Chapter 219 Hearts Racing
Upon catching sight of Alexander's darkened countenance, a shiver of apprehension coursed through Ava. She found herself grappling with the terrifying notion that he might hurl her down the looming staircase.
In days gone by, such a thought would have been unthinkable. Alexander, as she knew him, was incapable of such malevolence.
Yet, the man standing before her now was a stranger, a wild card. His unpredictability hung in the air like a dense fog, chilling her to the bone. The thought that he might indeed cast her down the stairs was not entirely implausible.
His sudden halt in their ascent seemed to validate her fears. Why else would he halt their ascent unless he was contemplating such a drastic action?
Alexander's gaze bore into her, his silence as unnerving as the depth of his black oceanic eyes. They were void of emotion, a chilling testament to his inscrutability.
Ava swallowed hard, her heart hammering against her ribcage. She stole a glance at the staircase beneath them, the realization of the potential danger sending a jolt of terror through her. A fall could not only threaten her life but also that of the unborn child she carried.
In comparison to Alexander, she felt fragile, her body a delicate shell against his formidable strength. If he wished to cast her down, it would be as effortless as tossing a feather.
Motivated by the primal instinct to protect her unborn child, Ava clutched at Alexander's collar, her eyes wide with terror. "Can we please not fight tonight?" she implored.
She made up her mind to endure, to bear the heartache until the divorce was finalized. Tomorrow, she would remove herself from his life, determining never to cross paths with him again.
Though this was her plan, she dared not voice it, fearing it might incite Alexander's ire and prompt him to play the victim.
His moods were as unpredictable as a tempest.
Reluctantly, her mind wandered to the sensational headlines of spousal murder.
The punishment for killing a stranger might be the death penalty, but for killing a wife, it seemed a mere few years behind bars was the norm.
Alexander, reading the fear in her eyes, glanced down at the stairs, seemingly grasping her thoughts. "Do you think I'm going to throw you down?" he queried.
At times, Alexander felt utterly perplexed by Ava's thoughts, her enigmatic nature frustrating him. Yet, at other times, it was as though he possessed telepathy, accurately discerning her thoughts, which only served to exacerbate his irritation.
Ava swallowed again, remaining silent. But her eyes had already betrayed her fears to Alexander.
His broad chest heaved with the rhythm of his intense heartbeats, and a spark of fire seemed to ignite in his eyes.
Suddenly, he slackened his arms, as if to act on the unspoken threat.
With a startled cry, Ava quickly reached out, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. "Don't!" she pleaded. Like a skittish rabbit, she curled up in his arms, trembling, her small face a picture of panic, her grip on him tightening.
Alexander slightly loosened his hold, with no real intention of letting her fall.
He couldn't possibly do such a thing, but seeing her so terrified stirred an inexplicable frustration within him. It was as if his chest had been struck by a heavy stone, one that now sat oppressively on his conscience, immovable.
She evidently did not trust him.
After all these years, they were supposed to be the closest of companions, yet now she seemed to believe he was capable of such a heinous act.
Did she truly perceive him as such a vile man?
Feeling the simmering anger in his eyes, Ava's heartbeat quickened. She averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes, a pang of guilt gnawing at her without knowing why.
Perhaps her guilt stemmed from the fact that she had cast him as the villain who would throw her down the stairs.
Alexander simply held her like that, standing motionless, his demeanor unflustered by the silent minutes that passed.
