79

Alexander's POV

Maisie tensed in place upon hearing Neo's name. Ever since he had kissed her in the living room, she felt uncomfortable whenever he was around.

Although Neo's arrival was supposed to lift the mood, his presence instead thickened the tension in the air. The awkwardness was evident on Maisie's face, and I could feel it too.

As Neo continued the conversation, I observed Maisie's expression, trying to understand her feelings. The noise around us seemed to fade, and my focus shifted to the discomfort enveloping the atmosphere.

While I wanted to share the joy of my recovery, the awkward feeling made me hesitate. I wished I could find a way to navigate this situation and restore comfort for everyone in the room.

“Sit here,” I said, patting the empty space beside me. I could read Maisie's expression, but more than that, I couldn’t control my own heart, which felt uncomfortable at the thought of Maisie and Neo meeting.

Maisie complied, sitting beside me on the bed. I instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist possessively, trying to create a sense of security amid the existing tension.

“Come in!” I called out, inviting Neo to join us.

The atmosphere shifted slightly as Neo walked in, but the tension remained palpable. I tried to redirect the focus, hoping to ease the awkward situation and create a more comfortable moment for the three of us.

Neo entered the room, slightly taken aback by how close and affectionate Maisie and I were. His expression showed confusion for a moment before he attempted to conceal his reaction.

The warmth between Maisie and me created a different atmosphere, and Neo seemed to adapt to the situation. Although we tried to keep our spirits high, the initial tension still lingered in the air.

Maisie looked at Neo with mixed feelings, while I tried to keep the mood light to avoid getting trapped in discomfort. This was all part of a complicated dynamic, but I believed that with time, everything would return to normal.

Neo cleared his throat softly, dispelling the awkwardness. “I’ve moved to a new house, Dad.”

“Oh, good. Since when?” I asked flatly.

Neo enthusiastically explained about his new house, describing the location and some changes he had made. However, even though he tried to create a positive atmosphere, I felt the discomfort still hanging in the room.

While Neo spoke, I stole a glance at Maisie, trying to find a signal that she felt better. The dynamic between the three of us felt complicated, but I hoped to navigate this moment well.

“I just finished moving,” Neo glanced at Maisie briefly. “But Erina didn’t join.”

“Why?” I frowned. “I thought she would like having her own house.”

Neo explained that Erina preferred to stay elsewhere, giving several reasons for not wanting to join. As he spoke, the atmosphere grew tenser, and I could sense the discomfort between us.

Maisie seemed to listen carefully, but her expression showed that this discussion made her uneasy. I tried to steer the conversation in a different direction, hoping to divert attention from the awkward situation.

Neo handed over a brown envelope containing a divorce filing from Erina. His expression showed loss, even though he tried to sound composed.

“She has filed for divorce in court. And as Dad said, if she does that, I just need to divorce her. So I kicked her out of the house.”

His words hung in the air, creating a hollow atmosphere. Maisie fell silent, appearing shocked by the news. I felt an emotional weight suddenly fill the room, intensifying the tension.

This moment shifted the dynamics between us, and I knew we had to respond carefully to avoid worsening the situation.

Neo's jaw tightened as he spoke those words, revealing the heavy burden he carried. The sharpness in his voice added to the growing tension.

Maisie gasped upon hearing the news, looking shocked and disbelieving. Her expression showed confusion and pain, as if she felt the impact of Neo's decision.

“Divorce? You’re getting divorced?” Maisie couldn't hold back from asking.

Her words echoed in the room, amplifying the tension and swirling emotions. In an instant, the cheerful atmosphere that had been there shifted to seriousness, and everyone felt the weight of this deep conversation.

Neo nodded, glancing at Maisie for a moment before returning his gaze to me. His expression showed a mix of certainty and doubt, as if he was trying to muster the strength to face this complicated situation.

The depth of his gaze made me feel the weight of his decision, and I knew this was not just a legal matter but also an emotional issue weighing on their hearts.

Maisie remained silent, trying to digest what she had just heard. The room felt increasingly quiet, and the tension between us became more pronounced, creating an atmosphere that forced us to confront an unavoidable reality.

Maisie expressed her concern in a soft tone, "But she's pregnant, Neo. Don’t you feel sorry for the baby she's carrying? That’s your child too, right?"

She knew she should feel happy that the relationship between the two people who had once shattered her life was not better than her relationship with me. Yet, for some reason, her feelings leaned more towards pity for the baby that Erina was carrying.

Perhaps because she was also pregnant, the feeling became even deeper. The uncertainty and complexity of the situation made it hard for her to feel happiness over Neo's decision. In that moment, all emotions mixed together, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and sensitivity.

"She’s the one who filed for divorce, so why should I keep her?" Neo hissed with hatred. His voice trembled, indicating the deep pain and anger he felt.

His expression reflected a boiling tension, as if all the negative emotions were too much to contain. In his gaze, there was profound disappointment toward Erina’s decision, and his feelings were increasingly eroded by a sense of unfairness.

This situation further worsened the mood, and I felt the discomfort enveloping the room. Maisie seemed stunned, struggling to find the right words in response to Neo's anger.

Maisie was taken aback, feeling confused and pressured. She didn’t know what had truly happened between Neo and Erina, but she sensed that something very serious had occurred. She could guess that a major fight had happened between them, something severe enough to prompt a divorce filing just a few months after they had married.