Just as I was lost in thought, my phone suddenly started ringing.
I glanced at the unfamiliar number on the screen.
Ever since my information had been leaked and then my phone got smashed during the kidnapping incident, I’d lost contact with many people, so lately I’d been receiving calls from unknown numbers often.
Thinking it might be a client, I answered without much thought.
"Hello?"
"Alicia... it’s ."
The mont I heard the voice on the other end—
my expression froze completely.
Lilian.
A low chuckle ca from the phone.
"Surprised?"
My grip around the phone tightened instantly.
"What do you want, Lilian?" I asked coldly.
"So even after everything, you still dare ask that?" she mocked lightly.
Then her tone suddenly sharpened.
"I see you’ve beco quite smug now that you’re carrying Alexander’s child."
My heart skipped violently.
How did she know about my pregnancy?
"Lilian," I said coldly, forcing myself to stay calm, "after everything that’s happened, you should understand your place and leave us alone."
A mocking laugh escaped her lips.
"I’m the one who should leave?"
"Alicia... the person who doesn’t belong here is you."
"You’re a jinx."
My fingers stiffened instantly.
"You killed your own father."
"And now Alexander lost his CEO position because of you."
"Even Chairwoman Roseline died because of you."
"How do you still sit there pretending you’ve done nothing wrong?"
My chest tightened painfully.
But I forced myself to stay composed.
"Whether I’m a jinx or not has nothing to do with you," I replied coldly. "The only thing you can do now is bark through a phone."
"You really are shaless," Lilian sneered.
"Chairwoman Roseline favored you so much, yet you still caused her death and act innocent."
My breathing beca uneven.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Then suddenly, Angela’s words from earlier flashed through my mind.
My voice instantly turned colder.
"What did you do to my grandmother that night?"
Lilian chuckled softly.
"What?"
"Didn’t Alexander tell you?"
The mont she said that—
my heart sank heavily.
"He’s still covering things up for ," Lilian continued smugly.
"The person Alexander truly loves has always been ."
"Do you really think carrying his child ans you’ve replaced in his heart?"
My hand clenched tightly around the phone.
"What did you do to my grandmother?" I repeated through gritted teeth.
This ti, Lilian finally answered.
"I went to see her that night."
"Of course, she told to stay away from you and Alexander."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"So I told her I wouldn’t."
"And I also told her that once she died, Alexander planned to divorce you and marry instead."
My eyes widened completely.
Lilian continued casually,
"She got so angry... she collapsed right in front of ."
For a mont, my entire mind went blank.
"Do you know why your grandmother agreed to see that night when I arrived at the mansion?"
Lilian chuckled softly before continuing,
"Because she was afraid."
"Afraid that after she died, I’d return to Alexander’s side."
"Even until her very last monts... she was still desperately trying to protect you."
Even during her final monts...
Nana had still been trying to protect .
But sothing felt wrong.
How could I trust Lilian so easily?
Maybe this was all part of another sche.
As if sensing my doubt, Lilian suddenly laughed again.
"If you think I’m lying, then think about it carefully."
"Alexander found out I cheated on him in college."
"He also discovered the kidnapping years ago wasn’t even his fault."
"And yet..."
"He still kept in the country."
"He still protected ."
Her voice beca softer and more poisonous.
"Doesn’t that already tell you who he truly cares about?"
Rage surged through instantly.
"You’re going to pay for what you did to my grandmother," I said through trembling breaths.
"I’ll find you myself if I have to."
But instead of fear—
Lilian burst into laughter.
"No, Alicia."
"You’re the one who caused your grandmother’s death."
"And sooner or later..."
"Alexander will discard you for ."
"Just wait and see."
The call disconnected imdiately afterward.
Silence filled the car.
My hand slowly lowered from my ear.
Tears welled uncontrollably in my eyes, but I shut them tightly, forcing them back.
No.
I couldn’t trust Lilian’s words so easily.
I needed to hear the truth from Alexander himself.
And until then—
I refused to let myself fall apart.
Alicia’s POV
A mont later, we arrived at the villa.
Jim parked by the entrance, and I quietly stepped out of the car before walking into the house.
"Ma’am, you’re ho," Maria greeted softly.
"Mm."
"Do you need help going upstairs?"
"No, it’s okay. I’ll wait for Alexander here. Just get so warm water."
"Alright, ma’am."
Maria quickly returned with a glass of warm water, and I settled onto the couch quietly.
An hour passed.
Alexander still hadn’t returned.
Maria ca over again, concern written all over her face.
"Ma’am, should I help you upstairs now?"
I shook my head lightly.
"No... I’ll wait here."
Unable to convince , she simply brought over a blanket instead and carefully wrapped it around before leaving.
I curled up silently on the couch.
About thirty minutes later, I finally heard the front door open.
Alexander walked inside.
He casually removed his jacket and tossed the car keys onto the table before walking toward .
The exhaustion on his face was obvious.
His eyes were tired, and even his movents seed heavier than usual.
"Why are you curled up down here?" he asked softly as he sat beside .
"Should I carry you upstairs?"
"No."
I looked up at him quietly.
"I need to ask you sothing first."
A trace of confusion crossed his face.
"What is it?"
I slowly sat up properly and stared directly at him.
"Alexander..."
"What really happened to Nana?"
For the first ti since entering the villa, his expression changed.
He looked slightly caught off guard.
Silence filled the living room.
Then he closed his eyes briefly and rubbed his temple before speaking.
"I already told you... Nana’s health had been deteriorating for a while"
"You’re still choosing to lie to ?"
My voice cracked slightly.
Alexander’s eyes widened faintly.
He went silent again.
Then he closed his eyes once more, as though trying to gather his thoughts.
Just as he was about to speak, I pressed further.
"That night..."
"Did Lilian go to et Nana?"
Alexander hesitated.
Then slowly...
he nodded.
"Yes."
The mont the word left his mouth
sothing inside completely shattered.
The tears I had been desperately holding back finally spilled uncontrollably down my face.
I couldn’t stop them anymore.
I didn’t want to believe Lilian’s words.
But deep down...
I already knew they were true.
Grandma had agreed to et Lilian because of .
And afterward
she collapsed.
My chest hurt so badly it felt hard to breathe.
How could I deserve this?
How could I ever deserve Nana’s sacrifice?
The last ti she was hospitalized, she could barely even speak...
yet she still tried to reconcile Alexander and .
And now...
even during her final monts—
she had still been protecting .
A broken sob escaped my lips.
If separating from Alexander could have kept Nana alive...
then I would rather never have entered his life at all.
But it was already too late.
Everything had already happened.
At that mont, I couldn’t help but wonder
if loving Alexander had only brought disaster to the people around .
If I had never married him...
perhaps none of this would have happened.
Nana worried about until her very last breath.
And in the end...
I had only beco the source of the pain she carried with her to the very end.
User Comments
0 comments from readers