Chapter 44

The ride home was steeped in a tense silence. Lilly stared out the window.her mind a whirlwind of questions that gnawed at her resolve. Her grandfather's ominous words rang in her ears: *“You don't truly know him."* She stole glances at Alexander, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed ahead as if the tension between them didn't exist.

When the car stopped in front of the estate, Lilly pushed the door open before the driver could reach her, stepping out into the cool night air.She didn't wait for Alexander and headed straight for the house, her heels clicking sharply against the marble steps. Behind her, she heard his measured footsteps quicken, and before she could ascend the grand staircase,he caught her wrist.

"Stop," he said, his voice low and firm.

She turned to face him, her expression challenging.“What now?”

Clara appeared at the doorway, her usual warm greeting stilled by the palpable tension. She gave a quick nod and retreated with the other maids,their whispers trailing behind them.

Alexander's gaze was unrelenting.“Do you have something to ask me?"

Lilly hesitated, but the weight of her unanswered questions tipped her resolve.“Yes. Why did my grandfather sa y I don't truly know you? WVhat haven't you told me?" His lips pressed into a thin line before he spoke. "Follow me." Her stomach churned at his tone. He led her to the elevator, the air around them thick with unspoken truths. Lilly's brow furrowed as he pressed a

button she hadn't noticed before-one marked only with a small symbol.

“There's an underground floor?" she asked.

"You'll see," was all he said.

The elevator descended, the hum of machinery filling the oppressive silence.When the doors slid open, the darkness beyond was almost suffocating.

“It's pitch black," she murmured, taking an uneasy step forward.

"Lights on," Alexander commanded, his voice cutting through the void.

The basement was suddenly awash in bright, sterile light. Lilly's breath hitched as she took in the sight before her: a pristine white corridor leading to a glass door.

"What's behind that door?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You'll find out soon enough." His tone was calm, but the edge in it sent a shiver down her spine.

He placed his hand on the biometric scanner, and the door unlocked with a soft click. As it swung open, the lights inside flickered on, revealing an arsenal that made Lilly's blood run cold. A shooting range stretched out before her, its walls lined with glass cases displaying an array of weapons,from sleek pistols to intimidating rifles. Her voice wavered as she asked, "Why do you have this here?" Alexander's response was unsettling in its simplicity. "To clear my head." She stepped inside cautiously, the cold tile beneath her feet amplifying the chill creeping up her spine. Her eyes roamed over the guns,her mind flashing back to the few shooting lessons she'd taken for sport. But this was different. This was calculated. Dangerous.

Turning to face him, she asked the question that had been building in her mind since their conversation with her grandfather. "Are you involved in the underworld?”

Alexander's gaze darkened, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her want to retreat. Instead, she stood her ground, even as his silence became deafening.

"Yes," he finally admitted, the word hanging in the air like a thunderclap.

Lilly's breath caught. She had suspected as much, but hearing him confirm it was a different matter entirely. Her grandfather's warnings about the devil in disguise echoed in her mind. Yet, here he was, openly admitting the truth-a truth that could shatter everything she thought she knew about him.

"Why are you telling me this now?" she asked, her voice trembling.

“Because you deserve to know what you've signed up for,"he said,his tone unreadable. "And because I don't hide from the people I care about."

The admission took her by surprise. Was this his way of saying he cared for her? Or was it a calculated move to earn her trust? Lilly couldn't tell.

The weight of it all became too much. She tuarned to leave, needing space to process what she'd just learned, But Alexander's hand shot out,grabbing her wrist. "Where are you going?"

“To clear my head," she said, echoing his earlier words. He studied her for a moment before letting her go. “Don't leave the house,”

he said firmly.

"I won't," she assured him. "I'll be in my room."

For the next five days, they barely spoke. Lilly avoided their shared meals,timing her routines to avoid crossing paths with him. But Alexander noticed. He always noticed.

One evening, after her bath, she emerged to find him sitting on her bed.his phone in hand. Startled, she froze, clutching the towel wrapped around her body. His eyes lifted to meet hers, sweeping over her in a way that sent heat rushing to her cheeks.

Embarrassed, she grabbed her clothes and retreated back into the bathroom,her heart pounding. *What is he doing in my room?* she wondered.His gaze lingered in her mind, a mix of something unreadable but undeniably intense.

When she finally stepped out, dressed and composed,he stood,closing the distance between them. "Where are you going?"he asked, his voice low.

"To meet my grandfather," she replied, hoping he wouldn't press further.

“And your antenatal appointment?" he asked, surprising her. “It's today,isn't it?”

“Yes, I'm going," she said, thrown by his attention to detail.

He nodded but didn't move. “Are you avoiding me?” “What?”she stammered. “You've been avoiding me for five days," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "That stops now. From today, you'll have breakfast and dinner with me. No more excuses."

Lilly blinked, caught off guard by his sudden demand. But beneathn his stern words,she saw something else-something that looked almost like longing. Her heart softened despite herself.

"Fine," she said quietly. “But I'm not avoiding you out of dislike. I just needed time to process...everything."

Alexander's eyes softened for a moment before he stepped closer,his hand brushing her waist. "You signed up for this, Lilly. You don't get to walk away just because it's difficult."

She looked up at him, her heart pounding. “I'm not walking away," she whispered."I just need you to meet me halfway."

His eyes flicked to herlips, and before she could say another word, he kissed her-deep, possessive, and unapologetic. In that moment, all the doubts, fears, and questions faded into the background.