Whatever. I’ll win her back sooner or later, Alexander thought with arrogant certainty, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.He flicked his gaze toward the stack of documents on his desk, his voice sharp and commanding. “From now on, don’t even think about contacting her.”Liam stood there awkwardly, lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. The weight of Alexander’s tone pinned him in place. A beat later, he gave a stiff nod and backed out of the office, the door clicking shut behind him.Alone now, Alexander leaned back in his leather chair, his expression darkening as his thoughts unraveled.Alexei. Richard. And that damn actor—Austin.His jaw clenched.Why the hell are there so many men around her?The more he thought about it, the more the rage simmered beneath his skin. Not long ago, he had been her husband—her only man. Now, it felt like he had to queue up just to earn a sliver of her attention. The indignity of it grated at him.And Alexei—Alexander was convinced th
The next morning, Serena headed straight to E.A. Corporation.As soon as she stepped into her bright, modern office, her footsteps froze. Someone was already inside — sitting calmly in her chair. Alexander Vanderbilt.For a brief moment, she wondered if she was seeing things. Then reality struck: he’d found out about her true identity, and with Alexander’s resources, of course he would have dug deeper.He was lounging back in the chair like he owned the place, reviewing a thick contract folder, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar as though he had all the time in the world.So this is where she works now? Alexander mused, scanning the framed photos on her shelves, the scent of fresh coffee still lingering in the air.She had turned the Morales family’s crumbling company around almost single-handedly, now even venturing boldly into the film industry. Hugo’s screenplay had become a hit, and their current production was pulling in rave reviews.When she entered, Alexander finall
“I’ll make it up to you,” Alexander murmured, his lashes trembling as he pushed open the car door beside him. “Go home. Get some proper rest tonight. If there’s ever something you can’t handle, come talk to me.”Serena was caught off guard. She had braced herself for him to explode, to tear into her with a rage that would leave her in pieces. Instead, she saw a fragile softness in his eyes, something almost foreign to her.She stepped out of the car with hesitant movements, but before she could fully straighten up, Alexander’s arms circled her waist, pulling her back against him. His head dropped to her shoulder, heavy and warm, the scent of his cologne mixing with the cool night air.His voice, thick and edged with a pleading note, brushed against her ear. “Stay away from those people. I’ll make it worth your while.”“Mr. Vanderbilt,” Serena managed, trying to keep her voice steady, “I have nothing to do with them.”His forehead pressed more firmly into her shoulder, as if he needed t
Alexander slipped into his impeccably tailored suit like a soldier donning armor before war. Each button he fastened seemed to echo with purpose, deliberate and cold, his movements sharp as a blade. His eyes, dark and unyielding, glinted with a dangerous calm as he called out,“Serena?”His voice rolled through the room like a spell, commanding and impossible to ignore.Serena froze, her breath catching, spine stiff. She didn’t even dare glance at him, too rattled by the chill in his tone.Alexander’s gaze shifted, first to Alexei—who looked perfectly calm, as though the drama unfolding was nothing but a dull spectacle—then to Lucca, who seemed just as unbothered. A surge of betrayal crawled up Alexander’s spine. So everyone had known the truth. Everyone except him.Wonderful.A slow, poisonous anger coiled in his chest, ready to burst. But he reined it in, standing there statuesque, an unreadable mask on his face, as memories flooded back in sharp, humiliating flashes.He’d returned t
Inside the room, chaos reigned. Hugo and Alexei were struggling to break up the fight when Alexander landed a brutal kick squarely into Lucca’s chest. Lucca staggered backward, crashing down onto shattered glass. A sharp sliver sliced into his palm, leaving a long, bloody gash.Alexander was no better off. A fresh wound streaked across his neck, vivid red against his pale skin, proof of how viciously they’d come at each other. Both had fought as if they truly meant to kill. But the instant Ava stepped through the doorway, everything in Alexander froze.Her face was stricken with panic. Without sparing Alexander a glance, she hurried straight to Lucca, kneeling beside him. “Mr. Reinaldi, are you alright?”Lucca lifted his injured hand, wincing at the sight of the deep cut.Ava’s face drained of color. “That needs stitches.”Without hesitation, she reached out to help him up, then turned on Alexander with an edge of fury in her voice. “Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Reinaldi is a guest from afar. I
Triggee Warning marked with ### and ##### again similar to previous chapter... proceed with caution---When they arrived at the hospital, the corridor was already crowded with members of the Vanderbilt family. Their faces were drawn, tense, each carrying a silent dread. The news of what had happened to Rita had traveled fast within their circle, but no one dared speak it aloud. An oppressive hush filled the waiting area, heavy enough to crush even the faintest whisper.If word of this incident leaked beyond these walls, Rita’s reputation would be shattered.Diana let out a weary sigh, her shoulders drooping. “Why would Rita go there all of a sudden?”Alexander shook his head, jaw tense. “The kidnappers are finished. They won’t be around to talk. I’ll arrange for her to see a psychologist.”It was all they could do for now.Moments later, Rita’s parents, Justin and his wife, arrived. Their expressions were unsettlingly calm, as if this was just another business inconvenience. Justin, i