As I walked through a dimly lit alley, several figures emerged from the shadows, blocking my path.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a scar across his face, grinning menacingly as he approached. "Miss Anna Parker, someone gave you some dangerous materials. That wasn't very wise! For your protection, our boss has decided to invite you as his guest."
My heart raced as I realized the informant might have betrayed me. I tried to call for help, but one of them knocked my phone to the ground.
"Don't be nervous," the scarred man smiled coldly. "We just want to have a chat about some of your recent... inappropriate reporting."
I backed away, but more figures appeared behind me. I was completely surrounded.
"What do you want?" I tried to maintain my composure.
"It's simple," the scarred man said. "Stop your investigation, destroy all evidence, then quietly leave New York."
"And if I refuse?"
His smile turned more sinister. "Then don't blame us for not being polite."
Just as he reached out to grab me, footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.
Alexander appeared like an avenging demon from hell, followed by his fully armed men. His gaze was cold enough to freeze blood, seeming to drop the alley's temperature several degrees. He said nothing, but that murderous aura made everyone shudder.
The scarred man recognized Alexander, his face instantly draining of color. "Mr-Mr. Volkov, this is a misunderstanding—"
Before he could finish, Alexander's fist sent him crashing to the ground. Then he personally took down each man who had threatened me. His movements were clean and efficient, but brutally violent. Blood splattered against the walls, the scene too gruesome for me to watchdirectly.
Within minutes, every threat had been eliminated.
Alexander turned to me, trembling and shaken. I expected him to explode in anger, to blame me for acting alone. But he didn't. Instead, he pulled me into his arms with crushing force, as if trying to merge me into his very being.
I could feel his heart pounding like a drum, his hands trembling slightly. That fear and terror were genuine—not anger, but the fear of losing me.
We drove back to the manor in silence. I stole glances at his profile, noting his clenched jaw and the vein pulsing at his temple.
Halfway home, I finally spoke. "I'm sorry."
Alexander pulled the car over and turned to look at me.
"I admit I was too willful. I shouldn't have gone off alone," I continued. "I was jealous of... that woman, so I deliberately defied you. I shouldn't have done that."
He looked at me, the anger in his eyes beginning to fade.
"Tatyana is indeed my ex-girlfriend," he said simply, "but that's all in the past. I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings, but now you're the only one in my heart. Other women mean nothing to me."
Hearing this clear explanation, tears immediately flooded my eyes. Three days of accumulated hurt, jealousy, anger, and fear found their outlet.
"I thought..." I choked out, "I thought you still loved her, I thought I was just a substitute, I thought those earrings represented her special place in your heart..."
All my emotions poured out like a bursting dam. I sobbed as I continued, "These past few days I kept thinking, maybe I should never have hoped for anything. Maybe an ordinary journalist could never compete with such an elegant, refined woman..."
"Anna..." Alexander's voice was filled with heartache.
"I was scared," I finally admitted my deepest fear. "I was scared you'd realize I'm not worthy of you, scared you'd discover she was the better choice. I was scared of losing you, even more scared of losing the family we'd just begun to build..."
My voice shook with sobs. Three days of torment had completely broken me down.
Alexander kissed me deeply, the kiss filled with intense possessiveness and comfort. It held fear, anger, and the wild joy of having me back. He pressed me against the car seat, and I felt his burning body temperature and rapid breathing, felt his urgent need to completely possess me.
I kissed him back with desperate longing, as if trying to confirm through this kiss that he truly belonged to me, that our feelings were real.
