جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 18

The music slowly faded as the dance ended.Applause echoed lightly around the ballroom as couples stepped away from the dance floor. Amara exhaled softly, trying to calm the racing of her heart.Dancing with Alexander had felt… different.Too real.Too close.“You did well,” Alexander said.Amara looked up at him.“I didn’t step on your feet.”“That’s already impressive.”She laughed quietly.“Your standards are very low.”“Only tonight.”Before Amara could reply, a waiter approached them with a tray of drinks.“Champagne, sir? Ma’am?”Alexander took one glass and handed it to Amara before picking up another for himself.“Thank you,” Amara said politely.The waiter nodded and moved away.Amara took a small sip.The cold taste of champagne spread across her tongue as she glanced around the ballroom again.People were watching them.Whispering.Some looked curious.Others looked impressed.And a few… looked jealous.“This is strange,” she muttered.“What is?” Alexander asked.“Everyone

Amara barely slept that night. Alexander’s words kept replaying in her mind. She died three years ago. She stared at the ceiling of her room, wondering about the woman he once loved. Whoever she was, she must have been very important to him. For the first time since their strange marriage began, Amara felt something unfamiliar. Jealousy. She quickly shook her head. “That’s ridiculous,” she whispered to herself. Their marriage was only a contract. Nothing more. At least… that was what it was supposed to be. The next morning, sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the mansion. Amara walked downstairs, dressed in a simple cream-colored dress. As she entered the dining room, she saw Alexander already seated at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up when she walked in. “Good morning.” “Morning,” Amara replied, trying to sound normal. But Alexander noticed the slight tension in her voice. “You didn’t sleep well.” “That obvious?” “Yes.” She sighe

The moment on the balcony stayed in Amara’s mind long after it ended. Even when she went back inside the mansion, the strange tension between her and Alexander followed her like a shadow. They hadn’t touched. They hadn’t kissed. Yet somehow the moment felt far more dangerous than it should have been. Amara walked down the hallway slowly, trying to clear her thoughts. Why was he standing so close? And more importantly… Why didn’t I move away? She groaned quietly. “This is getting ridiculous,” she muttered to herself. But deep down she knew the truth. Something between her and Alexander had shifted. And pretending nothing happened would not make it disappear. The next morning arrived quietly. Sunlight filtered gently through the tall windows of the dining room, filling the space with a warm golden glow. Amara sat at the table with a cup of tea in her hands. But she wasn’t drinking it. Her thoughts were far away. Every time she remembered how close Alexa

By the time evening arrived, the mansion felt unusually tense.Amara stood in front of the mirror in her room, staring at her reflection.She had changed outfits three times already.“This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.Why was she even nervous?It was just dinner.Dinner with Alexander…And his ex.Amara sighed and adjusted the soft black dress she finally decided to wear. It was simple but elegant, hugging her figure just enough to make her feel confident.“You’re overthinking this,” she told herself.But deep down she knew the truth.She wanted to look good tonight.Not for Sophia.But for Alexander.That realization alone made her cheeks warm slightly.Before she could change her mind again, she grabbed her phone and headed downstairs.The dining room was already prepared when she arrived.Soft lights illuminated the long table, and the atmosphere felt strangely formal.Sophia was already seated, casually sipping a glass of wine.Her eyes immediately lifted when sh