"Alex," she said softly, her voice drawing his attention.
He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers for the first time since he had arrived. The fire in his gaze softened just a fraction, enough to reassure her that she wasn't alone.
"I'm fine," she said, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Alex nodded, but he didn't move from his position in front of her.
Nicholas's voice cut through the thick tension in the room, his words edged with irritation.
"Yue'er, please tell this man to leave. Whatever issues we have, we can talk this out," he demanded, his gaze flicking dismissively toward Alex.
He clearly didn't appreciate Alex's presence, let alone his interference. The name "Yue'er" rolled off his tongue with an intimacy that made Selena's stomach churn.
Nicholas—or Yu Zhiyuan, seemed to think that he and Selena would naturally be in a relationship and that Alex was the third party.
Alex, however, stood his ground, his tall frame radiating a barely contained fury. "I'm not going anywhere," he said coldly, his piercing eyes locked onto Nicholas.
He didn't know who or what "Yue'er" was supposed to be, and he didn't care. All that mattered was that Selena had been in a situation she clearly hadn't wanted to be in, and Nicholas was at the centre of it.
Alex's jaw tightened as he replayed the events that had brought him here. He had returned to the manor earlier that morning, expecting a quiet start to his day. Instead, he'd been met with unsettling news: Selena had been looking for him.
Of course, at first glance, there was nothing unsettling about that, but his gut told him that something was amiss.
At first, Alex had assumed it was about the annulment papers. He knew she was determined to get the engagement formally dissolved, and he had no doubt she would confront Nicholas to make it happen. What he hadn't expected was for her to act so quickly—right in the morning, no less.
He had assumed she would be nursing a hangover from the previous night.
But the moment he heard where she had gone, an uneasy feeling settled in his gut. Something wasn't right.
Alex knew Selena was a headstrong and fiercely independent woman. She didn't back down from challenges, even when she probably should. And yet, the thought of her facing Nicholas alone made his chest tighten with worry.
He couldn't explain the feeling, but his instincts screamed at him to follow her. So, without hesitation, he set off toward the Northern Duke's manor.
When he arrived, the guards had tried to stop him. They barked orders, demanding to know who he was and what his business was. Alex didn't waste time arguing. He pushed past them, his single-minded focus on finding Selena.
The moment he stepped into the room, his breath hitched at the sight before him.
There she was, pressed against the wall, her face pale and her eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. Nicholas was standing dangerously close to her, his hand on her cheek, his posture dripping with possessiveness.
The scene ignited something primal in Alex—a white-hot fury that he couldn't contain. Without a second thought, he surged forward and shoved Nicholas away from Selena. The force of the push sent the Duke stumbling back several steps.
He did not want to stop there, he wanted to punch him. Not once or twice but he wanted to land quite a few hits and he would have if not for Selena stopping him.
"Alex, stop!" she shouted, her voice shaky but firm.
Her words pulled him back to reality, and he froze, his fist still clenched tightly at his side. He turned to look at her, noting the way her shoulders were trembling and how she was hugging herself protectively.
Nicholas straightened, his expression twisted with a mix of anger and amusement.
"Yue'er, I understand that you are mad... But don't worry I will not hold any of this against you. I will wait for you to cut all ties and come with me. I am a very patient man after all."
Nicholas smiled wickedly at her. He didn't mind that he was just shoved to the ground. He waited many years, he could wait a little bit more.
"Don't call her that," Alex snapped.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And why shouldn't I? It's her name."
Nicholas smirked, a mocking tilt to his lips. "You seem awfully protective of her. I didn't buy that you got together with this... Man." He said with sarcasm. "This is not the Yue'er I know of."
Selena did not want to listen to any of this, she wanted to leave... Right now! The name Yue'er coming out of his mouth made her want to cry... It brought up memories and resentment that she did not want to revisit.
Alex ignored the jab, his focus entirely on Selena. "We're leaving," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Selena nodded, her movements stiff and hesitant. She wanted nothing more than to get out of this place, away from Nicholas and the suffocating presence he brought with him.
Nicholas, however, wasn't ready to let them go so easily.
"Yue'er," he said, his voice softening as he addressed her. "You don't have to leave with him. Whatever this is between us, we can work through it. Just... Send him away."
Selena's chest tightened at his words. A part of her wanted to lash out, to tell him he had no right to say such things after everything he had done to her in their past life—and in this one. But another part of her was too overwhelmed to respond.
Alex stepped closer to her, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "Selena, let's go," he said gently, his voice breaking through the fog in her mind.
She nodded again, her movements more decisive this time. She turned away from Nicholas and walked toward the door, her steps quick and purposeful.
Alex followed closely behind, his presence a protective shield against the tension radiating from Nicholas.
As they reached the doorway, Nicholas's voice rang out once more.
"This isn't over," he said, his tone laced with dark promise.