Catherine’s POV Alexander disappeared into the crowd, I stood there, my emotions spiraling out of control. I felt anger, sadness, and almost an odd sense of relief. On one hand I wanted to be done with him forever and I was glad I had even found the will to distance myself from him but on the other hand, I was tempted to try him one more time, to see if it was actually going to be different. Adolpho returned to my side, his eyes searching my face for any sign of how I was feeling. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I knew he could see through the facade. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice was gentle, but the tension in his jaw revealed the anger still hovering beneath his calm exterior. I nodded, though I didn’t trust myself to speak just yet. My lips still tingled from Alexander’s kiss, and I felt the tears threatening to spill. I swallowed hard, forcing them back. I wouldn’t cry, not here, not in front of everyone. I couldn’t afford to show any more weakness. “Let’s ge
Alexander’s POV I stood by the jet on the tarmac, nerves fluttering in my stomach. Catherine had finally arrived, and as soon as I saw her, a genuine smile broke across my face. I walked towards her, my heart racing. “You came,” I said, my voice filled with a relief and joy. “I did,” she replied, her voice soft and steady. I took her hand, feeling a surge of warmth at her touch, and guided her up the steps into the jet. Greta, the air hostess greeted us with a polite smile as we entered, and I nodded in acknowledgment. Catherine and I settled into the plush seats opposite each other. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, nothing else existed. The air hostess returned with a tray of wine. We both took a glass, our fingers brushing lightly as we did. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “You look breathtaking,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks flushed with a delicate pink, and she murmured, “Thank you.” The silence between us lingered, and even though we said nothing,
Catherine’s POV It had been four weeks since I returned to Sussex, four weeks since I decided to give Alexander another chance. The therapy sessions were helping. We were healing, slowly but surely, and for the first time in a long while, there was a semblance of peace in our lives. Today, the store had been unusually busy, which I welcomed. The activity kept my mind off the lingering doubts and fears. As I entered the house, I couldn’t wait to catch a hot bath, it was quiet. Pedro had gone to settle some family matters, Blake, the driver, had taken Alexander and the cook had taken an off day. I liked the quiet, or at least I convinced myself that I did. But something felt off as I walked upstairs to our room. The door was slightly open, and I hesitated, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I pushed the door open and froze. Olivia was there, standing on the balcony, her back to me. My heart pounded in my chest. She turned as if sensing my presence, a wicked smile curli
Catherine’s POV Moments later, I could hear the jarring sound of police sirens and loud voices in the Manor, and then the door flew open as Alexander rushed in. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene—the bloody knife on the floor, my hands trembling, the cuts marring my skin. “Catherine, are you okay?” His voice was urgent as he crossed the room to me, his hands reaching for mine. “Olivia,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “I think she is dead,” “Where is she?” he asked, his gaze flipping to the balcony. I pointed, unable to form the words. He followed my gaze, stepping out onto the balcony. I watched as he looked down, his shoulders tensing when he saw her. He rushed back to me, his face pale. “She tried to kill me,” I managed to say, my voice was barely a whisper. Alexander saw the knife, stained with blood, lying on the floor. His expression hardened as he turned back to me, his hands were gentle as he checked the cuts on my hands. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured,
Catherine’s POV The warm steam from the shower clung to my skin as I stepped out, a sense of peace washing over me. It had been three months since that dreadful night when Olivia had tried to kill me, and yet here I was—alive, safe, and feeling a strange sense of relief. Alexander had been doing therapy, and it was working. I could see the change in him. But beneath that relief, a small part of me still nursed the fear that the other shoe could drop at any moment, especially since Simon, was nowhere to be found. But today, I managed to shove that fear aside. I tied a towel around my body, the soft fabric absorbing the droplets of water clinging to my skin, and wrapped another towel around my dripping hair. Humming a tune that had been stuck in my head all day, I walked over to the mirror, catching a glimpse of my own reflection. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy. Genuinely happy. A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I called out, still smili
Alexander’s POV The evening had been perfect. The kind of night that makes you forget all your worries, even if just for a little while. Catherine and I stepped into the house, still laughing about some silly joke from dinner. Her smile lit up the room, and I felt a sense of peace, as if we could finally breathe after so much chaos.But the moment we crossed the threshold, that peace shattered. Our new maid stood in the hallway, her face was pale, eyes wide with something close to panic. “Mr Clifford, Mrs. Clifford,” she stammered, glancing nervously over her shoulder. “There are two policemen here. They said it’s urgent.” A cold knot formed in my stomach. Catherine squeezed my hand, her grip tightening as we walked into the living room. The two officers rose as we entered, their expressions were serious. They were dressed in their formal uniforms, but it was the look in their eyes that told me this wasn’t a routine visit. They glanced at our attire—Catherine in her elegant dress
Alexander’s POV Four months after I had asked Catherine to marry me, I stood at the altar, the doors at the end of the aisle opened, and Catherine appeared. The chapel was quiet, except for the soft music that played as Catherine appeared at the end of the aisle. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her. She looked like a dream in her wedding gown—white and flowing with lace that hugged her body just right. The dress shimmered with tiny beads that caught the light, and the veil over her face made her look even more beautiful, like an angel walking towards me. I stood at the altar, trying to steady my breathing. My suit was simple but sharp—a black jacket with a crisp white shirt and a tie that matched her dress. But it wasn’t about how I looked. It was about her, and how I felt at that moment. My eyes couldn’t leave her. My heart was so full, it felt like it might burst. When she finally reached me, she took my hand. Her touch was warm, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me. We t
Catherine’s POV Alexander and I swayed to the soft music, I felt like I was floating. His arms were strong around me, and his eyes were filled with so much love. It was hard to believe this moment was real—that we were married and starting our life together. The world around us seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of us in our own little bubble of happiness. Then, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned to see my mother, Lydia, standing there with a warm smile on her face. "May I cut in?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with joy. Alexander nodded and stepped aside, giving my hand to my mother. As we started to dance, I took a moment to admire her. She looked so beautiful, her dress flowing elegantly as we moved. "You look so beautiful, my child," she said, her eyes shining with pride. "The most beautiful bride." "And you look beautiful too, Mother," I replied, my heart swelling with love. "So beautiful." She smiled, a little tear escaping the corner of her eye. "Th