Third-Person POV

Aiden was genuinely taken aback by Alexander’s appearance.

The last time he had seen him was when he had called him to check on Alicia after the kidnapping incident.

Back then, Alexander had looked exhausted.

But now...

He looked worse.

Much worse.

His face had become noticeably thinner, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and there was a weariness about him that couldn’t be hidden.

For a moment, Aiden thought about Rosaline’s death.

The old matriarch had just passed away.

Perhaps that was what had reduced him to this state.

Yet something felt off.

Because the look in Alexander’s eyes wasn’t just grief.

It was desperation.

"Are you alright, Alexander?" Aiden asked cautiously.

Alexander seemed to struggle before finally speaking.

"What are you doing here?"

Aiden frowned.

"I’m here for a show."

Then he glanced around.

"But shouldn’t I be asking you that?"

His gaze swept past Alexander as though searching for someone.

"Don’t tell me you left Alicia alone in her condition."

The moment Alicia’s name was mentioned, something shifted in Alexander’s expression.

A bitter laugh escaped him.

"Come on, Aiden."

His voice was cold.

"Stop pretending."

Aiden frowned deeper.

"Pretending?"

"I’m here looking for Alicia."

Alexander’s gaze locked onto him.

"So where is she?"

For a moment, Aiden simply stared.

Completely confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn’t you come here with her?"

The question left Aiden speechless.

His mind froze.

Then his eyes widened.

A horrible realization struck him.

"Alicia is missing?"

The urgency in his voice made Alexander pause.

"Alicia is missing?" Aiden repeated.

This time his voice was lower.

More serious.

He stepped closer.

"Alexander, answer me."

But instead of replying, Alexander narrowed his eyes.

The reaction only made him more suspicious.

"You really are a good actor."

His voice hardened.

"If Alicia is here with you, I suggest you bring her out right now."

Aiden’s expression darkened.

"She’s still my wife."

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then Aiden scoffed.

"Wife?"

There was no amusement in his voice.

"Aren’t you ashamed of calling her that after everything?"

The memory of Alexander publicly standing beside Lilian while Alicia watched quietly, flashed through his mind.

He had never forgotten it.

Neither had the rest of the world.

Their voices weren’t loud, but the tension between them was enough to attract curious glances from nearby tourists.

Aiden ignored them.

His focus remained entirely on Alexander.

"Is Alicia really missing?"

This time there was no sarcasm.

No anger.

Just concern.

Alexander studied him, realising that Aiden might really have no clue about what’s happening.He opened his mouth to answer.

Then stopped.

His gaze dropped briefly.

The silence was enough.

Aiden exhaled slowly.

For the first time, he realized the situation was serious.

Very serious.

Seeing Alexander Blackwood like this was unsettling.

After a moment, Aiden gestured toward a nearby beachside bar shaded by palm leaves.

"Let’s talk over there."

Alexander’s first instinct was to refuse.

The last thing he wanted was to sit down with the man he believed Alicia loved.

But if Alicia wasn’t with Aiden...

Then perhaps he knew something useful.

Anything.

Even the smallest clue would be enough.

Without another word, Alexander followed him.

A few minutes later, they were seated across from each other.

The ocean stretched behind them.

Waves rolled gently onto the shore.

Aiden ordered drinks before turning his attention back to Alexander.

"How long has she been missing?"

"Almost a week."

Aiden’s brows furrowed.

Alexander continued quietly.

"I left her at home taking a nap."

His voice sounded strained.

"When I returned, she was gone."

Aiden remained silent.

"There was only security footage of her leaving with a suitcase."

For a moment, neither man spoke.

Then Aiden leaned back.

"So she finally left."

The words escaped before he could stop himself.

Alexander immediately looked up.

"What does that mean?"

Aiden met his gaze but didn’t speak.

What was he supposed to tell him?.

That he’d expected Alicia to prioritise herself and leave since a long time ago.

Aiden didn’t talk.

Instead, he shook his head.

"Nothing."

Alexander frowned but didn’t push.

He was too exhausted to argue.

After a moment, he asked the question that had been bothering him since the moment they met.

"Did she contact you?"

Aiden blinked.

Then shook his head.

"No."

Alexander stared.

"Why not?"

This time it was Aiden’s turn to look confused.

"Why would she?"

Alexander frowned.

The answer seemed obvious to him.

"Who else would she contact?"

Aiden couldn’t help staring.

Then he sighed.

"Alexander."

His tone softened slightly.

"Alicia has always been independent."

He looked toward the ocean briefly.

"If she left, it’s probably because she wanted to be away from everyone."

His gaze returned to Alexander.

"Not because she wanted to run toward someone."

The words hit harder than Alexander expected.

Because deep down, he knew Aiden was right.

Yet the ease with which Aiden seemed to understand Alicia still made something painful twist inside his chest.

Aiden suddenly leaned forward.

"There’s something I don’t understand."

Alexander looked up.

"Why did you think Alicia was here with me?"

For several seconds, Alexander remained silent.

Then he finally answered.

"Isn’t that natural?"

Aiden frowned.

Alexander’s gaze lowered to the untouched drink in front of him.

"She’s missing."

He paused.

"Then I come all the way here looking for her..."

His jaw tightened.

"And the first person I run into is the man she likes."

Silence.

Aiden stared at him.

For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he had heard wrong.

"The man she likes?"

Alexander nodded once.

Aiden blinked.

Confusion slowly spread across his face.

Because if there was one thing he was absolutely certain of...

It was that Alicia had never looked at him that way.

Not even once.

"What do you mean by the man she likes?" Aiden finally asked.

Alexander gave him an incredulous look.

"Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Haven’t you and Alicia always liked each other?"

For a moment, Aiden was speechless.

It was true that he had liked Alicia for years.

Maybe a part of him still did.

But it had never been the same for her.

A bitter laugh escaped him.

"Alexander, do you even hear yourself?" he asked.

Alexander frowned.

"Answer the question."

Aiden shook his head.

"Yes, I like Alicia. I won’t deny that. But it was never mutual."

Alexander scoffed.

"You’re expecting me to believe that?"

"Believe whatever you want," Aiden replied. "But the truth won’t change."

Alexander remained silent.

Aiden leaned back in his chair and looked at him carefully.

"Where did you even get this ridiculous idea from? Do you think just because you betrayed her, she’d do the same to you?"

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

"I never said she cheated on me."

He ignored the rest of Aiden’s words.

Even if nothing truly happened between him and Lilian, he had still failed as a husband.

That much he couldn’t deny.

Aiden sighed.

"If I’m not the one Alicia likes, then who exactly do you think she loves?"

Alexander stared at him.

For the first time since this conversation started, uncertainty appeared in his eyes.

Aiden almost laughed at how unbelievable the situation was.

"Alexander..." he said slowly.

"You’ve been married to her for two years."

"So?"

"How can you still not see it?"

Alexander frowned.

"See what?"

Aiden looked at him as if he had completely lost his mind.

Has Alexander been blind all this years,that he can’t even tell Alicia’s feelings for him?....