Chapter 101
Elizabeth's POV
He suddenly seemed to be provoked by my expression and raised his voice abruptly, "Do you honestly believe you still hold a place in Alexander's heart?"
The truth that Alexander hadn't looked for me was a bitter pill to swallow. Aiden had seized upon this fact, wielding it like a weapon aimed straight at my vulnerabilities.
"I don't want to discuss this with you." I replied coolly, my smile detached and distant, clearly conveying my unwillingness to engage.
Aiden was visibly displeased with my attitude. His hand reached out abruptly, capturing mine in a firm grip. "Elizabeth, I'm offering you an opportunity you should consider taking."
"What opportunity are you talking about? What kind of answer do you want from me?" I asked, my gaze steady, challenging his intentions.
From my perspective, Aiden's behavior was as perplexing as it was relentless, as if he were searching for some elusive truth hidden within me, his patience seemingly boundless.
"From now on, you're to stay by my side and go nowhere else. Do you agree?"
"Of course not," I shot back without hesitation, my expression one of incredulity.
How could he possibly think his demand was reasonable? Did he not see how absurd it was?
Aiden didn't seem angry at my refusal; instead, he simply left the room. Moments later, he returned with my phone in hand.
I moved to retrieve it, but he deftly avoided my grasp. "I'll give it back, but you need to understand what's appropriate and what's not."
I met his gaze head-on, unflinching. "Didn't you already decide that I'm nothing to Alexander? So what are you worried about?"
His silence was telling.
I seized the moment to snatch my phone back, a triumphant smile playing on my lips. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Unlocking my phone, I immediately checked for any signs of tampering. It seemed untouched; Aiden had only taken it without further interference.
My main concern was whether Aiden had discovered anything about Julia.
He was unaware of my identity as a designer, and I had indeed profited from his ignorance.
If he found out prematurely, things could spiral out of my control.
With my phone in hand, I gestured toward the door. "Can I leave now?"
Throughout our interaction, Aiden hadn't tried to get too close, so I decided to test his boundaries further.
If Aiden really wouldn't stop me, it meant I could push my luck a bit more.
His lack of response encouraged a slight smile from me.
Aiden truly did nothing to stop me, cooperating in his own peculiar way by leaving the room.
I narrowed my eyes, contemplating his actions.
Was his only plan to keep me here without doing anything else?
Once I was sure he wouldn't return, I opened my chat with Alexander.
The conversation was idle, last left with updates on the project I had been managing.
I hesitated, then sent a new message, needing to know what Alexander truly felt. Didn't he care about me, or even the child I carried?
But as soon as I sent the message, a red exclamation mark appeared, stark against the screen.
Had Alexander deleted me?
Panic gripped my heart, my palms growing sweaty.
What was happening? How could he just cut me off like this?
Knowing I was missing, not only did he not look for me, but he had erased me from his life?
Could it be true that Alexander wanted nothing to do with me anymore?
Teeth clenched, I dialed his number, refusing to believe he could be so heartless.
The call went through; he hadn't blocked me. Relief was short-lived, however, as the phone rang unanswered.
I took a deep breath, striving for calm.
Was Alexander ignoring me? Did he truly want no ties with me?
Frustrated, I redialed multiple times, each attempt met with silence.
Alexander had decided to shut me out completely.
Staring at the unresponsive phone, my breathing quickened, anxiety clawing at my insides.
The sensation of suffocating isolation was overwhelming, the realization hitting hard.
I realized that I was truly alone, with no one to rely on but myself.
With Alexander distancing himself, I lost my leverage against Aiden. The feeling was unbearable.
I inhaled deeply, trying to remain composed.
If Alexander had chosen this path, I needed to confront him in person and demand answers.
But first, I had to escape from where Aiden had trapped me.
Without freedom, I could achieve nothing.
Aiden had mentioned leaving, but I wasn't sure if he had gone yet.
Given the possibility, I cautiously ventured out to see if he was still around.
To my dismay, I ran directly into Aiden in the dining room.
He was setting the table, waving me over when he saw me. "Come have breakfast. You're pregnant, and skipping meals isn't good for you."
The air felt heavy for a moment, and I forced a smile, moving towards the table after a brief hesitation.
Skipping meals wasn't an option, but sitting with Aiden filled me with unease.
While yesterday's food had been safe, I couldn't assume everything would remain that way.
I watched him intently, noting every move he made.
Only when he sat across from me and took the first bite did I begin to eat.
If he trusted the food enough to eat it himself, it likely wasn't tampered with.
Once satiated, I lounged on the couch, observing.
I wanted to see if Aiden would eventually leave.
He was meticulously cleaning the kitchen, a surprising sight given his past disinterest in such tasks.
"Did you make breakfast?" I inquired.
I never knew Aiden could cook; he had always been the type to have everything done for him. Even when we were together, he never once cooked for me.
I, on the other hand, had learned to cater to his tastes, foolishly hoping he'd reciprocate. But he never did back then.