บททั้งหมดของ The bride i never wanted: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

My stomach twisted as I waited for his answer.Lena kept smiling up at Alexander, her hand still on his arm. “So what do you say? I can order dinner for us. We’ll finish everything tonight and you’ll crush that meeting tomorrow.”Alexander glanced at me again. “Emma’s here. We’ll handle it in the morning.”Lena didn’t even look at me. “But you always prefer working at night. Remember last month when we pulled that all-nighter? Just the two of us. You said I was the only one who could keep up with you.”I stood there in my paint-stained shirt, feeling completely out of place. “I can go to my room if you need to work.”Alexander frowned. “You don’t have to.”“No, really,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “It sounds like you two have a system. I wouldn’t want to get in the way.”Lena finally turned to me with that fake sweet smile. “That’s so understanding of you, Mrs. Voss. Most new wives get jealous so easily. It’s refreshing.”Jealous. The word hit me hard even though I tried not to s

“Emma… About what almost happened back in the room…”Alexander leaned forward. The candlelight made his face look sharper. Softer. Both at the same time.I picked up my wine glass just to have something to hold. “We don’t have to talk about it.”“Yes we do,” he said. “Because I can’t stop thinking about it. And I know you can’t either.”I took a sip. The wine tasted rich. Expensive. “You’re the one who keeps starting things and then walking away. I’m just trying to keep up.”He watched me set the glass down. “It’s not that simple.”“It never is with you.”The waiter brought the first course. We stayed quiet until he left. Then Alexander picked up his fork but didn’t eat.“My mother didn’t just leave,” he said suddenly. “She cleaned out three accounts and told my father she never loved him. She said I was just another business asset she helped create. Something to trade later.”I stared at him. “Alexander…”He kept going like he couldn’t stop now. “After that I decided nobody would eve

His ex-fiancée.I stared at Alexander as Victoria’s voice continued through the speaker.“She’s already meeting with two board members tonight,” Victoria said. “Claims she has proof the marriage was rushed and unstable. You need to handle this before it spreads, Alexander.”Alexander’s grip tightened on the phone. “I’ll deal with it when we land.”“Deal with it now,” Victoria snapped. “And bring Emma. People need to see you two together.”The call ended.I crossed my arms against the cool Paris night air. “So you have an ex-fiancée. Funny how you never mentioned her.”Alexander slipped the phone into his pocket. “It’s old history. Before the merger talks.”“Old history doesn’t fly across the ocean to destroy your marriage,” I shot back. “What’s her name?”“Claire.” He said it like the word tasted bad. “We were engaged two years ago. She wanted the money and the lifestyle. I found out and ended it.”I laughed once, sharp. “And now she’s back because she heard you married someone else?

Sophia sat on our couch like she owned the place, legs crossed, holding that folder like a weapon.“Ready to hear the real truth about your husband?” she asked with that nasty smile I knew too well.Alexander stepped in front of me. “How the hell did you get in here?”“Relax,” Sophia said, waving her hand. “I still have friends in this building. Old favors. Now sit down. Both of you. This is good.”I moved around Alexander. “Get out of my house, Sophia. You’ve caused enough damage.”“Your house?” She laughed. “This was supposed to be my house. My husband. My money. You just borrowed it.”Alexander’s voice went low and sharp. “Leave before I call security and have you dragged out.”Sophia opened the folder and tossed some papers on the coffee table. “Before you do that, look at these. Bank records. Messages. Your precious Alexander here had a side deal with Dad. He was never going to let the merger go through unless he got full control. He planned to push our family out completely afte

I picked up the note, heart racing.For the woman who paints her feelings.Use them.— AI ran my fingers over the beautiful wooden box. The paints were top quality. The brushes soft and expensive. Exactly what I would choose if money was never a problem.Alexander.It had to be him.I got dressed quickly and walked out to the living room with the box in my hands. He was already at the kitchen island, drinking coffee and checking his phone.“Morning,” I said, placing the box on the counter between us.He glanced at it, then back at his phone like it was nothing. “Morning.”I waited. He didn’t say anything else.“You bought this for me,” I said.Alexander took another sip of coffee. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I opened the box and pushed it closer to him. “Really? Signed with ‘A’? Top of the line oil paints? Come on.”He finally looked at me. His face stayed blank. “Must have been the hotel staff in Paris. Or maybe Victoria. She likes doing things like that.”I laughed. “