Chapter 36

He blocked all the light from her eyes. Against the light, Alexander hung his head, his outline blurred. His eyes were exceptionally deep, and in a hoarse voice, he said, “Answer my question.”

Elizabeth smelled the alcohol on him. He had been drinking, and quite a lot. Is he drunk and came here to vent his frustrations?, she thought.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together lightly and raised her eyes, which were dim. “This is my private matter. I have the right not to answer,” she said.

Elizabeth was about to push him away, but he pinned her arm against the wall, preventing her from breaking free.

“Alexander, if you keep this up, I’ll call the police!” Elizabeth frowned, her tone very firm.

“Go ahead.” He glared at her, his eyes seemingly igniting with a slow-burning fury. He hadn’t done anything illegal; Elizabeth was still his lawful wife.

Elizabeth looked at his brows and eyes, feeling very sad inside. She knew he didn’t love her. His repeated questioning was only because he couldn’t accept that they hadn’t completely divorced, and she was already being intimate with another man. For Alexander, this struck at the core of his masculinity.

Elizabeth sniffed, glaring at Alexander with a smile in her eyes, pretending to be indifferent as she said, “Yes. I have fallen for Joseph.”

Alexander’s body stiffened.

“If nothing crazy happens, after our divorce, I’ll be with Joseph,” Elizabeth said with a soft smile. “I suck at judging people. My dad picked him for me, and I’m pretty happy with that.”

She was talking to herself, not noticing the anger building in Alexander’s eyes. Alexander got the hint—she thought he was no good.

“After our divorce, you’ll marry Esme soon, right? That’s good.” Elizabeth looked at him again.

Their eyes met, and hers were really red. Alexander would never know how hard it was for her to say those words. She had to admit she wasn’t as heartless as she thought. She had loved Alexander for so many years; her feelings for him couldn’t just vanish overnight. She needed time to slowly let them go.

“These three years, we were like a rubber band. You kept moving towards Esme, and I tried to pull you back, but it just snapped back and hurt me.” Elizabeth smiled bitterly and murmured, “After I let go, I realized it was so much easier.”

Elizabeth tilted her face up, and he moved slightly, letting the streetlight fall on her face, lighting her up.

Chapter 36

He finally saw the tears glistening in her eyes. Elizabeth bit her lower lip, carefully observing the face she had loved for so many years. She raised her hand, really wanting to touch him again, to feel his warmth. But just as she was about to touch him, Elizabeth stopped. She knew he hated her touch.

Alexander’s eyes narrowed. He gazed at Elizabeth’s motionless hand, feeling as though an elephant was perched on his chest. Elizabeth forced a smile, a tear trickling down her cheek.

A voice in her head screamed, “Elizabeth, stop.”

“Alexander, don’t come after me anymore. We were doomed from the start; let’s end it now.” She wiped her tears away with grace. She promised herself this was the last time she’d cry over Alexander. Never again.

Elizabeth pulled her hand back, but he grabbed it tight. She swallowed her sobs, staring him down. “Alexander, think about Esme.”

This time, he let go. Alexander watched her step back, his stomach in knots. Elizabeth shot him a bitter smile. Esme was always his weak spot.

Elizabeth had just turned and taken a few steps when she heard a noise behind her.

“Mr. Tudor!” someone shouted.