Rita squinted at the tall figure approaching against the light.
Until she met Alexander’s gaze, her face turned pale.
Sean lowered his eyes, arrogance lacing his tone: “Alexander, never thought you’d take the woman I slept with. Quite a coincidence.”
Rita’s hands curled involuntarily at her sides, a chill spreading from her heart to her fingertips.
Alexander ignored Sean’s taunt, walked straight to Rita, and slipped her icy hand into his pocket like always.
He watched her quietly, his pupils warm as jade.
“Rita, we need to talk.”
Rita stayed silent for two seconds, then stopped resisting.
Nguyenddenly, someone grabbed her other wrist with furious force, nearly crushing the bone.
Alexander shot Sean a deep look, his voice icy: “Sean, since you’re so concerned about my wife, focus on your own company.”
As he spoke, Sean glanced down at his buzzing phone.
He gritted his teeth and actually let go.
Alexander led Ritainto the car.
Before he spoke, she blurted: “Alex… Alexander, I only got in to clear things up. Since you have a family, I’ll step aside. Our marriage was never real anyway.”
Alexander turned to her, eyes darkening: “I won’t let you leave.”
Rita’s lips curved in self–mockery: “Everyone has limits. I won’t be the other woman–not for Sean back then, not for
you now.”
A sharp brake cut her off.
Her body lurched forward, only to be shoved back by strong hands on her shoulders.
“I won’t put you in that position, Rita.”
“I’ll give up everything and go with you.”
His hot breath brushed her lips.
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Chapter 3
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“But I need to have a child with Marleigh–an heir for the Williams family.”
Alexander studied her face, then abruptly released her shoulder and sat back.
“Rita needs a son to secure her place in the Williams family, and the title of Mrs. Williams for protection.
I promise, once she delivers, we leave immediately.”
So his “protection” meant handing everything to another woman–even the right to call him Dad.
Her heart still ached, numb and dull.
“I truly loved her once. Can’t let her drown in that cutthroat world alone.”
Alexander pressed her hand to his chest. “But from now on, only you’ll be here. Be generous- let her have this, okay?”
The heartbeat thudded under her palm, but she felt no warmth.
Ritaslowly pulled her hand back and whispered, “Okay.”
Stunned by her quick agreement, Alexander hugged her like an overeager boy hit by luck.
He missed her utterly blank expression.
Clearly fearing she’d bolt, Alexander kept her close.
He needed her in his sight every second to feel calm.
So after every night with Rita, no matter how late, he’d return to the second floor and hold Ritauntil dawn.
The scent of musk mingled with shower gel–that distinct post–intimacy aroma clinging to the man–finally over- whelmed Rita. She shoved him away violently, scrambled off the bed, and vomited.
Alexander didn’t even bother throwing on clothes before rushing to fetch her warm water, his hand soothing circles
on her back.
“What’s wrong, Rita? Are you sick?
I’ll take you to the hospital.”
He grabbed his clothes haphazardly, but froze mid–motion at the sight of the figure in the doorway.
“What is it, Shirley?”
Clutching her rabbit plushie, the girl spoke softly, “Daddy… Mommy has a tummy ache…”
Alexander didn’t wait to hear more. He bolted downstairs, completely forgetting the Rita still standing in the bed-
room.
The roar of an engine echoed from below moments later.
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Chapter 3
Rita let out a bitter laugh.
“Auntie, can you take me to my room?”
Rita snapped back to reality. Shirley blinked up at her with wide eyes, keeping her distance.
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Perhaps the empty villa softened her; the sharpness from their first meeting was gone, replaced by a timid docility.
As Rita reached for her hand, the child suddenly pressed a small palm against Rita’s abdomen. “Auntie has a baby in your tummy too?” she asked innocently.
Rita’s hand instinctively flew to her belly. Even a child could see it–yet Alexander remained oblivious. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or devastated.
Bending down to respond, a violent shove struck her lower back!
Rita cried out, balance abandoning her. Her hands clawed desperately at the railing, grasping only air.
Thud-
White–hot pain exploded from her spine to her womb. Curled on the icy marble floor, spasms wracked her body. Warm liquid seeped beneath her, staining the pale gray skirt crimson.
Mouth open in a soundless gasp, she fixed her gaze on the balcony.
The girl stood motionless. All traces of childish innocence had vanished, replaced by a chilling, almost cruel calm.
She stared at Rita’s blood–soaked form, an unnerving smile spreading across her face. “Auntie, I don’t like this baby.”
“So… can you both just die?”
As darkness crept in, frantic footsteps pounded nearby, mingled with the girl’s terrified wail:
“Daddy! Save her!”
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