Chapter 696 I Miss You
"I miss you."
Alexander's voice was all raspy, even though he tried to keep it together.
Next day, the weather was clear as a bell.
In the big new estate, the ground was blanketed in white snow.
When he woke up, he heard a familiar voice, "Awake? Drinking with a fever, you trying to kill yourself?"
Alexander rubbed his forehead, slowly opened his eyes, and stared at the familiar ceiling light.
He was home.
Last night, he had a dream. Dreamt of Victoria again.
Arabella brought over a glass of water, "Get up and take this hangover medicine, it'll help with the headache."
Alexander struggled to sit up, still a bit woozy but managing.
When he glanced at Arabella, he noticed her eyes were red and asked, "What's up with your eyes?"
"Just drink." Arabella immediately turned her head away.
Alexander thought for a moment, didn't push it, and took the medicine before saying, "Did Dad piss you off? Doesn't sound like him, he wouldn't dare."
"No."
Alexander looked at her tear-filled, fierce eyes and immediately got it—she was worried about him.
"You don't need to worry about me."
"I don't want to, but if you could just take care of yourself."
"Mom, if you're worried, I'll find another woman."
Arabella was suddenly stunned, staring blankly at Alexander.
Find another woman?
"Don't you want me to get married?"
Alexander said slowly.
Arabella immediately got up, "What about Victoria?"
"She's married to someone else."
He said with a light smile, like it didn't matter.
Arabella was suddenly speechless until a phone rang, breaking the silence in the room.
Alexander heard the phone ring, saw the phone by the pillow, and answered, "Hello?"
"Edward? What?"
Listening to Edward, Alexander looked at the phone again.
The lock screen was clearly not his.
"You know my phone password, check the contacts if you don't believe me."
Edward hung up.
Alexander immediately checked the phone..
There was an international number, only a short half-minute call, but...
How could he have called Victoria?
And using Edward's number?
"What's wrong?" Arabella saw his worsening expression and asked worriedly.
"Nothing." Alexander got up, walked a bit unsteadily, but still went to the bathroom. Closing the door, he held the phone by the sink, the dizziness gradually subsiding. He looked into the mirror.
Damn it.
He always remembered that drinking caused trouble.
But last night...
Was it because of Adrian's post?
A belt?
"Well, it's said that giving a man a belt means the woman wants to tie him down. Now I've tied you down, you can't run away."
When they were together, Victoria had also playfully said that while fastening a new belt on him.
But now she was buying a new one to tie another man.
Would Adrian need it?
Alexander suddenly had a splitting headache. What did he say when he called?
He instinctively dialed again.
But no one answered this time.
He had to find his own phone.
This time, it was answered quickly.
"Mr. Harrington."
Frank, who was taking care of Strawberry, responded immediately.
"Where's Victoria?"
"She..."
"Get her on the phone, now."
"Okay."
Frank, holding the kid, saw Victoria walking by and said softly, "It's Mr. Harrington."
Victoria paused but, hearing Strawberry's excitement, took the phone and walked outside, "Hold on."
She quickly stepped outside.
Alexander's words from the morning still echoed in her ears. She thought he might be calling about that.
She figured if she didn't answer, he'd get the hint, but he called Frank instead.
"What did I say last night?"
"Nothing."
After more than a year, their first sober conversation was so blunt, without any warmth.
"Victoria, no matter what I said last night, I want you to know, I was just drunk."
"You just said you hated me."
Alexander realized his impulsiveness and suddenly calmed down.
"If you have nothing else, I'll hang up, there's..."
"Sorry."
He suddenly said.
Victoria was silent, gripping the phone tightly.
A cold wind blew and something flew out of her burning eyes, but she didn't know what he was apologizing for. Her throat felt blocked, unable to respond.
"Are you good?"
After a long time, Alexander asked in a low voice.
Victoria held the phone with both hands, tears streaming down her face, trembling.
When the tears reached her lips, she felt she was about to cry, so she bit her lip hard, but her breath became labored.
She raised her head, covering the receiver to breathe.
"I'm fine, hanging up."
Victoria responded quickly and hung up.
She stood in the wind, like a wild grass, swaying.
They had said goodbye a year ago.
No need for greetings, no need for calls.
She breathed deeply, gradually calming the storm in her heart.
She hoped this was the last time, their last call.
The weather was so cold, it felt like her spine was about to crack.
Eve came out with a shawl and draped it over her shoulders, "Mrs. Harrington, let's go back."
Victoria said nothing, even struggling to walk back.
Edward went to Alexander's house to get his phone. When Alexander returned it, he asked, "Only half a minute, I didn't say anything, right?"
"Yeah, you didn't say much, she hung up quick." Edward nodded.
Alexander stared at him, feeling he wasn't being truthful.
Edward sighed, "Alexander, what happened to you?"
He couldn't help but say it. The Alexander he knew wasn't like this.
"In detail."
Alexander asked patiently.
"You kept calling for Victoria, saying it was snowing, saying you missed her. What are you pretending to be so cold and heartless for?"
"I said that to her?"
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
Edward, seeing his resistance, remained firm, "Yeah, what else would you say to her?"
Alexander thought of Victoria's words on the phone, feeling a complex emotion.
"You said you missed her, and... you..."
"What?"
Alexander's eyes showed more resistance.
"You cried."
Edward almost couldn't say it.
But Alexander had indeed cried.
Alexander couldn't accept it, his brows furrowing.
"Stop lying to yourself, you haven't forgotten her. You don't act like you don't care, you care deeply."
Edward couldn't take it anymore, he didn't want Alexander to keep pretending.
"Absolutely not."
Alexander said, heading upstairs.
"If you need an excuse to find her, I can give you one."
Edward saw him going upstairs and spoke seriously.
Alexander stopped, convinced there was no reason to find her.
"Strawberry."
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