Chapter 185: Alexander’s Decade of Secret Love

Chapter 185: Alexander’s Decade of Secret Love
Eleanor stood frozen in the center of the hidden room. Her hand was pressed hard against her mouth to keep from crying out. She moved from one wall to the next, her eyes scanning the hundreds of photos. Each one felt like a ghost from her past. As she looked at them, memories flooded back. She remembered the days those photos were taken, but she had never known someone was watching her from the shadows.

She found the very first photo in a corner. It was dated ten years ago. It showed her as a freshman in college. She was standing on a small stage, clutching a trophy for her first art competition. She looked so young and full of hope. The edges of the photo were yellowed and worn. It was clear that someone had held it many times over the years. Some of the images had even faded to white where a thumb had repeatedly traced her features.

Eleanor felt the heat of tears on her cheeks. She was shaking. The sheer amount of items in this room was overwhelming. This wasn't just a collection. It was a decade of silent, dedicated love.

"How is this possible?" she whispered. "He was there. He was always there."

She felt a strange mix of shock and confusion. If he loved her this much, why did he wait so long? Why did he let her suffer through a marriage with a man like Sebastian? Eleanor stumbled out of the secret room, her legs feeling weak. She walked into the main study and saw Alexander standing by the window. He was staring out at the gardens, his back to her. He didn't move, but he knew she was there.

"You found my secret," Alexander said. His voice was low and heavy.

"I did," Eleanor replied. She wiped her eyes, trying to find her voice. "But I don't understand. Why do you have these? Why did you buy my paintings when I was a student? We were strangers."

Alexander turned around slowly. He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart skip. The cold mask he had worn for the past few weeks was gone. "Doesn't it make sense now, Eleanor? I have loved you for ten years."

Eleanor had guessed it, but hearing him say it out loud was different. The weight of ten years of silence filled the space between them.

"I wasn't even with Sebastian for most of that time," Eleanor said. Her voice rose with emotion. "If you felt this way, why didn't you come to me? Why did you let me walk into a trap?"

Alexander sighed. It was a long, tired sound. He sat down at his desk, looking like a man who had carried a heavy burden for too long. He stayed silent for a minute before he spoke.

"Back then, the Prescott family was a war zone," Alexander explained. "My father was gone, and my relatives were like wolves. There were assassination attempts and traps every single week. My life was dark and ugly."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes softening with a rare vulnerability. "Then I saw you at that competition. You were so bright and pure. You had a smile that I didn't think existed in my world. For the first time, my life had color. But I was afraid to touch you. I was a marked man. I thought if I brought you into my world, you would either end up dead or broken."

Eleanor listened, her heart aching for the lonely man he had been.

"I told myself I would wait," Alexander continued. "I planned to clear every enemy and make the world safe for you. But I was too slow. By the time I felt I could protect you, you had already met Sebastian. You were moving on with your life. I thought I had missed my chance forever."

He stood up and walked toward her. He stopped just a few inches away. He looked at her with a humility she had never seen.

"I thought it was over until I saw you at the gallery years later," he said. "I saw that you weren't happy. Even though my life was still dangerous, I couldn't let you go a second time. I had to take the chance, even if it was selfish."

He looked at her with desperate hope. Then, the most powerful man in the city did something she never expected. He dropped to one knee. He reached out his hand toward her, his fingers trembling slightly.

"I know I’ve caused you pain," Alexander said. "I know my love has brought you trouble. But I am begging you for one more chance. Let me make it up to you. Let me show you the love I’ve been holding onto for ten years."

The sight of him being so vulnerable was enough to break her. But Eleanor didn't move. She thought about the lies, the fear, and the trauma of the last few months. She wasn't ready to let go of the hurt.

"Take me to the airport," she said quietly.

The light in Alexander’s eyes died instantly. A look of pure agony crossed his face. He lowered his head, his shoulders shaking. He stayed on the floor for a long time, fighting for air. When he finally stood up, his face was once again a mask of stone.

"I understand," he said.

They didn't speak as they walked to the car. Alexander saw her to the driveway but stopped at the door.

"I won't go to the airport with you," he said. "If I go, I won't be able to let you leave. I might do something I regret to keep you here."

"I know," Eleanor said.

She got into the car and didn't look back. She could feel his gaze on her, heavy and painful, until the car turned the corner and the villa disappeared.