Chapter 191: The Truth Behind the Life-Saving Grace

"She's gone?"

"Yeah, I guess she's scared Alexander will get back at her."

Madison pressed her lips together, her voice cool. "Alexander might not even bother with her."

After all, he'd let her off so many times before, and this time she hadn't caused any real damage. He probably wouldn't go after her.

"Did Savannah save his life or something? Is that why he's protecting her?" Claire paused. "Okay, she did save him once."

But even a life-saving debt has limits, right? Savannah kept causing trouble again and again, and he still put up with it. Was he trying to be some kind of saint?

Madison didn't want to discuss their issues. She said flatly, "That's between the two of them."

She didn't care how Alexander handled it, and she wasn't going to get involved.

Even if he decided to forgive Savannah like some kind of saint, it had nothing to do with her.

"I think you're just too forgiving. If it were me, I'd make Alexander deal with Savannah, or he can forget about coming back to you."

Claire got worked up as she spoke. "Does she get to mess up every time and you have to clean it up? If he doesn't like Savannah, why does he keep holding on to that one favor? All these years, even if she'd saved his whole family, the debt should've been paid off by now."

Madison gave a faint smile. "That's their business."

"You're acting all indifferent in front of Alexander, but don't bother with me. If you really didn't care about him, why would you bring him home?"

Claire hadn't stopped Madison from letting him stay yesterday because she'd already figured out how Madison felt.

All that talk about not wanting to get back together was just fear—fear of making the same mistake again.

Did she really not love Alexander anymore?

Not necessarily.

Madison frowned slightly and said stubbornly, "Right now I just want to raise the kids. I don't want to think about anything else."

Claire sighed. "Madison, we've known each other since we were kids. Other people might not get it, but I do. You still love him."

Madison's heart skipped a beat. Her hand slipped while cutting, and the knife nicked her finger. She hissed in pain.

Claire wasn't done. "If you let him go now and he ends up with someone else, don't come crying to me."

Madison looked down at the blood on her hand. "Did Marcus get to you? You were the first one who didn't want me getting back with Alexander."

"I was against it because I couldn't stand seeing you get hurt. That guy was a real jerk before," Claire sighed, her tone turning resigned. "But now I get it. This is just how things are between you two. Think it over. Don't end up regretting it again."

Madison's eyes flickered.

Regret?

The cut stung when it touched water. She turned to find the first aid kit and spotted the man standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

He seemed lost in thought. Madison didn't want to disturb him, but Alexander turned sharply. When he saw her holding her injured hand, he frowned.

He walked over quickly and grabbed her hand. "You got hurt?"

Madison tried to pull away. "It's not that bad."

"Don't move." Alexander's voice was slightly cold, his eyes locked on the wound. "You call this not serious?"

The cut was deep. He sat her down on the couch. "I'll get the first aid kit. Wait here."

Watching him hurry off, Madison glanced at the thing he'd left on the couch.

He'd been spacing out by the window, probably looking at this.

It was a gemstone with a faint glow, its deep red color shining brightly under the light.

When Madison saw it, her whole body tensed. She reached for it without thinking.

This gemstone... she'd seen it somewhere before...

Alexander came back and caught her staring at it.

He paused but didn't say anything. He just opened the first aid kit and said, "Let me take care of that for you."

Madison wasn't thinking about the cut. She held the gemstone out to him. "How do you have this?"

Alexander looked at the stone for a moment, his eyes darkening. "When I was six, I fell into the water. Savannah pulled me out. This is what she dropped back then."

Madison's throat tightened. "So what are you planning to do with it now?"

Alexander took the gemstone from her hand. "I want to return it. Since we're not going to have any more contact, keeping it doesn't feel right. It should go back to its owner."

Madison stared at the gemstone in his hand, her eyes dimming.

So that's what it was...

Alexander thought she was upset again and explained quietly, "Don't worry. I just want to put the past behind me for good."

Savannah had already done enough stupid things. Even with the life-saving favor, he couldn't keep tolerating it.

Madison looked at the man's face for a long moment before finding her voice. "Savannah already ran off. You probably won't find her anytime soon."

Alexander figured it out right away.

After what she'd done, Savannah was probably scared of retaliation.

But he'd never planned to do anything to her. Out of respect for that old favor, he wouldn't touch her.

"I get it. Right now, let's just deal with your hand." Alexander answered casually and pulled her finger closer to take a look.

"I can do it myself." Madison tried to pull away, but he held on tight. She couldn't break free, so she gave up.

She spoke without really thinking. "This gemstone... you never thought about giving it back to Savannah all these years?"

Alexander kept his eyes down, carefully treating the wound. "I guess it was my way of holding on."

After he woke up back then, Savannah was gone, and all he had left in his hand was this stone.

Plus, she'd left the country so suddenly that year. Maybe he'd been unwilling to let go, so he'd kept it with him all this time.

"Now I've figured it out." Alexander looked up, his gaze steady on Madison. "You're the only one I want now. That old favor from back then—after everything she's done wrong, it's wiped clean. From now on, I'm only focused on you."

Madison bit her lip. "How can you be so sure it was Savannah who saved you?"

Alexander froze. "What do you mean?"

Madison turned her head. "Nothing."

Alexander didn't push it. After he finished bandaging her, he stood up. "This cut isn't good for cooking. I'll make dinner."

He didn't give her a chance to argue and headed into the kitchen.

Madison watched his back, then walked to the study. She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a broken necklace.

Her fingers brushed over it as she gave a bitter smile.

The gemstone she'd thought was long gone was in Alexander's hands all along. Was this really fate?