Chapter 43

Lilly's mind swirled with unanswered questions. Her grandfather's cryptic warnings rang in her ears.there something I should know about Alexander?"* she had asked earlier, desperate for clarity. Caleb's pained expression hinted at the weight of a truth he was hesitant to reveal.

Before Caleb could respond, the door to the room swung open wwith force.Both Lilly and her grandfather turned to see Alexander stride in, his presence commanding as always. His sharp gaze immediately landed on Lilly, kneeling on the cold floor, her delicate frame visibly tense.

Alexander's frown deepened. He crossed the room in long,purposeful strides and pulled Lilly to her feet, his touch firm but not unkind. “Never kneel on the cold floor, especially not when you're carrying my child,"he said, his voice low yet authoritative.

Lilly instinctively pulled away from his grasp, her confusion mounting.Alexander's frown tightened as he caught her wrist again, refusing to let her retreat. Yet, her eyes remained fixed on her grandfather,seeking answers that seemed just out of reach.

"You scoundrel," Caleb spat, his voice dripping with disdain as he addressed Alexander. "Are you here to exploit my granddaughter further?" Lilly's chest tightened. She stood between two men who clearly knew more than they were letting on. Her grandfather's animosity toward Alexander,coupled with Alexander's unreadable demeanor, created a storm of tension that left her uneasy. Alexander, as usual, ignored Caleb's ire, his focus solely on Lilly. “I need to speak with your grandfather. Alone." His words were curt, leaving no room for debate. Lilly hesitated, glancing between them, but Alexander's expression softened just enough to prompt her to nod reluctantly.

As she stepped out of the room, her heart felt heavy. Outside,she found Victor and Max waiting by the cars. Both men greeted her respectfully,their presence a stark reminder of the dangerous world she had unknowingly stepped into.

"Max,open the car door for her," Alexander's voice carried through the open doorway, a subtle command that left no room for disobedience. Max moved swiftly to open Alexander's sleek black car, but Lilly shook her head and walked toward the car she had arrived in. Max, though puzzled,silently complied.

Inside the car, Lilly's thoughts raced. *Why did Grandfather call Alexander a devil? What is he hiding from me?* Her mind darted to the possibility of Alexander's underworld connections, something her grandfather had alluded

to in hushed warnings. She tried to dismiss the thought, but it clung to her like a shadow. If there was any truth to it, what had she gotten herself into?

Minutes stretched into an hour, and her impatience grew. Finally, she rolled down the window and called out to Victor, who stood a few paces away. "Uncle," she said softly, using the term of endearment she and her sisters had always called him.

Victor approached with a slight bow. "Yes, young miss?” "How long have they been talking?" "It's been over an hour now," he replied, glancing toward the inn. She frowned, her unease deepening, "Do you think something's wrong?"Victor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Discussions between them are rarely peaceful, but I wouldn't worry. Alexander... has his ways of handling things."

Lilly wasn't convinced."Did you bring anything to eat?" she asked,trying to change the subject and ease the knot in her stomach.

“I did, but I didn't think you'd want to eat in this situation," he admitted.

"Would you like me to bring you something?"

She shook her head. "No, I'll wait.”

Victor's concern lingered, but he nodded and returned to his post. As Lilly leaned back in her seat, the door to the inn opened. Alexander stormed out,his jaw set in anger, followed by Caleb, whose face was a mixture of frustration and resignation.

Victor sighed audibly. "As I said,it didn't end well."

Alexander scanned the area, his eyes narrowing when he didn't immediately spot Lilly in his car. "Where is she?" he snapped at Max.

Max gestured toward the other car.“Ma'am chose to wait in her car."

Alexander's irritation was palpable as he strode over to her, pulling the door open with sharp precision. “Let's go,"he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Lilly hesitated, her own frustration rising,but she knew better than to defy him in front of everyone. He took her hand, his grip firm but not harsh, and led her to his car.Without a word, he helped her in, then followed, slamming the door shut behind him. “Drive," he commanded the driver, and the car sped off. Back at the inn, Caleb watched them leave, his expression conflicted. Victor approached him cautiously. "Master, did you come to an understanding?"

Caleb shook his head. "Not quite. But I've decided one thing-I won't be the one to tell her. She's smart; she'll figure it out. It's Alexander's responsibility now."

Victor frowned. "Do you trust him to protect her?"

Caleb sighed deeply. "I didn't, but today, I saw something in him. He may not realize it himself, but he cares for her. Perhaps more than he even understands."

Victor nodded, his own doubts somewhat eased."Then we can only hope she made the right choice."

As they got into their car anddrove away, a dark sedan parked discreetly nearby sprang to life. Inside, a man spoke into a phone. “They're on the move.”

“Good,"” came the cold voice on the other end."Continue to monitor her closely.”

“Yes, ma'am," the man replied before hanging up and driving off in the opposite direction.

In a luxurious penthouse, Bella set her phone down with a satisfied smirk.Beside her, Kate sipped her wine, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Did your men confirm they're keeping an eye on her?" Kate asked,her voice dripping with venom. "They're watching her every move,”Bella assured, her tone icy. "Lilly will no longer humiliate you-or stand in our way. Soon,she'll be gone for good."

Kate's lips curled into a wicked smile. "I can't wait to see her suffer."

Bella raised her glass. “Patience, my dear. Her downfall is already in motion.”

Their laughter echoed through the room. a chilling prelude to the storm brewing for Lilly.