Chapter 33

When Alexander had instructed James to look into Lilly around the time they married, he never anticipated the uncertainty that would linger.The investigation revealed nothing beyond what Lilly had already disclosed, a mysterious gift for his grandmother, a costly gem with no traceable payment, and a gap in the information that James couldn't fill. But there was something about Lilly, something elusive and unspoken, that gnawed at him. What was her true motive for marrying him? If she dared lie again,he was determined to unearth a side of himself she had never seen.

Lilly stood before him, her heart racing as she fought to find the right words. He had been cold, calculating, even when she had hoped for something more. She had no choice but to be honest now. The weight of truth was unbearable, but perhaps it was the only way forward.

"I..."

"YOU WHAT?!" Alexander's voice was low but sharp, the impatience clear.

Lilly's gaze fell to their feet, her voice faltering. But before she could look away for comfort, Alexander gripped her chin,forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Look me in the eye while you talk so I can tell if you're lying," he commanded,his voice chilling.

"Go on," he pressed, his stare unwavering. Lilly's throat tightened, but she took a deep breath, gathering all her courage."I didn't marry you for money, but because I wanted to. The other women who were at the banquet that day had two reasons: your wealth and the title of Mrs. Kane. I had only one-I love you.” Her words hung in the air, their weight sinking in between them.She searched his face, hoping to seea flicker of emotion. But his expression remained unreadable, impossible to decipher.

"I love you, Alexander. I don't want our marriage to end after ayear and six months; I want it to last," she added, her voice trembling. Yet, despite the intensity of her plea, Alexander's face was as cold as ice, not a flicker of warmth or recognition.

Minutes passed like hours. Lilly waited, each second stretching the silence thinner and thinner. Finally, Alexander spoke, his voice an emotionless command.

“Tomorrow,your belongings will be moved back to your previous room.We will not interfere in each other's lives as stipulated in the contract.Understood?”

Lilly's stomach turned. The words were a dagger to her heart. She wanted to argue, to plead, butthe nausea that had been building in her chest suddenly overwhelmed her. Without a word, she rushed to the bathroom.her body trembling.

From the bathroom, she heard him-still standing in the hallway, his presence unwavering. But she couldn't bring herself to look at him. She retched, her stomach emptying its contents into the toilet,as her thoughts spun, What had she done wrong? Was this how it would end? Was their marriage nothing more than a cold agreement after all? When she was done, she cleaned herself up, feeling the weight of his words press down on her chest. She sat on the toilet, reluctant to face him.her mind reeling with confusion and fear. She only moved when she heard the distinct sound of the door closing-Alexander had left. She stood slowly, her heart still pounding. His words echoed in her mind like an unrelenting storm. Tomorrow. Move back to your room. Cold.Detached. There was no warmth left in his eyes, no connection. Had she failed him so utterly?

The next day, Alexander wasted no time. As soon as she woke,the move was underway, her things were being moved back to the second-floor room where she had first been placed. The separation was cold,final.There would be no further closeness, no reconciliation. Not yet.

Meanwhile, far from the mansion, Richard and Sophia were reeling from James's call. The information he had shared was staggering.

"This is huge," Sophia murmured, her voice thick with disbelief.

"I always knew there was something about her. She never fit the mold.She looked like she belonged to an elite world, but this... This is far bigger than I imagined. She's a Blake. The heir?" Richard's voice trailed off in astonishment.

“She lied to Alexander. I wonder if he'll divorce her," James said, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

"He won't," Richard replied with certainty. "They signed a contract stating the marriage would end in a year and six months, and it's only been a month. He's too bound by it to break it off now."

"What did you say? A contract?" James's voice rose in surprise. Richard explained the terms, the cold precision of their agreement,and how it had all been set in motion. "That explains a lot. But his behavior last night-that was different,"James continued, his tone reflecting the puzzle pieces he was still trying to fit together. "The Alexander I know wouldn't have acted that way over anyone,let alone a woman."

Sophia exchanged a concerned glance with Richard. "What do you mean?What did you see?"

"Alexander was upset, and not just upset-he was worried about her. He was willing to start a fight with the Blake family just to bring her back home. It's not like him, He never cared this much."

Richard's eyes narrowed. "Should we tell him?" he asked softly.

"I don't think we should," Sophia responded, her voice laced with caution."James made it clear that Lilly's secrets are off-limits."

"What are you two hiding? What is it that Alexander doesn't know?"James interrupted, the question hanging heavily in the air as he realized they had forgotten the phone was on speaker.

Richard sighed deeply, his voice resigned. "Lilly's pregnant. She's carrying Alexander's child."

A stunned silence followed. James finally broke it, his voice full of disbelief."What? That explains everything. No wonder he reacted the way he did."

The pieces were falling into place now. Alexander's cold exterior had cracked, not for Lilly's sake, but for the child growing inside her. But would he truly care for her, or was it all just the weight of responsibility that pulled him in? Lilly had spent the past few days alone in the mansion, trapped by her pregnancy and a rising sense of isolation. Alexander had left for a business trip,leaving her in the silence of their home, with only Clara's visits and her morning sickness for company. Sophia had advised her to stay indoors-this was the critical stage of her pregnancy, after all. But the stillness of her days only made the pressure build. The media buzzed with headlines about her identity,the missing daughter of the Blake family, her marriage to Alexander Kane, and the scandal that had unfolded. The negative comments flooded in from faceless accounts, all fueled by suspicion and judgment. Yet Lilly stayed silent, choosing not to retaliate. It wouldn't stop the rumors. it never did.

Her grandfather hadn't reached out. She hadn't expected himn to.There was nothing shecould say to fix what had happened. The silence between them was suffocating.

Then. as she picked up her bags and headed for the door, she froze. Two bodyguards stood near the entrance. Alexander had left early for his office,so why were they here?

Before she could ask, one of the guards stepped forward, blocking her path.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"The boss commanded that we ensure you don't stepoutside," one of them replied coolly.

Lilly's blood ran cold. She had been trapped in the house for days, and now, on the first day she decided to step out,she was stopped.Why?

Her heart raced, a growing sense of dread filling her chest as she realized the truth: Alexander's control over her life was far more absolute than she had ever imagined. And there was more to it-more than she understood.