Chapter 17: Fragile Bonds Shattered
With a forced smile plastered across her lips, Nikki turned to face Alexander, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and uncertainty. She approached him cautiously, each step forward weighed down by the heavy tension that hung in the air.
As she reached his side, Alexander gestured for her to sit beside him, his expression unreadable. Hesitantly, Nikki lowered herself onto the plush couch, her muscles tense with anticipation. She could feel his eyes boring into her, his presence looming over her like a suffocating shadow.
Suddenly, Alexander's hand reached out, pulling her close with a surprising gentleness. Nikki's breath caught in her throat as she felt his breath against her skin, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.
And then, he smelled her hair. His demeanor softened, a sense of calm washing over him as the scent of dandelions filled his senses. For a fleeting moment, it was as if the world around them ceased to exist, and all that remained was the intoxicating fragrance that enveloped them both.
But just as quickly as it had come, the moment shattered. With a jolt, Alexander snapped back to reality, his grip on Nikki tightening before he pushed her away with a brutal force. She stumbled backward, her hand making contact with the sharp edge of a nearby table, the pain searing through her like a white-hot flame.
As she fell to the floor, the taste of blood filling her mouth, Nikki looked up to see Alexander's face, his features cold and devoid of emotion. Without a word, he turned and left her lying there, a broken and battered shell of her former self.
"Alex, why?" Nikki's voice quivered with pain and confusion, her eyes pleading for answers that would never come.
But there was no response, only the echo of his retreating footsteps as he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Nikki to be tended to by the maids who rushed to her side, their expressions a mix of concern and sympathy.