Aurelia stared at Alexander as though she were looking at a stranger.For years, she had known him as the quiet man who rarely complained, the husband who was always waiting when she returned home, and the man who remembered even the smallest details about her without ever asking for praise or recognition.But the man sitting across from her now seemed different.He was still Alexander, yet there was a distance in his eyes that she could not cross, no matter how desperately she wanted to reach him.Even when he spoke, his voice remained calm. There was no anger in it, no raised tone, and no deliberate attempt to hurt her with cruel words.Somehow, that made everything worse.“Alexander,” Aurelia whispered, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “You can't really mean that this is the end.”Alexander looked at her for several seconds before answering. “I do.”Her heart sank at the certainty in his voice.“I know I've made mistakes,” she said quickly, almost as though she

He needed to regain control of the situation before Alexander could turn her against him.“Aurelia,” Nahir said softly.She looked at him through tear-filled eyes.Nahir turned toward Alexander and deliberately kept his voice calm. “If you really love her, why would you make her cry like this?”Alexander slowly raised his eyes.Nahir continued before he could respond. “She never even cheated on you.”The words hung between them as Aurelia looked at Nahir.Alexander looked directly at him. For several seconds, neither man spoke.Alexander understood exactly what Nahir was doing.He was trying to change the subject. He wanted to make Alexander appear cruel for refusing to forgive Aurelia, and more importantly, he wanted Aurelia to forget everything Alexander had just said so that she would begin defending him instead.But Alexander refused to give him that opportunity; he simply looked at Nahir for a moment before turning his attention back to Aurelia.Nahir's expression tightened; he h

“Nahir, now we can finally talk about why you came here.”Alexander's voice cut through the darkness with an unsettling calmness that made the words feel far more dangerous than a shouted accusation ever could.Aurelia's breathing quickened as she remained frozen in her chair. She could hear faint movement somewhere beyond the lounge, followed by the unmistakable metallic click of another lock being released.Then the lights suddenly came back on.The brightness forced Aurelia to blink several times before her eyes adjusted. When she finally looked around, the VVIP lounge appeared exactly as it had moments earlier.The food remained untouched; the expensive wine still stood on the table.The waiters remained in their assigned positions, their expressions perfectly composed, as though nothing unusual had happened. Yet the atmosphere had changed completely.Nahir slowly lowered his phone; some of the color had drained from his face.Alexander noticed; he noticed everything. He saw the h

Nahir turned toward him. “I said there was no reason for her to do this.”“Yet you're trying very hard to stop her,” Alexander added.Nahir collected the spoon. “I don't want her doing something pointless.”Alexander leaned back again. “You're very protective of her.”Nahir's expression tightened. “She's my friend.”“Your friend?” Alexander's gaze sharpened. “You've certainly been acting like more than a friend.”Aurelia immediately looked uncomfortable. “Nahir has only been helping me.”Alexander looked at her. “I know.”The simplicity of his answer unsettled her; there was no anger in his voice, there was no jealousy, there was no accusation, there was only certainty.Aurelia lowered her gaze. “I want you to believe me.”Alexander's voice softened slightly. “I want to believe you too.”Aurelia looked up.Alexander continued, “But believing you isn't the same as trusting promises.”She swallowed. “Then what do I have to do?”Alexander nodded toward the table. “Start there.”Aurelia l

Nahir pushed the food away. “I already told you. It's unnecessary.”Aurelia wondered why it had become an issue. “But it's just food.”Nahir glanced at Alexander.Alexander was watching him; that calm expression made Nahir’s stomach twist.Aurelia slowly lowered the spoon. “I don't understand why you're making such a simple thing complicated.”Nahir forced a reassuring smile. “I'm only trying to protect you.”“Protect me from what?” Aurelia asked in shock, wondering if she needed protection from tasting the food they would eventually eat.“I don't know. I just don't think you should have to prove anything by tasting something Alexander ordered.”Aurelia frowned as she considered his words. “But he asked me to do something simple.”She glanced at Alexander before continuing. “He could have asked me to do something much harder. Instead, he only asked me to taste the food we're eventually going to eat anyway.”Nahir had no answer; his gaze drifted toward the table.The food remained unto