anwhile, Alicia
Since Alexander was with Lilian—and it was a Monday—he likely wouldn’t return anyti soon. Her laptop and iPad were still at the office, and without her phone, she couldn’t even contact her assistant.
After a mont of thought, she made a quiet decision.
She would visit her parents’ graves.
It had been a while... and with the divorce happening today, she wanted to seek their blessing for the life she was about to step into.
"Mrs. Blackwood, are you going out?" Maria’s voice broke her thoughts.
"Mm," Alicia replied softly, forcing a small smile. "I’m going to visit my parents’ graves."
Her grandparents had once been buried in the countryside, but over a decade ago, their graves were relocated to a cetery on the outskirts of the city—alongside her parents.
She decided to visit them all.
On the way, she bought four bouquets of flowers.
Her grandfather had passed away when she was nine. Fourteen years had gone by, and his face had long blurred in her mory, leaving behind only faint traces of warmth.
At the cetery, she placed the flowers carefully before each grave.
Then she sat in front of her father’s tombstone.
The cold stone stood silent before her.
As she closed her eyes, mories surfaced—unbidden.
The car accident.
Six years had passed, but she could never forget.
If her father hadn’t pushed her away at that mont... she would have died with him.
Ti had dulled her mories of her mother and grandparents, but not him.
Never him.
He had been the greatest father she could have asked for.
After divorcing her mother, he never remarried.
When she was younger, she didn’t understand why. But as she grew older, she finally did.
*"People’s hearts are hard to see,"* he used to say. "I can’t be sure how a new wife would treat you. And besides, I’m too busy—I don’t have the energy for another marriage."
He had been a journalist, always traveling, always working. That was why she had grown up with her grandparents.
Back then, she hadn’t understood him.
But now... she did.
There were still old reports about him in newspapers, remnants of the life he had lived.
Alicia lowered her gaze, her voice soft.
"Dad... besides coming to see you... I also wanted to tell you sothing."
She paused.
"I’m getting a divorce."
"Dad... I know this must sound shocking to you. Just a few months ago, I was still telling you how good he was to —how he was the perfect son-in-law in your eyes. And now... in such a short ti, we’re parting ways."
A faint, bitter smile appeared on my lips.
"Do you think it’s ridiculous? Honestly... I think so too."
My voice trembled slightly.
"Ever since he brought up divorce, I’ve felt completely lost. I keep asking myself—how did we end up here? How did we reach the point where divorce beca the only option?"
I lowered my head, my fingers tightening unconsciously.
"If soone had told a few months ago that I’d be divorcing Alexander today... I would have never believed it."
A tear slipped down quietly.
"I loved him so much. How could I ever imagine leaving him? And yet... here we are."
I let out a shaky breath.
"It’s a long story, Dad... and I don’t even know where to begin."
I paused for a mont before whispering,
"I’m pregnant."
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
"You’re going to be a grandfather."
My voice softened, almost pleading.
"If you’re watching over ... please bless this child. Let the baby be born safely."
Another wave of emotion surged through .
"I still love him. I’ve loved him for six years... and we’ve been married for two. How am I supposed to just forget him?"
I pressed a hand against my chest.
"It hurts so much... it really does."
My voice dropped to a whisper.
"Maybe... we were never ant to be."
I closed my eyes briefly before continuing.
"He’s always loved soone else. And no matter how hard I tried these past two years... I couldn’t warm his heart."
A quiet, resigned smile touched my lips.
"We can’t go on like this anymore. I have no choice but to let go."
My voice trembled again.
"Does that make a failure?"
I let out a soft, broken laugh.
"If you were here, you’d probably tell to let go... but I just can’t seem to do it."
Tears blurred my vision.
"I loved him for six years... and finally beca his wife. These two years... they were so good. How could it all end so suddenly?"
Silence settled around .
I sat there, alone in front of the cold gravestone, pouring out everything I had buried deep inside. Only by saying it out loud did the weight in my chest ease, even if just a little.
Now... everything was set.
There was no escaping it—we were getting a divorce.
Since it had co to this, I would accept it. Calmly.
I placed a hand over my stomach again.
"I have this child now."
My voice grew steadier.
"I’ll keep the baby. I’ll give them the Sinclair na... and raise them well."
Deep down, I already knew—
After Alexander, I would never be able to love anyone the sa way again.
He was everything anyone could want—handso, capable, from a powerful family...
And yet, he was also cold. Untouchable.
Through him, I had learned a painful lesson.
I stayed at the cetery until the afternoon.
After talking about the divorce, I also shared my plans with my father.
Once I inford Grandma from the Blackwood family, I would leave the company. Whether Alexander agreed or not didn’t matter anymore.
I would find a new place to live... raise my child... and build a life of my own.
If possible, I would still visit Grandma from ti to ti—with the child.
I gently touched the gravestone.
"Dad... I’ll go now. I’ll co see you again at Christmas."
With that, I stood up, turned, and left the cetery.
As I rged onto the highway, a black sedan suddenly accelerated and cut in between and the car ahead.
I slamd on the brakes instinctively.
The sedan stayed in front of , maintaining a strange distance—not too close, not too far.
Monts later, its brake lights flashed again.
I slowed down and glanced at the rearview mirror before switching lanes to overtake it.
But not long after, it caught up again—
and moved right back in front of .
A few minutes passed.
The sa thing happened again.
The car slowed down deliberately, blocking my path.
When I tried to change lanes, it followed—cutting off once more.
A sense of unease crept into my chest.
Is this... intentional?
I frowned, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
I didn’t recognize the license plate.
And earlier, when the car had passed ...
the driver had even smiled at through the window.
I didn’t recognize him either.
As I exited the highway, the black sedan followed closely behind.
It trailed down the ramp, then suddenly sped ahead—only to slow down again, forcing to reduce my speed.
When I slowed, it slowed even more.
At this rate, there was no way to get past it unless I stopped completely—but parking here was prohibited.
I tried changing lanes.
It followed.
Blocking again.
Once.
Twice.
Again and again.
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