Chapter 816

She wanted him to keep guessing. Alexander took a towel, walked over, and wiped her sweat.

"Take a break and have some tea."

"Okay."

Wiping the sweat from her face, she moved to the shaded area under the pergola. After a few sips of tea, she felt soothed.

"This weekend…"

Alexander's hesitation was rare.

"Yes?" she asked, raising her eyebrows and looking at him curiously.

"This weekend, I'd like you to go somewhere with me."

His look of distaste suggested a place he had to visit despite himself. Lily guessed there was only one possibility.

"Go to the Russell family's old house?"

"You knew?" His surprise gave way to relaxation.

"Yes," Lily said. "It won't take long, but we must go." She paused. "Is your youngest uncle getting engaged?"

Alexander snorted, disapproving of her phrasing. "We'll just be making an appearance. Anyway, brace yourself; it's not a pleasant place."

His solemnity suggested a visit to hell. Lily, however, was curious about his hatred for his childhood home. He'd mentioned a difficult upbringing, filled with conspiracies and backstabbing, but never provided details. Based on his expression and her memory of meeting his grandmother and youngest aunt at the diamond store, she suspected the Russell family's problems were far worse than the Lodge family's.

"I'm not afraid," she chuckled unconcernedly. "It's not like I've never met unpleasant people before. Have you forgotten I'm from the Lodge family and know how to fight?" She raised her fist, and Alexander chuckled, lovingly holding her wrist. "Yes, my woman is the greatest fighter!" She blushed at the term.

"I'm sweating. Let me take a shower."

Alexander released her hand and watched her return to the house, a trace of worry in his eyes. He'd never seen her fight, but he guessed she was skilled. Although the Lodge family descended from generations of kickboxers, they'd blended in with outsiders for years. No one knew how their skills compared to those with basic kickboxing training. However, Ralph Russell's fiancée was from the Riggs family—the real deal when it came to kickboxing.