The tension in the mansion was palpable as Alexander ignored Isabella's attempts to calm him. His jaw was tight, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Butler Kim," he barked, "take Isabella to one of the rooms downstairs."
Isabella's face fell, but she quickly masked her emotions. "Alexander, please, I didn't mean to—"
"Enough," he snapped, not even sparing her a glance.
Butler Kim stepped forward, his expression neutral as always, and gestured for Isabella to follow him. Isabella's polite façade cracked for a brief moment, her lips twitching with suppressed rage. She stole a glance upstairs, where Sophia had retreated. How I hate that woman.
But there was something different about Sophia now. Isabella could sense it. Tonight, she had stood her ground, raising her voice at Alexander for the first time. The thought made Isabella's stomach churn. Sophia's defiance wasn't part of the plan. Sighing dramatically, she followed Butler Kim to the guest room downstairs, her mind already working on her next move.
---
Alexander strode upstairs, his irritation mounting. He went straight to their bedroom, expecting to confront Sophia, but the room was eerily quiet. He glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning every corner.
The bed was untouched. Her toiletries were missing from the bathroom. Even the wardrobe seemed emptier than before. She had moved out of their shared space entirely.
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "What is she up to now?" he muttered under his breath.
Sophia's words from earlier echoed in his mind. Liam? Which Liam? His chest tightened inexplicably at the thought of another man being involved in her life. He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
"Start investigating Sophia," he ordered curtly when the call connected. "I want a full report by tomorrow. And assign someone to follow her from the morning. I want to know her every move."
After hanging up, Alexander leaned against the desk, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. Sophia was acting strange—defiant, distant, and far too confident for the meek woman he once knew. He didn't like it.
After a cold shower to calm his nerves, Alexander changed into a sleek black robe and emerged from the bathroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his damp hair. Sleep eluded him, his thoughts tangled in a web of frustration and confusion.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed Sophia's number. It rang several times, but she didn't pick up. He tried again, but the result was the same.
With a heavy sigh, he got up and made his way out of the room. He knew where she was—the guest room three doors down. He knocked softly at first, then more firmly when there was no response. Still, nothing.
Leaning against the doorframe, he let out a frustrated breath. Why was she suddenly affecting me this way? His mind raced with unfamiliar emotions, a gnawing feeling in his chest that he couldn't quite name. Shaking his head, he turned to go back to his room.
Just as he reached the hallway, a piercing scream echoed through the mansion, jolting him.
---
Sophia's eyes fluttered open, her sleep disturbed by the shrill sound. She sat up groggily, rubbing her temples. Another scream followed, louder this time.
"What now?" she muttered, slipping out of bed. She grabbed her silk pink pajamas—a short, barely-there set consisting of silky shorts and a thin singlet top that clung to her curves. The fabric was light, almost sheer, and showed just enough to make her blush if she cared.
She padded down the stairs, her bare feet making soft sounds against the cool marble. She reached the source of the commotion—a guest room downstairs—and found Alexander carrying Isabella in his arms.
"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice cutting through the tension.
Alexander turned at the sound of her voice, his dark eyes widening as he took in her appearance. For a brief moment, his brain seemed to short-circuit. The sight of her in those pajamas—the way the fabric clung to her body, the curve of her waist, and the teasing glimpse of her belly button—left him momentarily dazed.
In his distraction, he accidentally let go of Isabella, dropping her onto the floor with a loud thud.
Isabella yelped, clutching her side as she glared up at Alexander. "Ow! Alexander!"
Sophia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's all this noise about?" she asked impatiently.
Isabella, ever the actress, sniffled dramatically. "I-I saw a rat! It ran across the room, and I panicked…"
Sophia's expression was unimpressed. "A rat? Really? All this noise for a rat? You woke the entire house for that?"
Isabella's lower lip trembled. "I didn't mean to… I was just scared…"
Sophia raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing through the act. "Next time, keep your voice down. Some of us are trying to sleep."
She turned to leave, her hips swaying deliberately as she walked. She had taken only a few steps when Alexander caught up to her, grabbing her wrist gently.
"Sophia," he said, his voice softer than usual. "Wait."
She turned to face him, her expression cool. "What do you want, Alexander?"
He hesitated, his grip on her wrist tightening slightly. "I… I'm sorry for raising my voice earlier. I shouldn't have done that."
Sophia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his apology. But she quickly recovered, pulling her hand free from his grasp. "Apology accepted," she said curtly, before adding with a smirk, "But don't expect me to forget about it."
With that, she turned and ascended the stairs, making sure to sway her hips as she climbed. She didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on her, or the faint, conflicted expression on his face.
When she reached her room, she closed the door and leaned against it, a sly smile tugging at her lips. Let him stew in his confusion, she thought. She was just getting started.