By the ti I got ho, it was already 10:00 a.m.
"Welco back, Mrs. Blackwood," Maria greeted.
"Thank you. Has Alexander returned?" I asked.
"No, ma’am. I thought you would return together."
"Never mind," I said casually and headed upstairs.
Since I hadn’t fully recovered, I stayed in bed all day, with lunch brought up to my room.
By evening, as I lay scrolling through my phone, a ssage popped up from Sophie.
Sophie: Alicia, want to go shopping tomorrow? It’s Sunday.
I hadn’t been shopping in a while, and with the new season’s collections coming in, I figured I might not have ti later.
: Sure. What ti?
Sophie: 11 a.m. at the new mall near your office.
: Sounds good. Will Sandra be there?
Sophie: No, she’s been really busy lately.
: Alright. See you tomorrow.
Since I’d been lying down all day, I decided to go downstairs and watch TV while waiting for dinner.
As I descended the stairs, I heard Maria speaking to soone.
Then I saw him.
Alexander.
"You’re here," I said casually.
"Yes."
I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. I walked past him and sat on the couch, turning on the TV.
Lately, TV had beco my escape.
After a mont, I felt his gaze burning into . I turned.
He was still standing there, watching .
"Do you need anything?" I asked, frowning.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I let out a small scoff. "Do I look sick?"
Yesterday, when I needed him, he wasn’t there. So why the sudden concern now?
"I don’t know... you just look pale."
"I’m fine," I said, turning back to the TV.
After a while, I heard his footsteps retreat upstairs.
Dinner was soon served.
As I approached the dining table, I saw Alexander coming downstairs, dressed casually. A few strands of hair fell over his forehead, and the light stubble on his jaw made him look unexpectedly youthful.
We sat and ate in silence.
Suddenly, he served a bowl of tomato soup.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
Then sothing crossed my mind.
"The bracelet... I can’t find it. I left it in the car."
Alexander paused, his expression tightening slightly.
"...Lilian liked it."
A dull ache spread through my chest, but I forced a smile.
"It’s fine. I don’t need it. If she likes it, she can have it."
After all... I could let her have my husband. What was a bracelet compared to that?
"Next ti, I’ll buy you another," he added softly.
"No need," i said.
I lowered my head and continued eating.
The atmosphere grew heavy with tension.
Alexander’s POV
I watched her quietly as she ate, taking small, careful bites.
After finishing her soup, she set down her spoon.
" I’ll head upstairs."
"Mm," I replied.
It was all I could manage.
Sothing about her felt... different.
Off.
After dinner, I returned to the master bedroom. Then sothing occurred to . I pulled out my wallet and took out a black card.
Opening the door, I called out—
"Alicia, you—"
My words died in my throat.
The room was empty.
I stepped inside slowly, my gaze sweeping across the space.
It felt... different.
Barer.
A lot of Alicia’s things were gone.
How hadn’t I noticed earlier?
Looking closer, it beca clear.
Her personal belongings were missing.
Had she moved out of the master bedroom again? But why?
I thought we had already agreed on this... so what changed?
A sudden unease gripped my chest.
Before I knew it, I had already stord out of the room, calling her na as I checked the guest rooms one after another—completely unaware of how much I was overreacting.
"Alicia!"
The first guest room was dark.
Empty.
The second room—
The sa.
User Comments
0 comments from readers