I don’t regret helping Lilian after she returned to Velaridge City.

What I regretted...

Was failing to understand my own feelings sooner.

And hurting Alicia because of it.

If I could go back and choose again, I would still help Lilian establish herself professionally.

But I would never maintain private contact with her again.

And I would have told Alicia everything honestly from the very beginning.

Unfortunately...

What was done could no longer be undone.

I lowered my eyes slightly as I stepped onto the aircraft stairs.

The day I publicly announced our marriage—

Was also the exact same day Alicia asked me for a divorce.

Even now, I could still remember the expression on her face that night.

Calm.

Too calm.

As though she had already given up completely.

The moment she said the word "divorce," it felt as if something inside my chest had been struck violently.

For the first time in years...

I felt afraid.

Was everything I did afterward already too late?

Will Alicia still insist on divorcing me even after watching the interview?

The thought made my chest tighten unconsciously.

Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of the airport lounge, the sky was overcast.

And for some reason—

I suddenly had the unsettling feeling that returning to Velaridge City this time...

Would change something completely between us.

Alicia’s POV

It had already been three days since the fire incident.

Things at the office had gradually begun to settle down.

By the time I returned home that evening, exhaustion weighed heavily on my body.

As I bent down to change my shoes by the entrance, my movements paused slightly.

There was a pair of handmade leather men’s shoes by the door.

Was Alexander back?.

We hadn’t properly spoken since the night I asked for a divorce.

"You’re back."

I looked up to find Alexander sitting casually on the couch, one leg crossed over the other. He looked composed as always, but something about his gaze felt darker than usual.

"Mm," I replied softly. "Have things settled in B City?"

"Almost," he answered. "The rest can be handled by someone else."

I slipped into my slippers and walked into the living room.

Alexander’s eyes followed me the entire way.

I deliberately chose the couch opposite his and sat down quietly.

For a split second, his gaze darkened slightly.

But he said nothing.

Instead, he picked up the glass pitcher beside him, poured a glass of water, and handed it to me.

I accepted it calmly.

"Since things have settled down," I said casually, "we should go get the divorce decree soon."

Alexander froze.

His gaze locked onto mine instantly.

There was something heavy in his eyes—something restrained and unreadable.

"You still insist on divorcing?"

"Mm."

"Haven’t you watched the interview?"

"I did."

My tone remained flat.

A brief silence followed.

It was as though my reaction had completely caught him off guard.

"And you still want a divorce?"

"Mm."

His expression darkened further.

"But our relationship has already been made public."

"Just because it’s public doesn’t mean we can’t divorce."

"Why?"

I lifted my eyes to meet his.

"I already told you last time, didn’t I?"

Alexander stared at me for several seconds before suddenly asking—

"Is it because of Aiden?"

My brows furrowed slightly.

"What?"

"Was it because he told you what happened?"

I frowned.

"What are you talking about, Alexander?"

For the first time that night, uncertainty flickered across his expression.

As though he had suddenly realized something.

A long silence followed before he finally asked quietly—

"Then tell me..."

His gaze stayed fixed on mine.

"Why do you suddenly want a divorce?"

"I just don’t want to live with you anymore." I looked at him calmly. "You can go fulfill your promise to Lilian, and I’ll live my own simple life. Isn’t that better?"

"So it really is because of Lilian?" Alexander uncrossed his legs, frustration finally surfacing on his face. "Then tell me what you want me to do about her. I’ll do anything."

I couldn’t help laughing softly.

"Haven’t you always wanted to be with her?" I asked quietly. "I’m only stepping aside so the two of you can finally be together."

Alexander’s brows tightened immediately.

"Fine," he said after a moment, his voice low. "If you don’t want her around, then I’ll send her abroad. She won’t affect us anymore. Is that enough?"

I looked at him, at the determination in his eyes, and suddenly felt exhausted.

He still didn’t understand.

I slowly stood up, taking a deep breath before closing my eyes briefly.

"Alexander," I said softly, "stop deceiving yourself."

"No matter what you do... I’ll still insist on the divorce."

With that, I turned toward the stairs.

"Alicia—wait."

Before I could take another step, Alexander wrapped his arms tightly around me from behind.

His embrace was warm.

Restraining.

His breath brushed lightly against my neck as his voice lowered almost into a plea.

"Don’t go."

For the first time, his tone carried helplessness.

"Give me one more chance... please."

My fingers tightened slightly.

But my expression remained calm.

"Alexander," I whispered, "I already gave you enough chances."

"You just never used any of them."

The arms around my waist stiffened.

I lowered my gaze.

"It’s not that I gave up on you."

A faint bitterness rose in my chest.

"It’s that from the very beginning..."

"You never chose me."

The words fell quietly into the silence between us.

But they struck harder than any accusation.

I was always the second choice.

Always the replacement.

Even this time, Alexander had only stepped forward to clarify things after my private information was exposed and everything spiraled beyond control.

If things had remained manageable—

Would he still have chosen to protect me?

My thoughts drifted uncontrollably to the chocolate cookies from years ago.

Back then, I thought they had been a gift carefully chosen for me.

I had treasured them so much.

Treasured them so much that even after all these years, I still remembered the sweetness of that moment.

An eighteen-year-old girl’s first love had been hidden inside that small paper bag—

Sweet.

Careful.

Pure.

But now I finally understood the truth.

Those cookies had never belonged to me in the first place.

They were simply something Lilian didn’t want.

Just like this marriage.

From the outside, it looked beautiful.

Perfectly packaged.

I had taken a bite with hope in my heart—

Only to discover that beneath the sweetness was bitterness impossible to swallow.

Back then, I thought I had gradually fallen in love with the taste of chocolate.

But now I realized—

I never liked bitterness.

I only liked the sweetness hidden beneath the wrapping paper.

And now, standing before me, was another beautifully wrapped gift from Alexander.

Except this time...

I knew exactly what was inside.

Bitterness.

Nothing more.

"I just need one chance to fix everything."

Alexander’s voice suddenly sounded hoarse.

For the first time, the proud and untouchable Alexander Blackwood lowered himself completely.

"Alicia..."

"Let me make it up to you."

"Please."

I stood silently for a long moment.

Then, little by little, I removed his arms from around my waist.

I didn’t look back again.

And this time—

I would no longer be deceived by beautifully wrapped sweetness.