Alexander walked into his mansion, feeling like a ghost of his former self. His mind was still reeling from the confrontation at the café, and his hand throbbed where he had struck the young man. He barely noticed the lavish surroundings of his home as he wandered aimlessly through the grand foyer, his thoughts consumed by Emily's harsh words and the cold look in her eyes.
"Alexander!" a voice called out, snapping him out of his daze.
But as soon as she saw the bruises on his hand, her expression turned to one of concern.
"Oh my God, Alexander, what happened?" Claire rushed over to him, gently taking his injured hand in hers. "Did you get into a fight? Who did this to you?"
Alexander barely registered her words, his eyes distant as he muttered, "It's nothing, Vanessa. Just leave it."
But Vanessa was persistent. She quickly grabbed a first aid kit from a nearby cabinet and began cleaning his wounds, her touch gentle and careful. "Nothing? Alexander, this isn't nothing. You don't just come home like this without a reason. Tell me what happened."
Alexander remained silent, his mind elsewhere. No matter how much Vanessa fussed over him, he couldn't shake the image of Emily's tear-filled eyes as she looked at him with disappointment and anger.
Vanessa noticed his distant expression and felt a pang of frustration. She had always known how to read Alexander, but this time, he was a closed book. "Alexander, talk to me. Was it because of that woman? Did something happen with Emily?"
The mention of Emily's name caused Alexander to flinch slightly, but he still refused to answer. Instead, he pulled his hand away and stood up, walking over to the large windows that overlooked the sprawling estate. "Just drop it, Vanessa. It's none of your business."
Vanessa felt a sharp sting of jealousy. She had seen the way Alexander had been acting lately—distracted, distant, and even more brooding than usual. And she knew it had everything to do with Emily.
But before she could press further, her phone buzzed with multiple notifications. Curious, she glanced at the screen and saw that her social media feed was flooded with posts about Alexander's fight at the café. The headline that caught her attention read: "Billionaire Alexander Storms Café and Attacks Man Over Ex-Wife!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she skimmed through the comments, each one painting a vivid picture of the scene. People were speculating wildly about why Alexander had lost control, many of them blaming Emily for "provoking" him.
Vanessa's blood boiled as she read the accusations against Emily. She couldn't stand the thought of that woman still having such a hold over Alexander, even after they had divorced. It was clear to her now that Emily was trying to worm her way back into Alexander's life by playing the victim and manipulating him with her so-called innocence.
"That little witch…" Vanessa muttered under her breath, her anger growing with each passing second. She glanced back at Alexander, who still stood by the window, lost in his thoughts. "She thinks she can just waltz back into your life like nothing happened? I won't let her."
Determined, Vanessa began formulating a plan in her mind. She would expose Emily for the manipulative person she truly was, and she would make sure that everyone knew it. And when she was done, there would be no chance of Alexander ever going back to her.
But first, she needed to play her part as the supportive friend, ensuring that Alexander stayed close to her. She walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, her voice softening with false concern. "Alexander, I'm here for you. Whatever's going on, you can talk to me. You know I'll always be by your side."
Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just need some time to think, Vanessa. I'm not in the mood to talk about it right now."
Vanessa smiled sweetly, masking the venom in her heart. "Of course, take all the time you need. Just remember, I'm here whenever you're ready."
As Alexander turned away, retreating further into his own thoughts, Vanessa's eyes narrowed. She was more determined than ever to ensure that Emily would be out of their lives for good. No one messed with her future, especially not someone like Emily.
In her mind, she vowed, "Just wait, Emily. You're going to regret ever trying to come between us. I'll make sure of it."