All Chapters of Will you marry me, Mr. Mayor: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Althea's POVThe morning air was still cool when I walked Alexander to the front steps.The mansion looked quieter in daylight—less like a fortress, more like a very expensive secret. Sunlight spilled over the marble tiles, softening the sharp edges of the place, but it didn’t soften what I felt inside. My chest still carried last night’s ache like a bruise. I had simply learned how to hide it under straight shoulders and steady eyes.Alexander paused near the doorway, already wearing the same calm he carried everywhere. His posture was composed, his expression unreadable, but his gaze held the kind of attention that made you feel seen even when he said nothing.“Thank you,” I said again, because it was the only safe thing to say.He gave a small nod. “We’ll talk again properly tomorrow.”My fingers tightened around the fabric of my sleeve. “About… everything.”“Yes.” His voice stayed even. “And I will arrange the papers for the wedding.”A staff member opened the main door wider, lett

By the second day after the scandal, the mansion felt like it was holding its breath.Everything was too quiet—too clean, too careful. The staff moved softly, as if loud footsteps might shatter the marble. Guards doubled at the gates. Even the leaves outside seemed to hesitate, the world pausing before the next storm.I sat at the long dining table, a cup of tea cooling untouched in my hands. My phone buzzed with messages from Manila, from my parents’ assistants, from people who suddenly remembered I existed. I ignored them all. I needed one more moment of stillness before stepping into whatever came next.A soft knock broke the quiet.“Ma’am,” a staff member said, “Mayor Alexander is here.”My chest tightened. I knew why he’d come. Papers—the kind that turned choices into consequences.“Let him in,” I replied, keeping my voice steady even as my fingers curled beneath the table.Alexander entered, composed as always—simple shirt, clean lines, a folder tucked beneath his arm. He looked

It was well past midnight, but I was still at my desk, surrounded by documents and the faint glow of my reading lamp. The day after tomorrow was set—our wedding, something I had personally orchestrated.I was reviewing the last of the papers needing my approval when my phone buzzed with a message from the governor, asking about the headlines swirling around my municipality.“Things are getting complicated,” I muttered, switching off the lamp.After setting aside my glasses, I left my office and headed for my bedroom. Fatigue pressed against my shoulders, but my mind was still restless. I went straight to the bathroom, undressed, and stepped into the shower, letting the water wash away the day.But no amount of cold or heat could wash away the image of Althea.She filled my thoughts with a stubborn persistence—how she looked earlier, standing in her mansion, the silk of her nightgown catching the evening light. She looked nothing like the scandal people whispered about. She was elegant,

After the woman left, the office was thick with silence.I glanced at Shaun, but he didn’t meet my eye. He stood beside me, as stiff and unreadable as ever.“It’s not what you think,” Alexander’s voice broke in.My attention snapped back to him, and I realized he’d already finished his breakfast.“I’m not thinking anything,” I replied, though in truth, my mind was still turning over who that woman was.“She’s the governor’s daughter,” he explained, sounding exasperated. “I don’t know why she keeps following me around.”I raised an eyebrow. Was he really so clueless?Anyone could see she had feelings for him—assuming, of course, that nothing was going on between them.“It’s fine,” I said, glancing away. “No need to be defensive.”Suddenly, his fingers were at my chin, gently tilting my face toward his.My breath caught when our eyes met.“I’m not being defensive,” he said, his tone serious. “I just want you to know there’s nothing to worry about with her.”My heart began to pound.This

Alexander’s POVEven after Althea had been gone for quite some time, the faint smile on my lips refused to fade.“That’s not like you, Mayor.”The smile vanished instantly at the sound of a familiar voice drifting in from the side window.“Didn’t I tell you to use the door?” I said, turning sharply.Lindon lounged against the window frame, arms crossed, looking perfectly at ease—as if he owned the place.“What are you doing here, Lindon?” My tone was cold.“Nothing. Just passing by.” He shrugged, then grinned wider. “Though I did see you earlier, smiling to yourself like an idiot.”I shot him a glare. “Leave. You’re not needed here.”“Ouch.” He clutched his chest in mock pain. “You’re so harsh. I’m the only one who still considers you a friend, and this is how you treat me?”“You’re not my friend.”He hesitated—only a fraction, but it was there. Then he cleared his throat, his expression shifting as he sensed my mood.“What do you need?” I pressed, voice colder.“The underground is sha