(Alexander’s POV) “Kayleigh David!” I sighed, saying her name in a stern voice. Her eyes are sparkling with excitement as she moves closer to me, unbuckling my seatbelt when I didn’t unfasten mine. When she was done, she opened the door, confusing me more. “Come on, Alex!” She says excitedly, turning her back on me and leaning on the car. I blink, waking myself up from a lustful dream and getting out of the car. I walk in her direction, and when I am standing beside her, she anchors her arm into mine. She leads me to the pavement that I only notice just now. “It’s sad we can’t stay to dine here, but a takeaway would do,” she utters, stopping for a while to take a picture of us. When I didn’t smile, she gave me a look. “Smile, Cupcake. Make my uncle happy,&rdq

(Alexander’s POV) My hand, trembling in anger, searched for the cigarette case in my pocket, took one stick as I looked blankly into space. My chest was so tight that I felt like wanting to explode in a wave of unexplainable anger. It was like somebody took something I owned. I close my eyes, remembering I don’t have a lighter. George always brings one with her, although she knew I gave up smoking years ago. It was just a habit that I always had a cigarette case in my pocket, and in this situation, I really wanted to smoke. The ‘cling’ sound of the metal lighter case opening causes me to turn my head to the person who stands beside me. Wendell lit his cigarette, and then he gave it to me. I placed the stick between my lips and lit the cigarette. We smoked quietly like no one wanted to start a conversation. “Leigh surpris

(Leigh’s POV) “Ribeye in the Sky?” repeats Alfie as we walk inside the high-rise building. Elle giggled. “Yeah, where the price is as high as the sky.” The building we were at is the second-highest building in the city, next to ABH Group of Companies’ main building, although we know that ABH still owns this building. We also know that it is never easy to make a reservation in this restaurant, it is difficult to make an appointment with the owner, and like what Elle said, the food price here is high. It was not my concern, though. As if my feet had a brake, I stopped walking, feeling I got stuck on the floor. Elle had to push me to go to the elevator area, where Alex instructed us to wait for him as he talked to the receptionist at the front desk. “Does Alex know the price of food here? Is

(Leigh’s POV) If anyone can survive without talking for long hours, I will be that one person. Royce and Kayla told me it was one of my many talents that annoys my other siblings. From the parking lot of the building until we reached home, I did not utter a word, neither did Alex. We let GPS do the talking for three hours, recalculating the route many times because I didn’t tell him the direction, and he didn’t have the guts to ask me. As soon as he stopped the car, I immediately unfastened my seatbelt to stay away from Alex, hoping to open the door and run to the swimming pool, but he was fast. He holds my wrist, and his eyes narrow as he studies my face. I met his dark brown eyes, squinting my eyes on him, and pressed my lips, promising myself I would win this battle. It was hard to read his eyes, but after putting myself in an embarrassing situation

(Leigh’s POV) As soon as he closed the door, he put me down, turned his back on me, and went to the bathroom. My gaze follows him until he closes the bathroom door. I heave a sigh, concluding our act of overflowing sweetness is over. Another day as Mrs. Hearst is over. I walk to my dresser, take my yoga mat, and place the jar in the middle. I hug my knees and look at the mixed pebbles inside the jar. This will be a long night, indeed. But I can’t just be mad at Katherine for taking the jar and playing with the colorful pebbles. I sighed again, unsure if it was because of the pebbles or about Alex, who just left me here. My head raised when the bathroom door opened, and my lips parted, seeing Alex wearing nothing except the towel wrapped around his waist. “What are you doing there, Mrs. Hearst?” he asks, hi