Chapter 1286 Earnestness, Fawning

Chapter 1286 Earnestness, Fawning

Victoria stared into his dark eyes, and her heart suddenly slammed against her ribs.

She thought — this was it. He was about to confess his feelings.

But…

She studied him for a few more seconds, then asked, a little uncertain, "You didn't actually take what the elders said seriously, did you? When we were kids?"

"Of course not."

Alexander would regret those words for a long time afterward.

He'd wonder — if he'd said yes, would things have been different between them?

"Right, I didn't think so. Why would you take something like that seriously?"

Victoria thought to herself, 'Thank God. I almost thought he was about to propose.'

She didn't know why, but his gaze always felt like it could swallow her whole.

More than once, she'd had this feeling — like he was about to close the distance between them.

"Let's head down. It's almost dinnertime."

Alexander pulled his gaze away without warning, picked up both glasses, and stepped into the elevator first.

Victoria followed with the two plates, and the elevator doors slid shut behind her. The silence inside was immediate, thick, pressing down like something left unsaid—or deflated. It felt almost like disappointment.

Victoria pressed her lips together and kept her breathing careful and quiet, not wanting to disturb whatever was going on behind his eyes.

Alexander stood with his head slightly bowed, lost somewhere in his own thoughts.

He left the Harrington Mansion after dinner.

A little past ten, Victoria was called to her parents' guest room.

Her mother patted the edge of the bed, pulling Victoria down to sit beside her. "Stop spending so much time around Alexander."

"I haven't been."

"Haven't been? What were the two of you doing alone together all that time before dinner? Anyone watching would think there was something going on between you."

"Mom, come on — we just met."

"And you're already flirting?"

"Dad." Victoria spun toward the man leaning against the headboard with a book, slipping into her best pouty voice. "You hear what she just said to me?"

"Your mother and I are on the same page about this one." He set the book down. "Mrs. Harrington may want you as a daughter-in-law, but you're our only daughter. How could we just let you stay out here on your own? And Alexander — he runs the show over at the Harrington Group, and he's barely out of his twenties. He looks charming on the surface, but make no mistake, he's sharp as a blade. A man like that? You'd spend your whole marriage biting your tongue."

"Isn't that just what it takes to run a company? But look at how he treats the family, how genuine he is with people — you've both seen it yourselves."

Victoria didn't like the way her parents talked someone down just to keep her from leaving.

Her mother's voice tightened with worry she could barely contain. "We just got here — of course he's on his best behavior right now. What about a year from now? Two years?" She reached over and squeezed Victoria's hand. "Honestly, your father and I have always liked someone more like Kai — easygoing, warm, the kind of guy who makes everyone around him feel comfortable."

Victoria had nothing left to say to that. She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. "I'm tired. Good night, you two."

"It's late — go straight to your room and get some sleep. No wandering around, do you hear me?"

"I hear you."

Victoria didn't look back.

She thought her parents were overthinking this. They'd barely met. Even if there was some kind of spark, that didn't mean anyone was running off to get married.

But then she lay in bed and couldn't sleep — tossing, turning, the air in the room pressing in around her like a wall. Every time she closed her eyes, it was his face. And underneath it, her parents' voices.

She got up, pulled on a jacket, and slipped quietly out of her room.

The rooftop of the Harrington Mansion had the kind of view that made you forget to breathe. She snuck back up.

She stayed there until well past midnight, drifting in and out of sleep on the rooftop sofa, until the sound of a car pulling in below cut through the haze. She rolled over and looked down.

Still out having fun.

Victoria checked her watch. It was later than she'd thought — the night air had turned cold and damp. She made her way back downstairs.

Alexander had stopped in the hallway in front of his bedroom door, completely still. Victoria hung back at the corner and watched him in silence.

Yes — it was the middle of the night, and no, she had absolutely no intention of walking over and staging some kind of accidental run-in.

She was just curious. What was he standing there for?

Alexander let out a quiet sigh. A moment later, he pushed the door open and went inside.

He'd gotten a Facebook message. It was from his friend Benjamin: [If you like her, say something.]

Alexander knew exactly what that was about.

But she seemed to think the world of that infuriating fiancé of hers.

A restlessness settled in his chest. He lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

He pulled up Facebook, and it occurred to him — they weren't even friends on there. He didn't even have her number.

Getting her number wouldn't be hard. He could just ask. Or if that felt too forward, he could ask Arabella. But…

The next morning he stepped out early — and nearly walked straight into her.

She was wearing a white belted sundress, her hair tucked softly behind her ears, her face clean and bright. The only word that came to him was young. Not in age — in the way she looked like something untouched.

Victoria saw him too. Her heart knocked against her chest three times in quick succession. She was about to nod hello when a voice came from behind her.

"Victoria, come here for a second."

Her mother.

Victoria looked at him — that longing, barely-held look — then turned away. "Coming."

"Hurry up."

"I know."

Her parents kept calling, and she had no choice. She gave him a small nod and left.

Alexander saw it clearly enough. Her parents didn't approve of him.

But right now, honestly…

The only approval he cared about was hers.

And he didn't even have her number yet — what was he doing thinking about any of this? He caught himself and almost laughed.

"Jasper wants whoever Victoria marries to stay close to home."

Maximus appeared at his side without warning.

Alexander turned to look at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Last night your father and I came upstairs and heard everything — you asking Victoria if she remembered you, then turning around and telling your dad you had no memory of her."

Alexander said nothing.

He remembered. He remembered all of it, clearly.

After breakfast, the family moved to the living room for coffee. Alexander personally poured a cup for Victoria's mother and Jasper, carrying them over himself.

"Mrs. Kensington — please, after you."

"Thank you."

Victoria's mother glanced up, clearly surprised. She thanked him politely anyway.

The Harrington family elders watched from across the room. From the moment they'd all gathered that morning, Alexander had been attentive in a way that was almost choreographed — appearing at exactly the right moment, with an impeccable sense of timing. And why might that be?

Victoria's parents understood perfectly well.

They were both university professors. They'd watched enough students fall for each other over the years to recognize that particular intensity — the kind of look that gave everything away. They recognized it. But…

Her mother couldn't stop worrying. Her father couldn't bear the thought of letting go.

They wanted Victoria close — not to fill some emptiness in themselves, not for her to take care of them. They simply wanted to be able to look after her. Every day. The way they always had.

Of course, they'd never say it to her quite like that. Instead, they said they couldn't stand the thought of her marrying so far away, that they just wanted her home.

After coffee, Alexander's phone rang, and he excused himself to head out. Victoria mentioned she needed to go into town to pick up gifts for some friends, and Eloise said, "Alex — why don't you drop Victoria off?"

"Sure."

He looked mildly surprised. He glanced at Victoria first, then agreed.

"Thank you." Victoria gave him a polite smile.

"Listen to you two, all formal with each other. Go on, get out of here." Eloise laughed.

She believed in timing. When it was right, nothing could stop it.

Alexander drove them into the city, then asked, "I'm guessing this place doesn't feel familiar either?"

"Hmm?"

Victoria had drifted off somewhere in her own head and missed it.

He glanced over at her. "I don't have anything going on this morning."

Something turned over in Victoria's chest. "You're going to stay with me?"

"Yes."