When his eyes fell on me concern flashed across his face. He crossed the room and sat beside me.
"Alicia, are you feeling alright?"
I stiffened at the sight of him. To my own surprise, a faint sense of relief crept in. I stood up and stepped away from the bed.
"I'm fine."
"Then what's wrong?" he asked quietly. "Tell me."
Tell him?
Tell him that I didn't want a divorce—that I didn't want any of this? He had brought me a gift. He hadn't stayed with Liliana last night. Did that mean there was still something left between us?
If I asked him to stay… would he?
I parted my lips, but before I could speak, he added calmly,
"Even if we're no longer married, I'm still your brother. You can talk to me if something's bothering you."
The words struck harder than rejection.
My throat tightened, as if filled with sand. The hope I hadn't dared acknowledge shattered instantly. I stood there, silent, unable to force out a single word.
After a long silence, I forced a faint smile and turned to him.
"I'm really fine. You should go ahead. I'll come downstairs after I wash up."
Alexander looked at me, loosened his collar, and pressed his lips together.
"Alicia, we haven't divorced yet. Are you really going to be this distant with me?"
I parted my lips, trying to swallow the bitterness rising in my throat. In the end, all I could offer was a weak smile and a small shake of my head.
"I'm not."
He studied me for a moment. Displeasure flickered in his eyes.
"Since you don't want to talk, I won't force you," he said calmly. "I'm going to the office."
He turned and left—no pause, no hesitation.
The door clicked shut behind him.
The smile on my face collapsed instantly.
What was he angry about?
Was it because Lilian was back? Or was he already growing impatient with me?
I tried to smile again, but the weight dragged my lips downward, heavier than tears—so heavy it hurt.
Blackwood Dominion enterprises.
My assistant hurried in, her expression tense.
"Director Alicia, Lily Avery's talent agent is on the phone."
The new product from Blackwood Dominion Enterprises was about to debut, and Lily Avery—the hottest rising star with a youthful, vibrant image—had been chosen as the brand ambassador. She was the perfect match. There was no room for error.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"She didn't say," my assistant replied, "but she insisted you take the call immediately."
I picked up the receiver. "Hello, Sophia?"
An angry voice burst through the line. It was Rose Hayes, Lily's agent. My heart sank.
"Director Alicia," she snapped, "if you think Lily isn't good enough for Blackwood Dominion enterprises, just say it outright. Lily doesn't need you. We've already turned down other endorsements for this collaboration, and now you're suddenly changing your mind in favor of Lily? Are you playing games with us? You owe Lily an explanation!"
I drew in a slow breath, forcing my emotions down. My grip tightened on the receiver, but my voice remained calm and firm.
"Rose, please calm down. Lily is still our brand ambassador," I said steadily. "Tell me exactly what happened."
She scoffed.
"Oh, come on, Alicia. Don't act like you don't know what's going on. The Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations just called personally to say they're replacing her."