* FREE - Appreciation for our Readers *Chapter 90 : And now, she was eager to distance herself?

Dear Gentle Readers, 

Understanding your request to hasten the plot, some chapters will be made free to show this writer’s appreciation towards your support. 

Please continue reading this story... no part of this story will go to waste (aka it will be important for future chapters). 

Grazie mille, 

Yours, E.C. 

-------

Aunt Torres felt a heavy sense of unease, sensing Alexander’s anger. Their already distant relationship seemed poised to grow even colder. She sighed. Miss Morales didn’t look well before going upstairs. She probably didn’t even hear the knocking.

She wanted to salvage Serena’s image, to explain that it wasn’t intentional, but before she could speak, Alexander cut her off.

“I don’t want to hear about her affairs.”

His voice was detached, his expression impassive. A wall had been built, shutting out any further discussion. Aunt Torres held back whatever she was about to say. Throughout the meal, the silence weighed on the dining room. The servants moved cautiously, their presence barely noticeable. Alexander ate methodically, his every motion elegant but mechanical. He didn’t consume much. Once finished, he stood and made his way upstairs without another word.

Aunt Torres sighed and instructed the staff to clear the table, leaving a portion of dinner aside for Serena.

---

Meanwhile, Serena had arrived at Darby Construction’s office, her latest business partner. She had rested before heading out, using concealer to hide any traces of the bruise on her cheek—appearing disheveled in front of a client wasn’t an option.

Unlike Mr. Thompson, the person in charge at Darby Construction was far more reliable. Their meeting was productive, and as a gesture of goodwill, they extended the discussion over dinner. Since it was a business gathering, drinks were inevitable. Serena limited herself to two glasses. Within three hours, they had finalized the next steps.

The construction drawings were submitted, materials for the initial installations were selected, and a timeline was set—work would begin in two days.

Feeling satisfied, Serena left the dinner but refrained from calling her usual driver. She had consumed alcohol, so she arranged for a designated driver instead.

When the car pulled up to Le Châteauesque Manor, the night air was thick with impending rain. She paid the fare, stepped out, and walked inside.

A strange tension lingered in the house. The stillness felt heavier than usual. Serena rubbed her temples, slightly dizzy from the drinks.

Aunt Torres, waiting in the living room, was visibly surprised when she saw her.

“Miss Morales? Weren’t you resting upstairs?”

Serena blinked. “I had a last-minute meeting.”

Regret washed over Aunt Torres. She should have checked Serena’s room earlier—Alexander’s irritation had been entirely misplaced.

“Have you eaten?”

“I had a business dinner, but the alcohol upset my stomach. I’ll take a stomach pill and head to bed.”

Aunt Torres hesitated, then said, “Miss Morales, why don’t you have some hot soup? I’ll leave it on the table with a stomach pill and warm water. Just drink it before you sleep.”

Serena nodded, appreciating the kindness.

Once Aunt Torres retired for the night, Serena sat at the dining table, absently staring at the untouched bowl of soup. Did I forget something?

Outside, a rumble of thunder cracked through the sky.

She sighed. It was going to rain.

After taking the stomach pill, she moved to return the bowl to the kitchen. The sudden boom of thunder startled her, and the bowl slipped from her hands, shattering on the tiled floor.

She bent down to clean up, but as she reached for the broken pieces, the room plunged into darkness.

Power outage?

Before she could stand, a deep voice came from the doorway.

“Who’s there?”

Serena’s breath hitched. Alexander.

Of course. She had been so focused on business, she had momentarily forgotten he was also staying at Le Châteauesque Manor.

Just as she moved to step away, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist.

“You’re not one of the household staff,” he accused.

Her heart pounded. This is bad.

Alexander was constantly surrounded by people trying to manipulate their way into his life. He was naturally suspicious, and now, finding someone crouched in the dark kitchen only heightened his distrust.

“Mr. Vanderbilt, you’ve misunderstood me,” she said, lowering her voice.

“Give me your phone.”

His grip tightened, as if expecting her to run.

Serena cursed internally. Her phone was in her pocket, buzzing nonstop. Who keeps calling at this hour?

She silenced it, but the vibrations persisted.

The tension in the room grew heavier. Serena knew she had no way out of this. If Alexander realized her identity now, there was no telling how he would react.

As she hesitated, a deafening clap of thunder shook the house, masking the subtle shift in her voice. If not for that, Alexander might have recognized her immediately.

She exhaled, deciding to confess. “Mr. Vanderbilt, actually, I—”

But before she could finish, the phone screen went dark. The battery had finally died.

Serena stared at the device in disbelief. Was this luck or divine intervention?

Alexander also saw the phone shut off. For the first time, his suspicion wavered. He looked at her closely. Her scent was oddly familiar, yet he couldn’t place where he had encountered it before.

“Mr. Vanderbilt, I’m new here. I accidentally broke a bowl and panicked.”

Her voice was laced with anxiety, a subtle tremble that made her sound genuinely distressed.

“We were told to be extra cautious around you, sir. Mrs. Torres warned us not to make mistakes.”

Alexander’s grip loosened.

So, she had been crouching here, silently picking up the shards.

The logical part of him acknowledged that her explanation made sense. It aligned with how his grandfather ran things.

He let go.

“Understood.” His tone was neutral, but he took a step back.

A beat of silence passed before he added, “It’s dark in here. Be careful.”

Then, without another word, he turned and left.

Serena remained frozen until she heard his footsteps fade upstairs.

Finally, she exhaled, her body sagging with relief.

Slowly, she made her way upstairs to her own room, plugging in her phone the moment she got inside.

A notification popped up—her father had been the one calling.

The message read: “Serena, bring Alexander home tomorrow night. We’re preparing dinner.”

She set the phone down, her heart sinking.

Her father had asked this before, but she had been avoiding it.

Would Alexander even agree?

Her fingers curled into fists.

He despises me. How am I supposed to convince him?

The night stretched on, the echoes of thunder still rumbling outside.

And for the first time in a long while, Serena found herself dreading tomorrow. 

---

The next morning, Serena lingered in her room, waiting for Alexander to leave first. Only when Aunt Torres informed her that he had gone did she finally exhale in relief. Sharing the same space with him felt suffocating.

After breakfast, she visited the back room to check on Rex. The husky had been confined recently, and his barks had lost their usual clarity, which made her heart ache.

She crouched down, running her fingers through his thick fur. "You miss running around, don't you?"

Rex wagged his tail excitedly, circling her.

Serena sighed. I have to move out of here soon. The house she had purchased was large enough for both of them, and once the renovations were complete, they could finally leave Le Châteauesque Manor.

After taking him for a quick walk around the property, she left for Darby Construction, where she finalized the upcoming construction work and signed the necessary documents. Since work was set to begin soon, it was time to inform Alexander, the homeowner.

She personally visited the Vanderbilt Group, only to encounter Michelle once again.

--- (From here, Serena will be referred to as Ava, as Aunt Torres and the Vanderbilt staff recognize her as “Ava,” the designer.) ---

Michelle had just finished a call with Victoria, reassuring her that she was keeping an eye on Alexander, when she spotted Ava entering the office.

How long has it been since she last showed up? Michelle sneered.

Some women just didn’t know when to quit. Ava was clearly using this project as an excuse to get close to Alexander.

"A toad dreaming of eating swan meat," Michelle muttered, slamming some documents onto her desk.

"Some people don’t even weigh their worth. Those cheap tricks might work once or twice, but they wouldn't seriously believe they can seduce someone like my cousin, right?"

Her words dripped with disdain.

Victoria would be returning soon, and Ava was nothing more than a stepping stone—a temporary nuisance.

Yet, Ava didn't even glance in her direction. She walked past Michelle with an air of complete indifference.

Michelle’s expression twisted. This damn woman!

Seeing Ava knock on Alexander's office door, Michelle lunged forward, intending to stop her.

But before she could, Alexander's voice rang out.

"Come in."

Ava stepped inside and shut the door behind her, leaving Michelle seething outside.

Furious, Michelle clenched her fists. This woman again! I need to let Victoria know immediately.

She rushed to a quiet corner and dialed her cousin’s number.

Victoria answered swiftly, her voice as poised as ever. "Michelle, what is it this time?"

Michelle’s tone was sharp. "That designer I told you about? She came to see Alexander again today."

Victoria’s fingers tensed around her phone. "Again?"

"And I forgot to mention—last time, she followed him to his hotel and bought him cufflinks worth two hundred thousand dollars. Cousin, if you don’t come back soon, I’m afraid someone else will snatch him away."

A flicker of unease crossed Victoria’s face. "What does she look like?"

"Like a cunning fox," Michelle spat.

Victoria frowned. She had always believed Alexander wouldn’t be tempted by other women. He had spent years abroad without a single scandal, even after marriage. That alone reassured her.

Still, Michelle's words irked her.

"Find out exactly which cufflinks she bought," Victoria ordered.

Within minutes, Victoria had an identical set sent over. "Take these to Alexander," she told Michelle.

Downstairs, a courier arrived with the package. Michelle retrieved it eagerly, determined to show Ava her place.

---

Inside Alexander’s office, Ava placed the documents on his desk.

Alexander flipped through them, signing without hesitation.

"Mr. Vanderbilt, will you be attending the site inspection?" she asked.

Alexander barely glanced up. "No need."

Traditionally, the homeowner attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but Alexander’s wealth and status made such formalities trivial.

"The construction team from Darby Construction will start immediately. If there are no objections, I'll finalize the interior selections in phases."

"Hmm." His gaze remained fixed on his computer, though his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

The previous night had been unsettling.

It had rained all night, yet he had barely slept. His sleep had always been deep and uninterrupted, but last night, something nagged at him.

That maid in the kitchen…

Her scent was too familiar. It reminded him of Ava.

But that was impossible.

Ava had no reason to be at Le Châteauesque Manor. He told himself he was overthinking, that their recent interactions had made her presence linger in his mind.

It was time to put distance between them.

At that moment, Michelle knocked and walked in, carrying a small box.

"Alexander, Victoria sent these for you."

She placed the box on his desk with an exaggerated smile, shooting Ava a triumphant glance.

Alexander casually opened the box, revealing a pair of designer cufflinks—identical to the ones Ava had gifted him before.

A brief flicker of recognition crossed his face. He glanced at Ava, but she remained unfazed, focused on organizing her materials.

When she finished, she smiled. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I've completed everything. I won’t disturb you any longer."

For a moment, Alexander didn’t respond.

Something about her calmness unsettled him.

Then he said, "Don't send soup anymore."

Ava blinked.

Both of them knew what he meant.

But Michelle, who was still standing nearby, misinterpreted the comment. She assumed Alexander was rejecting Victoria’s offer and smirked in satisfaction.

Ava, on the other hand, was relieved. With her busy schedule, she hadn’t had time to prepare soup for him anyway.

"Understood," she replied easily.

Her lack of hesitation made Alexander’s expression darken.

Why does she look relieved?

Had she been hoping to stop?

Alexander’s gaze grew colder.

Hadn’t he saved her multiple times? Even now, the scar on his hand from their last encounter hadn’t fully healed.

She had been nothing but trouble, yet he never once complained.

And now, she was eager to distance herself?

Something about it irked him.

Ava remained oblivious to his shifting mood. She gave him a polite nod before heading toward the door.

Watching her leave, Alexander clenched his jaw.

Perhaps keeping his distance wouldn’t be as simple as he thought.