It wasn’t about what she wanted.

‎It was about what would happen if he didn’t go.

‎Or if he did.

But she didn’t say anything.

‎Alexander suggested they rest for a bit in his lounge,so they went inside.Alicia removed her shoes and lay quietly in the bed while Alexander sat by the edge of the other side of the bed scrolling through his iPad.

‎But the silence only lasted a moment.

‎Alexander’s suddenly phone rang again.

‎This time, he answered in front of Alicia.

‎Alicia remained still as his voice came through.

‎"Has she been given a sedative?"

‎"Yes," Kendra replied shakily. "But she’s been taking them too often. Her body is building resistance—they aren’t working anymore."

‎"Then restrain her properly."

‎A pause.

‎"She already injured two doctors..."

‎Another silence.

‎Alexander ended the call again.

‎He turned back toward Alicia.

‎She propped herself up with one arm, her expression unreadable.

‎"Are you going?" she asked calmly.

‎His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

‎"Lilian is threatening to hurt herself."

‎The words stopped there.

‎As if anything more would be unnecessary.

‎Alicia nodded once.

‎She had already predicted something like that.

‎"I understand. You should go."

‎Her tone was even.

‎"We’ll go together. As promised, I won’t meet with her alone again."Alexander quickly spoke "If I go, Miss Lilian might get even more upset..."Alicia replied

‎Alexander didn’t move immediately.

‎Instead, he walked toward the door.

‎Opened it.

‎Then stopped there.

‎Not leaving.

‎Just waiting.

‎A silent expectation hanging in the air.

‎Alicia let out a faint breath and stood.

‎"Alright," she said softly, adjusting her clothes and wearing her shoes. "I’ll go with you."

Alicia’s POV

We got into the car and headed for the hospital.

I leaned back against the seat, my gaze fixed on the streets slipping past outside the window. Lately, whenever Alexander and I were in the same car, this had become my default—watching the world outside, keeping everything inside.

The silence stretched.

I could feel his gaze on me more than once.

A moment later, his hand found mine. His thumb brushed slowly over my knuckles, gentle, almost absent-minded.

I couldn’t tell if he was trying to comfort me—

or himself.

I didn’t pull away.

But I didn’t respond either.

When we arrived at the hospital, we went straight to Lilian’s room.

The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere hit me.

Kendra was at the bedside, trying to calm her down, while two doctors stood nearby, looking completely helpless.

Kendra turned at the sound of the door, relief lighting up her face.

"CEO Blackwood, you finally—"

Her voice stopped abruptly.

Her eyes shifted past him.

To me.

For just a second, something flickered across her face.

Then it was gone.

"CEO Blackwood, please come in. She’s lost a lot of blood. She won’t let anyone treat her—she won’t even let the doctors near her..."

The doctors stepped aside.

One of them spoke quickly, "She needs to calm down. The wound is still bleeding—we have to stitch it as soon as possible."

"I’ll handle it," Alexander said.

His voice was steady.

Almost too steady.

I followed his gaze.

Lilian was curled tightly in the corner of the bed.

Her face was pale, her hair in disarray, dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked fragile... almost like she might shatter if touched.

Blood had soaked through her hospital gown, staining the sheets beneath her.

The sight made my chest tighten.

A faint wave of sympathy rose—

before I pushed it down.

If even I could feel this way...

Then what about Alexander?

I turned slightly to look at him.

There it was.

A flicker in his eyes.

Subtle.

But I saw it.

He took a step forward.

Lilian reacted instantly.

Her entire body tensed, shrinking back as if cornered.

"Don’t come any closer!"

Her voice was sharp. Unsteady.

Alexander stopped.

Then, after a brief pause, he sat down slowly at the edge of the bed.

"Lilian," he said softly. "It’s me."

She froze.

Then slowly lifted her head.

"...Alexander?"

Her voice trembled.

"It’s me."

Tears welled in her eyes almost immediately.

"You came... you really came to see me?"

Her hand lifted, shaking, reaching toward him—

But I saw it.

That tiny shift.

He leaned back.

Just slightly.

Avoiding her touch.

So subtle it could’ve been missed.

But I didn’t miss it.

Something flickered across Lilian’s face.

Dark.

Brief.

Gone the next second.

Tears spilled over.

"Alexander... you finally came..."

She threw herself into his arms, clutching him tightly.

"I thought you didn’t want me anymore... why did you take so long..."

Alexander stilled for a moment.

Then his hand came up, resting on her back.

Lightly.

"It’s okay," he said quietly. "You’re fine."

I stood where I was.

Watching.

Saying nothing.

Lilian cried against him, her body trembling.

Then—

Her gaze lifted.

And met mine.

There were still tears in her eyes.

But beneath them—

Something else.

Sharp.

Clear.

Resentment.

Her grip on Alexander tightened.

As if she was afraid I might take him away.

Or as if she wanted me to see it.

I didn’t react.

Didn’t move.

Just watched.

And for a brief moment...

A thought crossed my mind.

...Was she really as fragile as she looked?

‎Another thought surfaced.

They looked... perfect together.

Both beautiful. Both talented.

Clinging to each other in their sorrow, wrapped in something that almost resembled tragedy.

And me?

I stood not far away, watching.

Expressionless.

Did it hurt?

I paused.

...No.

Before coming here, I had imagined this moment countless times.

I thought I would feel anger.

Or sadness.

But now that I was standing here, seeing it with my own eyes—

All I felt...

was calm.

A kind of calm I had never known before.

"Your wound is still bleeding. Let the doctor treat it first."

Alexander’s voice broke through the silence.

He reached for Lilian’s wrist, holding it firmly as he looked up, signaling the doctor.

But the moment the doctor stepped forward, Lilian panicked.

She shrank back instantly, hiding behind Alexander.

"I don’t want to be bandaged! I don’t want to be bandaged! Stay away from me!"

The doctor froze, helpless, looking at Alexander.

Alexander frowned.

"Lilian, your wound needs to be treated. Do you want it to get worse?"

Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him.

"If I die in your arms... I’d die happy."

"Don’t say things like that."

His voice turned cold.

Sharp.

And then—

He glanced at me.

Just for a second.

I met his gaze calmly.

A faint smile touched my lips.

Nothing more.

But then something flickered in his eyes.

Unease.

"I’m not saying anything wrong!" Lilian cried, clinging tighter to him. "If I leave you, I’ll die of heartbreak! I can’t eat, I can’t sleep—when I close my eyes, it’s you! If I had another chance, I would never have left you. I know you only let me go because of your grandmother... I’d rather die than live with that regret..."

Her words tumbled over each other, soaked in desperation.

But strangely—

Alexander didn’t seem to be listening.

His gaze drifted.

Again.

Toward me.

As if measuring something.

"Stop thinking like that," he said at last, his tone even. "Let the doctor treat your wound first."

"I don’t want to! Without you, I’d rather die!"

Something in his expression changed.

His patience snapped.

"Fine," he said coldly. "If you’re so determined to die, no one can stop you."

He stood up.

"I won’t waste any more time."

For a split second, the room fell silent.

Then panic flooded Lilian’s face.

She grabbed his arm desperately.

"Alexander, don’t go! Please don’t leave me!"

He stopped.

Looked down at her.

"Are you threatening me with death?"

She shook her head frantically, wiping her tears, smearing blood across her face in the process.

"I’m not—I just... I just don’t want you to leave. If I let them treat me, you’ll go..."

"If you don’t get treated," he said flatly, "I’ll leave right now."

"I—I’ll get treated," she said quickly, her voice breaking. "Okay? I’ll get treated..."

Alexander said nothing.

He only glanced at the doctor.

The doctor stepped forward immediately.

This time, Lilian didn’t resist.

Though her body still trembled, she allowed them to tend to her wound.

Her hands clung tightly to Alexander’s arm, refusing to let go.

I watched for a moment longer.

Then quietly turned and walked out.