Alexander had always had a sensitive stomach. He avoided anything too spicy.
I instinctively opened my mouth to remind him—
But before I could speak, he calmly picked up the beef and ate it without hesitation.
No pause. No discomfort.
My words froze in my throat.
I lowered my gaze and swallowed them back.
When something comes from the person you love, even bitterness can taste sweet. Compared to that, what was a little spice?
A quiet, bitter relief washed over me. If I had spoken, I would have only made a fool of myself.
The meal continued. After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew lighter, more relaxed.
And just as the tension seemed to ease—
Kendra suddenly turned her attention to me once again.She casually turned to Alexander. "I heard Director Alicia is CEO Blackwood's sister and that she works under you. You two must be very close, right?"
Alexander lifted his eyes briefly to meet mine before shifting his gaze to Isabella. His tone was calm, almost indifferent. "For Grandma's sake, I look after her a little."
The words were light, spoken without emphasis—yet they crashed against my heart like thunder.
No one else seemed to notice anything strange, but I did. Was he deliberately drawing a line between us in front of Isabella? Or had he always seen our relationship this way? My mind filled with doubts. Perhaps it was both.
Three years of marriage, and I had never managed to melt his heart.
All his so-called consideration toward me had only ever been out of respect for Grandma.
I curved my lips into a polite smile, steadying my voice. "I'm merely CEO Blackwood's subordinate. There isn't any special closeness between us. Though you seem rather interested in me?"
Kendra's smile turned teasing. "Since we'll be collaborating soon, it's only natural that I'm curious. I hope you won't take offense, Director Alicia."
"I still don't understand what any of this has to do with work," I muttered coolly, brushing it off—only to notice Alexander's gaze flicker toward me for a brief second.
Two hours later, lunch finally wrapped up. I returned to my office and immersed myself in work again. By six in the evening, I was finished. I packed my bag and stepped out.
The entire floor was empty—everyone had already left. Only the light in the CEO's office was still on.
As I walked down the quiet hallway, I hesitated, my thoughts warring within me. In the end, I made up my mind and stopped in front of the familiar door. I knocked gently.
"Come in," Alexander's voice sounded from inside.
I pushed the door open. "Do you have any plans for tonight?" I asked calmly.
"No." He stood up, shutting down his computer. "Let's go."
I nodded and followed him out in silence.
When we arrived home, dinner was already prepared. We went upstairs to freshen up before returning to the dining room. The meal passed quietly, the only sounds being the faint clink of cutlery against plates. Afterward, Alexander went into the study to review some documents, while I remained in the living room with the television on, though my mind was far from the show playing on the screen.
A while later, I remembered it was time to take my pregnancy vitamins.
I picked up the bottle, shook out a pill, and poured myself a cup of warm water.
"You're taking medicine?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"Did you see a doctor? Is it serious?" he asked in quick succession.
Caught off guard by his sudden concern, I froze for a split second. Taking advantage of the moment before he could notice anything unusual, I quickly composed myself.
"I went to the doctor. It's nothing serious," I said, swallowing the tablet.