Alicia’s POV
We arrived at the mansion at exactly three in the afternoon.
Jim parked in front of the entrance, followed closely by the security vehicle that now accompanied us everywhere.
Alexander and I stepped out of the car and walked inside.
The mansion looked exactly the sa as always.
Yet sothing was missing.
It was quiet.
Far too quiet.
The living room stood empty, and even the staff mbers were nowhere in sight. The silence wrapped around the house like a heavy blanket, making the absence of one person feel even more obvious.
My gaze drifted toward Nana’s favorite seat.
The place where she would always sit and chat whenever we visited.
A dull ache spread through my chest.
"Co on."
Alexander’s hoarse voice pulled back to reality.
I nodded and followed him further inside.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
I looked up and instantly froze.
Aunt Angela was descending the stairs.
When she reached the bottom, her eyes settled on us.
Sothing about her seed different today.
The usual arrogance and sharpness were gone.
In their place were emotions I rarely associated with her.
Grief.
Longing.
Regret.
Beside , Alexander quietly reached for my hand.
I frowned and glanced at him.
His expression remained unreadable.
"Alexander, you finally ca."
Her voice softened noticeably as she looked at him, completely ignoring my existence.
"Yes, Aunt. Alicia wanted to co check sothing."
At the ntion of my na, her gaze shifted toward .
The softness disappeared instantly.
"Aunt," I greeted quietly.
She didn’t respond.
Instead, her eyes fell to our intertwined hands.
They lingered there.
I instinctively tried to pull away, but Alexander tightened his grip.
My brows furrowed.
What was he doing?
Before I could think further, he turned toward .
"Go ahead."
I nodded.
Without another word, I walked past Aunt Angela and headed deeper into the mansion.
The familiar hallways stretched before .
Every step brought back mories.
So happy.
So painful.
Eventually, I reached Nana’s room.
My hand trembled slightly as I pushed the door open.
The room remained exactly as she had left it.
Neat.
Elegant.
Warm.
It even carried the faint scent that always reminded of her.
For a mont, I simply stood there.
Then I slowly walked toward the bedside drawer.
My heartbeat accelerated.
I reached for the handle and pulled.
Locked.
Only then did I rember the keys Uncle Steve had given .
Taking them from my pocket, I searched for the correct one and unlocked the drawer.
Inside sat a beautifully crafted wooden box.
Slowly, I lifted it out and opened the lid.
But before I could check what was inside,
The door burst open.
I startled and looked up.
Aunt Angela stord into the room.
Her eyes imdiately locked onto the box in my hands.
Her expression darkened.
"What are you doing here?"
I quickly stood.
Before I could answer, her gaze sharpened.
"What is that?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"What else are you here to take?"
"Aunt, Nana asked to co"
"I asked you a question!"
She marched forward.
"You already got more than enough from this family."
Her voice grew louder with every word.
"Isn’t it enough?"
Her eyes dropped to the box again.
"How much more do you want?"
I tightened my grip on the box.
"I didn’t co here for inheritance."
"Oh, really?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Then why are you standing in Mother’s room holding sothing she left behind?"
"Aunt, Nana ...."
"Stop pretending!"
She grabbed my arm roughly.
The box nearly slipped from my hands.
"Get out."
Her voice trembled with anger.
"Leave my mother’s room."
I pulled my arm free and stepped back.
"I ca because Nana asked to."
For a mont, she froze.
Then she scoffed.
"So now you’re talking back to ?"
"Is it because Alexander is finally siding with you?"
Her eyes dropped toward my stomach.
And sothing inside instantly tensed.
"You think carrying that child gives you a place in this family?"
I froze.
"You think because Mother spoiled you, you can do whatever you want?"
"Aunt"
"No."
She cut off.
"You and that child don’t belong here."
The room went silent.
My fingers tightened around the box.
Angela continued rcilessly.
"Sooner or later Alexander will see your true colors."
"He’ll find a better woman."
"A woman worthy of giving this family an heir."
"And frankly—"
Her lips curled.
"Even Lilian would be a better choice than you."
Sothing inside snapped.
Not because of what she said about .
But because she spoke about my child.
A calm settled over .
The kind of calm that appears right before sothing breaks completely.
I lifted my head and looked directly at her.
"Then keep your family."
Angela froze.
"Keep your heir."
My voice remained steady.
"Keep everything."
"But don’t ever speak about my child again."
For the first ti, Aunt Angela looked stunned.
My eyes never left hers.
"Because you’re not worthy of speaking about him."
Or her.
"And if being part of this family ans growing up surrounded by people who think this way..."
My throat tightened.
"I would rather my child grow up without a father."
The room fell silent.
Neither of us spoke.
I turned around and walked out.
This ti, Aunt Angela didn’t stop .
Alexander’s POV
After Alicia went upstairs, Aunt Angela studied for a long mont before turning and walking toward the living room.
I already knew she had sothing to say.
And judging from her expression, I probably wasn’t going to like it.
Still, I followed behind her.
She took a seat on one of the sofas and crossed her arms.
"I assu you’ve already heard about the shares."
"Yes."
I sat opposite her.
"I wasn’t expecting that."
Aunt Angela scoffed lightly.
"Maybe it’s Mother’s way of compensating you for forcing you into that marriage."
My brows imdiately furrowed.
"No one forced ."
She looked unconvinced.
"I agreed to the marriage myself."
I held her gaze.
"And I don’t regret it."
The room fell silent.
Aunt Angela stared at as though I had suddenly beco a stranger.
"Alexander, do you even hear yourself?"
She shook her head.
"You don’t need to pretend anymore. Mother isn’t here."
"Just divorce her."
I let out a slow breath.
"We’re not having this discussion again."
My voice remained calm.
"Alicia is my wife."
"And she’s carrying my child."
"I’m not divorcing her."
Aunt Angela’s expression darkened.
For a mont, neither of us spoke.
Then she suddenly asked,
"Do you love her?"
The answer ca effortlessly.
"Yes."
There wasn’t even a second of hesitation.
If she’d asked that question months ago, perhaps I would’ve struggled to answer.
But not now.
Not after everything.
Not after almost losing her.
Not after realizing how empty my life felt whenever she pulled away from .
I loved Alicia.
I had simply been too foolish to recognize it sooner.
Aunt Angela looked genuinely shocked.
I softened my tone slightly.
"Aunt, I love Alicia."
"And I won’t allow anything to co between us."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"What has gotten into you?"
She shook her head.
"You’re confused."
"Once you separate from her and find Lilian, you’ll co back to your senses."
My expression instantly hardened.
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