Chapter 163 With It Came a Love Letter
Alexander had just turned to leave when—
"Sir!"
Kenna appeared at the top of the stairs, gripping the railing as she made her way down on unsteady legs.
She had woken to the commotion below and rushed down as fast as she could.
The tension in the living room slammed into her like a wall. Kenna's shoulders hunched instinctively, but she forced herself to speak.
"S-sir, there was something else with the... with the skin. A letter. One Ms. Edith Neville wrote... to Mr. Linus Hamilton. A love letter."
Alexander whipped around. "Linus. Where's the letter? Where is it?!"
"Everything was so chaotic, I don't know where it ended up... maybe under the couch, or kicked into a corner somewhere..."
Kenna stumbled back a step, terrified by the violence in his eyes.
"Find it! Tear this room apart if you have to, but find that letter!" Alexander's voice was a whip crack.
The guards moved immediately, searching every corner of the living room.
Finally, one of them pulled a crumpled envelope from a gap beneath the couch cushions.
Alexander snatched it and tore it open.
One glance and his face went black as thunder.
Edith's handwriting. He would recognize it with his eyes closed.
Even the paper—the texture, the pattern—matched exactly what he had found in the box Caroline had brought home.
Someone close to him was watching. Reporting.
They knew about Edith and Linus. They knew he had hypnotized Caroline.
They wanted to use the truth to force her memories back—and destroy her completely.
"Bastards... I'll kill every last one of you. I'll feed you to the dogs piece by piece."
Alexander crushed the letter in his fist, veins standing out on the back of his hand.
"Liam."
He jerked his head up.
"Last time—the person who saved Caroline and brought her back with that box. Who was it?"
"I looked into it, sir. Only one guard from the Neville Family was off-post that day. Had to be him. I'm guessing Mrs. Neville found out and covered for him so he wouldn't get killed."
"Bring him to me. I want to know who he's working for."
"Yes, sir." Liam turned and left immediately.
After Liam was gone, Alexander felt the strength drain out of him. He staggered back and collapsed onto the couch.
He pressed his hands to his temples, which were pounding like they might split open, and closed his eyes.
Grandhaven... they could not stay here anymore.
Too many eyes watching from the shadows. Watching him. Watching Caroline.
This time it was skin and a letter. Next time... would they send Edith's ashes?
Caroline's mental state was a bomb with a lit fuse.
If they stayed here, she would break completely. Or worse—she would die.
He could not take that risk.
The silence stretched out, thick and suffocating.
After what felt like hours, he opened his eyes.
"It's time... to leave."
When Caroline woke, the first thing she noticed was wrong.
The ceiling above her was not the familiar crystal chandelier from their bedroom.
Instead, she saw clean wooden beams. Sunlight poured through sheer white curtains, bright enough to make her squint.
The air smelled like salt water and tropical flowers.
She blinked, confused, and pushed herself upright.
The room was large and simply furnished—white walls, natural wood accents. Through massive floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see an endless stretch of ocean.
Where... where was she?
Hadn't she been at home? How did she get here?
Had she been... kidnapped?
Caroline's heart kicked into high gear. She threw off the covers and put her bare feet on the floor, looking around frantically.
"Alex? Alex?"
"You're awake."
A low, warm voice came from the doorway.
Caroline spun around. Alexander stood there holding a white ceramic bowl.
He had traded his usual tailored suits for a white linen shirt and beige pants, sleeves rolled to his elbows, showing the clean lines of his forearms.
Sunlight softened the sharp edges of his face.
He crossed to the bed and set the bowl on the nightstand.
He reached out and touched her forehead.
"How do you feel? Still dizzy? Hungry? Drink some of this first—it will help settle your stomach."
"Alex, where... where are we?"
Caroline grabbed his wrist, her eyes drifting to the ocean view outside.
"This place is beautiful... but this isn't our house."
Alexander caught her hand and pulled her gently into his arms.
"We're on Coral Haven. A private island. Remember? You always said you wanted to come here—white sand beaches, blue water, sunshine. I bought this island a long time ago. I was saving it for a vacation. Now seemed like the right time."
He paused, holding her tighter.
"You're pregnant. You need rest. Grandhaven is too loud, and the air is terrible. Here it is quiet and clean—perfect for you and the baby. Do you like it? Consider it my gift to you."
Caroline froze.
Had she... had she said she wanted to come to Coral Haven?
She could not remember.
But if Alexander gave it to her, she would love it.
"Really? We're really on Coral Haven? This whole island... is ours?"
She pulled back from him, eyes wide.
When Alexander nodded, Caroline jumped out of bed.
She did not even bother with shoes—just ran straight to the balcony.
"It's incredible!" Caroline gasped.
The view opened up before her—crystal-clear blue water stretching to the horizon, blending seamlessly with the sky.
White sand, fine and soft, glittered in the sunlight.
Tall palm trees swayed in the breeze, casting dappled shadows.
In the distance, seagulls skimmed the water, their cries sharp and clear.
The air was warm and humid, pure and fresh. It looked like something out of a dream.
"Oh my God... Alex! This is amazing!"
Caroline turned back, her face lit up with joy.
"I love it! I love it so much! Thank you!"
Seeing her laugh in the sunlight—seeing that bright, unguarded smile that belonged to Edith—Alexander felt something in his chest finally loosen.
He let out a breath he did not know he had been holding and walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and breathed in the clean scent of her hair.
"You like it?" he murmured.
"Yes! I love it! I love it so much!"