Mia abruptly turned away and climbed into the car without returning his smile. She sat stiffly on the seat, her fingers clenched tightly together in her lap, her heartbeat spiraling out of control.
A few minutes later, Alexander also stepped inside and shut the door.
Without a word, he reached for her hand and held it firmly in his grasp, before pressing the button that raised the partition.
“Allen,” he said calmly, “I’ve sent you the address. Drive to the Stark mansion.”
The partition slid up, sealing them into silence.
Alexander lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.
“Are you tired?” he asked quietly.
Mia shook her head, the movement small and automatic.
His hand moved to the back of her head, fingers gentle as they curved through her hair, guiding her closer to lean on him.
This time, she didn’t pull away.
The car began to move.
His scent surrounded her—clean, familiar, intoxicating. His fingers continued to stroke her hair in slow, absent motions,each one making her heart race faster, her thoughts blur until everything else faded.
Then, she closed her eyes.
***
Dinner at the Stark house was lively and cheerful.
The table was filled with dishes worthy of a five-star hotel. Ellie, being the loudest among them, barely allowed a single pause in the conversation. Because of her, Mia almost forgot the heavy silence she had been living with for the past few days. She found herself smiling genuinely as she ate, her shoulders slowly relaxing.
By the time dinner ended, it was already close to eleven at night. The plates had been cleared, the laughter softened, and the house had settled into a comfortable quiet.
Despite Ellie, Liana, and Sawyer insisting that they stay the night, Mia and Alexander refused and decided to head back home.
Alexander stood near the door, pacing back and forth while waiting for Mia to return from the washroom. His steps were slow, hands sliding briefly into his pockets before coming back out again. Outside, the night had grown still, the air cool and calm. Allen was already waiting in the car parked near the entrance, the headlights dimmed.
Just as Alexander came to a stop, Ellie rushed down the stairs, nearly skidding to a halt in front of him. She shoved a bag straight into his hands.
“These are Mia’s things,” Ellie said brightly. “The last time she stayed at our house, she forgot to take them back. I packed everything for her.”
Alexander accepted the bag, the weight settling into his palm. “Thank you,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Ellie suddenly clapped her hands, eyes lighting up. “I’m going to check if there’s anything else I want to give her. I bought some gifts for her too. I’ll grab those as well so you can take them home.”
Before he could respond, she had already turned and rushed off upstairs, her footsteps echoing faintly.
Left alone, Alexander lowered his gaze to the bag in his hands.
He opened it slightly.
Inside were neatly packed skincare products, a folded scarf—
And a thick, leather-bound book.
His brows furrowed.
Curiosity stirred. He hooked the bag over his wrist and pulled the book out, the leather cool beneath his fingers. For a moment, he simply held it, then slowly opened the cover.
