Page 21 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Because another figure followed Mia in.

Alexander.

His steps were calm, unhurried—but the moment his eyes fell on Harold, something in his expression shifted. His jaw tightened. His gaze went colder.

He did not say a word.

He simply crossed the short distance to Mia, as if it were instinct. His hand slid around her waist in one smooth, unthinking motion. He pulled her close against him—close enough that her shoulder rested under his arm, her side pressed against his body.

Mia tensed for a fraction of a second, caught off guard…but she didn’t move away.

Harold’s smile shattered.

His face contorted—first confusion, then shock, then complete horror as his eyes dropped to Alexander’s arm wrapped securely around Mia’s waist.

“Alexander—what are you doing?” Harold sputtered. “Why are you holding Mia like that?! She’s just your employee! You can’t just—she’ll get uncomfortable!”

Alexander didn’t respond.

If anything, his arm tightened, drawing Mia closer, as if Harold’s words were nothing but noise.

Harold’s expression twisted with outrage. “You just got married! Literally just got married! And you—" he waved both arms wildly, “—you’re hugging another girl? Are you insane?! Let go of her!”

He took a step forward, reaching out as if to pull Mia away.

He never got close.

Alexander’s hand flashed out. His fingers closed around the back of Harold’s neck and he turned him, pushing him backward with such effortless control that Harold stumbled, almost falling back onto the couch.

Harold stared at him, stunned speechless.

Then he spun toward Camila like a man seeking divine intervention.

“Aunty!” he cried, voice cracking in disbelief. “Your son has lost his mind! Isn’t he already married?! Look at him—hugging another girl like this! He’s literally throwing himself at his personal secretary! What will his wife think?!”

Camila didn’t even finish swallowing her tea.

The moment his words registered, she burst out laughing. She slapped her hand against the armrest, laughing so hard her earrings shook, tea almost spilling from her cup.

Harold stood frozen, horrified. “A-Aunty?!”

Camila kept laughing for a few seconds more before finally managing to speak, wiping at the corner of her eye with a perfectly manicured finger.

“Didn’t you say you were excited for your cousin’s wedding?” she said, voice steady but her smile refusing to leave. She pointed at Mia with complete certainty.

“That—right there—is your sister-in-law.”

Silence.

“Aunty…?” Mia whispered, confusion pulling across her face.

A low murmur brushed her ear. “He’s my cousin,” Alexander said, bending slightly toward her without removing his arm from around her waist.

Mia’s head snapped toward him, eyes widening in pure shock.

Across from her, Harold froze, staring at her as if the universe had just malfunctioned.

“M–My… sister-in-law?” he croaked.