Chapter 4

Alexander’s Pov

The office door slammed shut behind Serena, leaving behind a silence that could almost deafen me.

I stood there, clenching my jaw and staring at the empty space where she had just been. I had expected her to finally lash out, since she didn’t do it that night, to throw accusations like she always did. But she hadn’t.

She had walked away, looking so calm, without a single sign of hesitation or regret.

“Well, that was entertaining,” my father, Vincent, mused, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

I turned to him, my voice colder than I planned. “You enjoyed this, didn’t you?”

Vincent shrugged, looking unbothered. “I enjoy watching weak people recognize their place. She was never meant for this family, Alexander. You wasted enough time on her.”

Something inside me snapped. “Then why did you feel the need to humiliate her?”

His smirk disappeared for a while, but he recovered it quickly. “Because she had the audacity to think she could walk into our world and matter.” He sighed, acting like he was bored. “But it doesn’t matter now. She’s gone. You’re free to move forward.”

Free.

I didn’t respond.

Vincent stood, brushing off his suit. “Pristine has been calling. She’s waiting for you at the penthouse.”

Pristine.

The woman I had spent years protecting. The woman I had convinced myself was my responsibility. The woman I had betrayed my own wife for.

The woman who wasn’t my wife.

I exhaled sharply, leaving the office without another word.

 I stepped into the elevator, and Serena’s expression filled up my mind again, that bitter yet victorious smile when she told me she wanted nothing from me.

For years, I had thought she was weak and desperate for my attention. My father made me think so, even Pristine. So I thought that no matter how much I neglected her, she would always be there, waiting. I thought she would always stay back for the money but today I knew better. She had dignity, she had self respect. 

Pristine was waiting in the penthouse when I arrived, lounging on the couch like she owned it.

“What is going on with you? Are you really trying to avoid me?” She asked, folding her hands and looking quite pissed.

I poured myself a drink, ignoring her unnecessary tantrums, I wasn’t in the mood for accountability.

“I am talking to you, Alex.”

“I was handling business.”

She tilted her head, watching me closely. “And not thinking about her?”

I stiffened.

Pristine sighed and stood, walking over to me. She traced a finger along my jaw, tilting my chin so I had no choice but to meet her gaze. “She’s gone, Alexander. It’s just us now.”

Us?

For years, I had believed that was what I wanted. That Serena had only been an obstacle to the life I was supposed to have with Pristine.

But as I looked into Pristine’s pleading eyes, all I saw was emptiness.

“She didn’t take the settlement.”

Pristine scoffed. “Of course she didn’t. She’s trying to prove a point, like she always does. But trust me, Alexander, she’s just pretending to not be after your money. She’ll come crawling back when she realizes she has nothing.”

Something about her words made my chest tight.

I had thought the same thing once.

That Serena was a gold digger. That she needed me.

But this time, I wasn’t so sure.

Pristine pressed against me, her lips brushing against my neck. “You don’t have to think about her anymore. I’m here. I’ve always been here.”

But for the first time, I felt nothing. I gently pushed her away. “Not now please, I’m not in the mood.”

Pristine frowned. “Alexander—”

“I need some time.”

Her lips parted in surprise. “Time?”

I downed the rest of my drink. “I just finalized a divorce, Pristine. Give me some space.”

She let out a forced smile. “Of course. I understand.” She placed a soft kiss on my cheek. “But don’t take too long. We have a future to plan.”

She left soon after.

I sat on the edge of the couch, my elbows resting on my knees and head in my hands.

For the first time since Serena walked away, I allowed myself to ask the question I had been avoiding.

Had I made a mistake?

The next few days were restless for me.

I threw myself into work, meetings, negotiations, anything to keep my mind occupied. But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, Serena was still the only thing that consumed my mind.

By Friday, I couldn’t take it anymore.

My driver pulled up outside Serena’s old apartment, the one she had stayed in before we were married. It was the only place I could think of to find her.

But when I knocked on the door, it wasn’t Serena who answered.

It was Sophia.

She crossed her arms, her gaze filled with disdain. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I kept my expression neutral. “I need to speak to Serena.”

Sophia let out a dry laugh. “You’re unbelievable. You had years to talk to her, and now that she’s finally free of you, now you suddenly care?”

I ignored her tone. “Is she here?”

“No,” she snapped. “And even if she was, I wouldn’t let you anywhere near her.”

I didn’t have patience. “Where is she?”

“Not your concern.”

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. “Sophia—”

She stepped closer, her eyes burning with anger. “No, you listen to me. Serena spent five years waiting for you to see her, to love her, to choose her. And you threw her away like she was nothing. Now you want to show up at her door like some regretful husband? A little too late.”

I was worried, scared, but I didn’t let it show. “I just want to talk to her.”

“Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Sophia shot back. “She’s moving on. You should do the same.”

With that, she slammed the door in my face.

I stood there, still. My legs couldn’t move.

For five years, I had been in control. Of my company. Of my relationships. Of Serena.

Now, for the first time, I felt powerless.

I turned and walked back to my car. 

Serena was gone and I had no idea if I would ever get her back.