Chapter 19

Clara let out a heavy sigh, a flicker of unease crossing her face as she realized Alexander hadn't briefed her on the significance of today. This lack of knowledge would make her arrival at the family estate awkward and suspicious.

“Ma'am, today marks the anniversary of Alessandro Kane's passing,Alexander's father," Clara finally revealed, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Lilly blinked, the words sinking in with a sharp jolt. She frowned,bewilderment flicking across her face. Alexander hadn't mentioned this to her during the five days she'd been away. A bitter laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it. Why would he share something personal like this?Of course,he hadn't.

“Yes, ma'am. MIr. Kane must have overlooked telling you." Clara glanced away, a hint of discomfort glinting in her eyes as she carefully chose not to address Alexander's decision to send Lilly to the family estate without disclosing such an important detail.

“You said a driver is waiting outside?” Lilly asked a flicker of curiosity now intertwining with her confusion.

“Yes,ma'am.” Without waiting for further input, Lilly walked past Clara, her heels clicking softly on the floor. The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside. The chauffeurstood respectfully by the car, a Stoic figure with unreadable eyes. Clara's voice stopped her one more time."Ma'am, you should change your clothes first. A memorial like this requires proper attire." Lilly glanced at her simple, casual dress, realizing that her attire was far too informal for such an occasion. She nodded silently and quickly turned back into the house.

She changed into a sleek, black, fitted dress that hugged her figure just right and fell gracefully below her knees. Paired with black heels and a tidy ponytail, she looked polished but solemn. She took a breath,steeling herself for whatever lay ahead.

Together, she and Clara finally headed to the family estate. The car ride was quiet, theair in the vehicle thick with an unspoken tension. The estate's grandeur loomed larger with every passing mile. As they approached a distant section of the property, Lilly spotted the shrine in the distance,guarded by stern figures standing tall.

The car stopped, and Lilly got out, the gravel path crunching softly beneath her heels. She entered the shrine, removing her shoes as a sense of reverence settled over her. Inside, she saw Grandma Helen kneeling before the portrait of Alessandro Kane, a woman of quiet resilience. The sight stirred something in Lilly-a mix of curiosity and compassion.

She quietly lit incense, bowing three times before the portrait before settling beside Grandma Helen, who was still deep in silent prayer. The atmosphere in the shrine felt sacred yet suffocating.

She glanced around the room and noticed that only the two of them were present. Sandra was away in Europe, but where was Alexander? Hle had arranged for her to come here-so why wasn't he standing alongside her? A chill ran down her spine as she closed her eyes and clasped her hands,praying for Alexander's father. But soon, her thoughts drifted to her sisters.and tears began to stream down her cheeks. After an hour, the prayers ended. Lilly stood alongside Grandma Helen.their heads bowed, a heavy sadness hanging between them. But Grandma Helen's eyes met Lilly's with a frailty that shook her resolve.

"This is the first time someone joined me for my son's memorial since Sandra left for Europe." Grandma Helen finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

Lilly looked up in surprise. "Are you saying that...?”

“Yes.”Grandma Helen's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

She took a trembling breath. "Why hasn't Alexander come to his father's memorial?”

Grandma Helen wiped a tear from her cheek, the lines on her face deepening with the weight of past sorrows. “Since Alessandro's death.Alexander has avoided this place. The shrine-it brings him too much pain.”

"How so?" Lilly's voice was barely audible.

Grandma Helen met her gaze with a deep, sorrowful look."His mother...she's the first person to cause his agony. She was a terrible wife and a terrible mother. Her infidelity led to Alessandro's death. Alexander found her with another man. In his grief and rage, Alessandro drove recklessly,leading to his fatal accident." Lilly's breath caught in her throat as the words hit her like a shockwave.The gravity of Grandma Helen's story settled over her, a painful revelation that made her own eyes fill with tears. "I'm so sorry for everything that happened," Lilly said softly, reaching out to embrace Grandma Helen. Grandma Helen looked up, her eyes searching Lilly's face with a vulnerable trust. "You're not like his mother, and I believe you won't make the same mistake. But if you want this marriage to endure beyond one year and five months, you'll need to show Alexander you're different.Truly different."

She paused, the intensity of her words sinking in.66It5Ss not about money.or status, or power. It's about something deeper. Loyalty.Commitment.Love.”"

After a long, quiet moment, they laid flowers and burned incense at Alessandro Kane's grave and that of Nicholas Kane, Alexander's recently departed grandfather. But there was still no sign of Alexander's mother.The absence of a grave made Lilly wonder if she was still alive and, if so.why Alexander kept her hidden from the family.

She glanced around the tombs, a sense of mystery gnawing at her.

Returning home to an eerily empty house, Lilly tried to process everything she had learned. The revelationabout Alexander's mother and the deep emotional wounds it caused him stirred memories of her strained relationship with her father.

She went upstairs, the exhaustion of the day settling into her bones. After a long, hot bath, she lay down in bed, every nerve on edge.

Suddenly, a sound-a soft creak-shattered the silence. Her eyes flew open,her heart pounding in her chest. The guards were supposed to be outside.She was alone except for the guards beyond the house walls. She cautiously stepped out of bed, every shadow in the room now a potential threat. The door opened slowly. In the dim hallway light. Alexander stumbled in.disheveled, his face flushed with alcohol. The stench of whiskey clung to him.

He leaned heavily on the doorframe, his eyes glassy but still filled with an unsettling intensity.

Lilly rushed to steady him as he swayed, his towering presence disoriented but no less formidable.

“Alexander,what's going on? You've been drinking?" she asked, a mix of fear and confusion in her voice.

He pulled her into a wobbly embrace, his breath hot against her ear."Shhh... let's just... sleep," he muttered, barely coherent.

She tried to push him away, every instinct telling her this was dangerous.

But his grip tightened, and in his embrace, Lilly felt the precarious boundary between love and dominance blur.

She looked into his eyes, determined to find something-anything-that might give her insight into Alexander's true self.

Her thoughts swirled into questions that would remain unanswered.Why was he here? What would happen if he woke up sober? The answers were slipping through her fingers, but one thing was clear:whatever she thought she knew about Alexander, about love, loyalty,and trust-it was all about to change. With the night closing in and Alexander's presence overwhelming, Lilly felt a chill settle in her chest.Once she was sure he was asleep, she carefully extricated herself from his grip and helped him change into more comfortable clothing. She felt a flush at the sight of him, wondering how he could fit inside her.

After cleaning him up, she lay down on the other side of the bed, turned off the light, and settled in. Before long, he turned towards her and pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he slept peacefully.

When he awoke and saw them in this intimate position, things would surely become complicated.

She knew one thing-this was just the beginning.