The return

Knight Mansion at midnight was not quiet.

I couldn't sleep. My mother was sleeping in the rose room downstairs, with two private doctors and three nurses watching her. She was safe. For the first time in three years, she was safe.

I stood on the balcony in a silk nightgown Alexander had prepared. It was too big, obviously his shirt style, smelling like him.

"Sophia."

Alexander came out from behind me, also not sleeping. He had taken off his suit, now only in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms. He held a glass of warm milk.

"Drink it. You didn't eat tonight."

"I don't want milk. I want Lane Group."

He smiled, a little helpless. He put the milk down and stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I stiffened, but didn't push him away.

"You slapped her twice today. Your hand still hurts?"

He took my right hand, the hand I used to hit Chloe, and rubbed it gently. His palm was hot.

"No. It felt good."

"Good." He kissed the top of my head. "Next time, tell me. I'll do it for you. So your hand won't hurt."

I turned around in his arms. We were so close. I could see his dark lashes, his tired eyes. He hadn't slept since my grandfather died, I realized.

"Alexander, why are you so good to me? In my last life, I never... I never even looked at you properly."

He looked down at me. His eyes were full of a pain that had lasted for decades.

"In your last life, you loved Ethan Miller for ten years. I loved you for fifteen. I watched you wait for him at the door every Christmas, make him soup when he was sick, even though he was with Chloe behind your back. I told myself, as long as you are happy, it's enough. Until the day you died in your own wedding dress, holding his hand, and he pushed you away to save Chloe."

His voice cracked.

"That day, I swore, if there is a next life, I will not wait. I will lock you beside me from the beginning, even if you hate me."

My heart ached. So this cold, feared billionaire had waited for me for two lifetimes while I was foolishly chasing trash.

I reached up and touched his face.

"Alexander Knight, listen. I, Sophia Lane, was blind in my last life. But I am not blind now. Ethan is garbage. You are..."

"What am I?"

"You are my husband."

His eyes darkened instantly. He pulled me hard against him.

"Say it again."

"My husband."

"Again."

"My husband, my husband, my husband—"

He couldn't take it anymore. He lowered his head and kissed me.

It was not a gentle kiss. It was a kiss that had been held back for two lifetimes. Desperate, possessive, like he wanted to swallow me whole.

I grabbed his shirt, standing on tiptoe, kissing him back.

This was my first real kiss in two lifetimes.

When we finally separated, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine.

"Sophia, tomorrow is dangerous. The board will try to humiliate you. Chloe will bring her fake design. Ethan will be there as Miller Group's representative. Are you scared?"

I smiled, my lips swollen from his kiss.

"No. Because Mrs. Knight never loses."

He laughed, picked me up in his arms, and carried me back into the bedroom.

"Good. Then let me help Mrs. Knight prepare her armor."

He opened the walk-in closet.

Inside, it wasn't clothes. It was a wall of high heels, tailored suits, jewelry, and — a project proposal with my name on it, stamped with Knight Empire's golden seal.

Project Starlight, 2 billion funding, Project Manager: Sophia Lane.

The war for Lane Group officially started tomorrow at 9 AM.

And I would walk in wearing red, with Alexander Knight holding my hand.