

‎He stood up immediately and helped Bella down from the sofa.

‎"Alicia, you’re back," he said. "Let’s go have dinner."

‎At the sound of my name, Bella ran straight toward me and grabbed my hand.

‎"I want to sit with Aunt Alicia today!"

‎I looked down at her bright little face and smiled.

‎But deep inside ,all I could think about was the fate of the baby in my womb.

"Aunt Alicia, do you want to sit with me?" Bella asked, looking up at me with that adorable expression.

"Why not, Bella?"

Bella bounced happily.

"Yay! Let’s go!"

She tugged my hand forward.

"Careful, Bella," Alexander said calmly as he followed behind us.

Bella slowed down slightly but didn’t even bother looking back at him.

The dining room was elegant, the long table set with polished silverware and warm candlelight.

Aunt Angela sat at the head of the table.

Alexander pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, murmuring a quiet, "Thank you."

He took the seat beside me.

Bella deliberately dragged her chair to my other side.

Aunt Angela noticed immediately and frowned.

"Bella, sit properly."

"I am sitting properly," Bella replied casually before reaching under the table to hold my hand.

"Aunt Alicia, can you braid my hair later?" she asked, pouting slightly.

I was a little taken aback by how quickly she had grown attached, but seeing her hopeful expression, I nodded.

"If you’d like."

"I’d like it!"

Angela set down her utensils with a little too much force, but said nothing.

Throughout dinner, Bella asked me endless questions.

What food did I like?

Did I know how to paint?

Could I bake cakes?

How long would I stay here?

Each answer I gave seemed to brighten her mood.

And with every childish question, something inside me softened too.

For a while, everything else faded.

It felt as though Bella and I were the only two people at the table.

A little soup spilled onto Bella’s cheek.

Without thinking, I reached for a napkin and gently wiped it clean.

"Thank you," she mumbled before continuing to eat.

I also turned to my plate, but just then

I felt a gaze on me.

When I looked up, I met Alexander’s eyes.

He was watching us quietly.

There was something unreadable in his expression—something deep and strangely tender.

His gaze was softer than usual.

So soft that, for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

And I couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking.