Chapter 77

"Alexander, when are you going to stop this childish behavior?" Isabella snapped, her voice sharp as shattered glass. "Your constant harassment is beyond ridiculous. Do you realize how pathetic you're being? I already sent Olivia to handle the situation after you got hurt. What more do you want from me?"

"I wanted to settle this privately," Alexander's breath hitched slightly, his voice unsteady. "Meet me tonight, and we'll consider the matter closed. No more grudges."

"You're unbelievable!" Isabella gasped.

Was this really Alexander Kingsley? The man who used to be so composed now acting like a lovesick fool - had he lost his mind completely?

"Fine. I'll meet you. But remember your promise - this ends tonight."

She slammed the phone down with enough force to crack the screen.

As Isabella stormed out, the head butler intercepted Olivia in the hallway. "Miss Bennett, there are two black sedans with license plate V777 parked outside for over an hour. Two men in suits keep watching the house. Should I activate the security protocols?"

Olivia's brow furrowed. "Don't alert Mr. Sinclair. I'll handle this personally."

The butler nodded and retreated.

Olivia immediately summoned Vanessa and Gabrielle for an emergency huddle near the grand staircase.

"We've got trouble brewing."

"Trouble?" Vanessa blinked her doe eyes in confusion.

"Spit it out already," Gabrielle demanded, cracking her knuckles.

"That bastard Alexander is outside right now, probably here to make Isabella's life miserable again," Olivia hissed, her gaze turning glacial.

"What? That heartless snake dares show his face here?" Gabrielle's face flushed crimson as she rolled up her sleeves. "I'm going to—"

Vanessa grabbed her arm with surprising strength. "Gabrielle, think! We can't let Mr. Sinclair find out!"

"I won't stand by while that monster comes to torment Isabella again!" Gabrielle's voice trembled with rage. "After everything he's put her through? Forcing a divorce, humiliating her - our family won't tolerate this!"

"None of us will tolerate it," Olivia said urgently, "but Isabella made us promise not to interfere. If you attack him now, you'll only make things worse for her. She wants a clean break from the Kingsleys, not more drama."

"I think Alexander might be having second thoughts," Vanessa murmured, her delicate features creased with worry. "Everyone knows his reputation - ice-cold, never been with anyone except Victoria. For him to come all the way from Manhattan to Skyrim... Could he actually regret divorcing Isabella?"

"That snake doesn't have a heart to feel regret!" Gabrielle spat. "Even if he did, it's too damn late! Just seeing his face makes my skin crawl!"

"Isabella slipped out earlier," Olivia said, a calculating gleam in her eyes. "She must be meeting him now. You two stay here and cover for her with Mr. Sinclair. As for your anger... I'll make sure you get your revenge tonight."

The autumn wind carried a biting chill through Skyrim's streets.

Dominic shivered in his suit, watching his boss stand motionless in the cold like some tragic statue. Alexander seemed determined to wait all night if necessary, leaving Dominic no choice but to suffer alongside him.

Alexander had endured worse during his military days - standing at attention for twenty-four hours straight. A few hours in the cold meant nothing.

But his heart wasn't as disciplined.

What if Isabella changed her mind? What if she never came? Would he have to knock on the Sinclair mansion's door?

What excuse could he possibly give for showing up unannounced?

His pulse raced uncomfortably. With trembling fingers, he lit his last cigarette.

Just as the flame touched the tip, footsteps echoed on the pavement.

"Alexander."

His heart stuttered at the sight of his ex-wife's frosty expression. The cigarette slipped from his fingers, scattering ashes at his feet.

Isabella glanced disdainfully at the littered ground. "I thought you quit. Pathetic."

"Waiting for you... took longer than expected." He hastily crushed the cigarette underfoot, never breaking eye contact.

"Hmm, blaming me again? How typical." Her laugh held no warmth.

"Isabella." His voice came out rougher than intended, throat raw from smoke and emotion.

"You got what you wanted. Now leave my brother alone. I have work to do, so if you'll excuse me." Her porcelain face might as well have been carved from ice. "And clean up your mess before you go. Skyrim doesn't need your trash."

She turned on her heel with military precision.

Dominic gaped at the transformation. The Isabella he remembered had been sunshine incarnate - warm, radiant, always smiling at Alexander like he hung the moon.

Now? She looked at his boss like he was something scraped off her shoe.

What the hell had Alexander done to turn such devotion into such disdain?

"Isabella, wait!" Alexander's voice cracked with desperation. "I didn't say you could leave!"

She froze, slowly turning with lethal grace. "How amusing. I don't belong to you, Alexander. You were so eager to discard me during the divorce. Now I'm walking away of my own accord, and suddenly you have objections? What exactly will satisfy you?"

That word - divorce - hit like a physical blow. Alexander's breath left him in a rush, his chest tightening painfully.

Humiliation burned through him, twisting into something ugly and raw. His vision tinted red at the edges. "I warned you before we married it was just business! I offered you a generous settlement, but you walked away with nothing! Don't paint me as the villain here, Isabella. You made your choices. We may not part as friends, but you don't get to act like some martyr. You owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing! You have no right to treat me this way!"