She seized his hand, urgent for confirmation.
“Alexander, you really… you’ll truly help me?”
Extinguished hope surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her.
Alexander watched her, sighing inwardly. “Don’t ever do anything foolish again.”
He withdrew his hand, tucking the blanket around her. The gesture wasn’t particularly gentle, but it car- ried absolute finality.
“I booked your favorite restaurant. Dinner tomorrow night.”
Vivian understood immediately–he meant to publicly acknowledge her, to clear her name in this scan- dal.
She could scarcely believe her ears. Wild joy exploded in her chest, though she fought to maintain a fragile, tearful expression.
She nodded, docile as a frightened rabbit.
Perfect!
This time, she’d truly cheated death!
What did the slander matter if Alexander stood by her?
What did the losses matter?
This disaster had truly become a blessing in disguise.
She caught his hand again, this time with a hint of a plea.
“Alexander, you’re so good to me.
I’ll always be thankful… for jumping into that sea years ago to save you.”
She deliberately paused, observing Alexander’s expression. Seeing no reaction, she continued, her voice trembling with lingering fear.
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“You know what?
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Back then, I was almost drowning, but I had only one thought in my mind–I had to save you… You couldn’t die.
Luckily, you finally woke up. They all laughed at me for using my first kiss to give you… CPR!”
Every word of this speech hit Alexander’s guilt points dead center.
A textbook guilt trip.
Alexander’s thoughts did drift back to that year.
The bone–chilling seawater, the suffocating feeling of nearing death.
Then he was rescued, struggling to open his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Vivian’s face, drenched by the ocean yet breathtakingly beautiful.
That heartbeat was real!
He truly fell for her right then.
This life–saving debt, these first–sight feelings–they became invisible shackles trapping him.
He stayed silent for a moment, suppressing the turmoil inside.
“Don’t do reckless things anymore.”
He repeated it, his tone heavier this time.
Then his voice shifted to a warning: “And I hope you’ll stop targeting Lisa.
She won’t be a Ford much longer.”
Vivian’s heart dropped.
Was he really divorcing Lisa?
Perfect!
Her face stayed calm, maintaining that docile look as she nodded earnestly.
“Yes, I understand, Alexander.
As long as she doesn’t provoke me, I won’t touch her.”
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Alexander nodded approvingly, gently stroking her hair.
“Grandpa might not accept you immediately, but I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
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Vivian got it. She didn’t need to marry into the Ford Family right away–as long as his heart belonged to her, she wasn’t afraid.
She shook his large hand, her voice soft and pleading.
“The doctor says I need overnight observation.
I don’t want to stay here alone. I’m scared.
Could you… keep me company?”
Alexander studied her pale face and the dependence in her eyes.
He couldn’t disappoint her again–they’d weathered too many storms over four years to reach this point.
He didn’t want to lose her either.
This time, he was determined.
“Okay!”
That single word carried weight.
Night deepened.
Alexander didn’t return to the family manor for dinner, and Lisa didn’t go back either.
She brushed it off with a flimsy excuse.
Truthfully, she just didn’t want to see Alexander.
Thinking of him and everything in the cabin made her restless.
After returning home, Matthew got an earful from her parents–how could a socialite brawl publicly?
Meanwhile, the Bennett Family rushed Bruce to the Johnson Family to apologize.
Rumor had it the Bennetts tried setting a wedding date, but Matthew shut it down instantly!
She declared she’d marry only when Seattle had no more scandals about Bruce!
Now both families were sharing the opening drink,
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Rain began pattering against the windows at some point.
The balcony breeze carried late autumn’s chill.
Lisa stood on the balcony, watching the rain curtain outside as city lights blurred into a hazy mosaic through the downpour.
The Ford Corporate Headquarters Tower loomed in the darkness–still magnificent yet piercingly cold.
Ding–dong, ding–dong–the doorbell chimed abruptly.
Had Matthew sneaked out again?
She shuffled toward the door, scuffing in her slippers.
The door opened.
Outside stood not Matthew, but the face she least wanted to see.
Alexander.
He lingered at the threshold, seemingly carrying the chill of the storm within him, his handsome fea- tures frozen like sculpted ice.
His eyes locked on her, radiating an indescribable pressure.
As Lisa moved to shut the door, his large hand slammed against the frame.
A smirk played on his lips. “Lisa,” he drawled, “You can’t hide from me.”
Beg Me, Let Me Keep You for Three More Years
Alexander’s imposing figure barged straight in.
The apartment had a simple design with minimalist furniture, yet soft purple accents lent it an unexpect- ed… warmth.
A stark contrast to his icy mansion.
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Chapter37
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