Chapter 38
Elizabeth's POV
I returned to The Windsor Family, unable to contain my excitement.
I never expected that Aiden would actually dare to publicly admit his relationship with Bianca in front of the media. If this reaches Grandma's ears, it will definitely stir up a storm.
It seemed last night's trending topic really put enormous pressure on Aiden, forcing him to make this decision. Whether or not he was trying to turn the situation to his advantage, for me, my goal had already been achieved.
I had just walked through the door when my phone rang. The caller ID showed Smith Manor.
I cleared my throat, letting the excitement in my voice settle down, then pressed the answer button.
"Elizabeth!" Grandma's urgent voice came through the phone. "Where are you right now? What's going on between you and Aiden? Is he bullying you?"
Her words were full of concern, but more than that, there was an undeniable urgency.
What she cared about most was Aiden's marriage. Now that things had blown up with him publicly involved with that Bianca, there's no way she wouldn't be anxious.
I immediately adjusted my tone, making my voice sound fragile and helpless, "Grandma, Aiden and I are over. He admitted it himself—the person he loves is Bianca. I don't want anything to do with him anymore."
"Elizabeth!" Grandma became more anxious. "You're carrying Aiden's child, don't do anything rash! Grandma is absolutely on your side. Come back first, okay? Grandma will stand up for you."
"No, Grandma." I lowered my eyes, my voice carrying a hint of choking, trying hard to sound more pitiful. "Between Aiden and me, there's no possibility left."
Grandma calling me personally—it seemed her concern about this matter exceeds my imagination. In that case, I might as well take advantage of her attitude.
Grandma's tone became increasingly urgent, "Where are you exactly, Elizabeth? I'll send someone to pick you up right now, okay? Grandma promises to be on your side and back you up."
"I really can't go back, Grandma. Please stop trying to persuade me."
After several rounds of back and forth, Grandma finally lost her patience. She shouted directly, "Fine, I'll make that little brat Aiden come apologize to you right now! You forgive him one more time, okay?"
Then I heard her ordering someone nearby, "Uma! Call Aiden immediately! Tell him to bring my Elizabeth back right now!"
Hearing the commotion on the other end, I couldn't help but smile.
Although I kept saying I would never have anything to do with Aiden again, having the chance to watch him forced to bow his head up close would be pretty entertaining.
I continued in that aggrieved tone, "Grandma, don't make things difficult for Aiden. He and Ms. Johnson truly love each other. If I had known their feelings were so deep, I would never have gotten involved."
At the mention of Bianca, Grandma's temper immediately flared, "What is that, Bianca? With her messy family background, does she deserve to marry into our Smith family? Elizabeth! The only granddaughter-in-law I recognize is you. Don't say another word—Grandma will absolutely get justice for you."
"Better not. Ms. Johnson's health is so fragile. If she gets upset, Aiden will definitely feel bad for her again."
"He wouldn't dare!"
Hearing Grandma's angry roar, I was finally satisfied.
On the other end, Grandma kept complaining to Uma while pressing me for my location. Of course, I wouldn't tell her. I made up some excuse and hung up.
However, as soon as I looked up, I met a pair of deep eyes.
It was Alexander. I didn't know when he appeared at my door, staring at me motionlessly.
"Why are you back?"
At this time, he should be swamped at the office. Why would he suddenly appear here?
Alexander walked in, his gaze never leaving me. "Feeling sad?"
What would I be sad about? What is he imagining now?
"Aiden held a press conference and publicly announced his relationship with Bianca. You don't feel anything at all?"
I looked at Alexander with an increasingly strange expression. Where did he get this conclusion from?
From the moment Aiden betrayed me and even wanted my life, this person was already dead in my world. How could I possibly still feel sad because of him? The logic made no sense.
Alexander's eyes were still full of doubt, as if he firmly believed his judgment.
My mouth twitched as I said, "Whatever you're thinking, the truth isn't what you imagine."
I instinctively looked away, but worried this action would seem like evidence of guilt in his eyes, so I clicked my tongue in annoyance and turned my gaze back.
This time, Alexander's eyes carried a hint of playful amusement.
"If you're not sad, why not fight back? I remember you said you'd make Aiden pay. The media is all gathered there right now—it's the perfect opportunity for you to show up and make this bigger."
He was right. If I appeared in front of the media right now, I could definitely push this drama to a new climax.
I stared at Alexander in front of me, a bold guess slowly forming in my mind.
I stood up and walked toward him step by step. The absolute sense of pressure emanating from him made it seem like he didn't think I could pose any threat at all, so he just stood there motionless.
The distance between us grew smaller and smaller, until our breaths were almost intertwining.
I looked up at him and said softly, "Mr. Windsor, you came back at this time to tell me these things. Can I understand this to mean that in your heart, I'm more important than your work?"
I reached out my finger and lightly drew a circle on his chest, the movement full of testing and teasing.
Alexander neither stepped back nor pushed me away. The look in his eyes even became somewhat unclear.
His gaze falling on me made my heart itch too, a strange feeling spreading rapidly.
He still didn't move. Instead, I was the first to find this ambiguous standoff unbearable and wanted to retreat.
Just then, my wrist was suddenly grabbed by him. A force yanked me over, and I crashed entirely into Alexander's embrace.
Through a thin layer of shirt, I could clearly feel how solid this man's physique was. His firm abs were clearly defined, pressed against my body, hard and burning hot.
My breathing involuntarily grew heavier. I suddenly realized what I had been thinking and quickly struggled to pull away.
"What are you doing!"
This time, Alexander didn't grab me again. But when I looked up at his exceptionally cold face, the flutter I'd felt in my heart moments ago vanished without a trace.
Alexander's expression was really too cold, devoid of any emotion. The look in his eyes held only cold scrutiny.
I suddenly realized how calm and self-controlled he was, and how pure his attitude toward me was.
The only reason he let me stay here was the child in my belly.
"Elizabeth," Alexander's calm words came, "I advise you not to have any unrealistic fantasies about me."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but roll my eyes and completely pulled away from him.
"Just now you said I was sad over Aiden, and now you think I'm interested in you? Mr. Windsor, what kind of image do I have in your mind?"
I admit, Alexander was sometimes handsome enough to make my heart flutter, but I'd long since lost interest in relationships and men.