Chapter 44
During the ride home, Lilly remained silent, not speaking to Alexander, and he didn't initiate any conversation either. She had numerous questions about what her grandfather had said, but she decided to wait until they got home to confront him.
Alexander glanced at her, noticing her deep contemplation and easily deducing her thoughts. When they finally arrived home, Lilly quickly exited the car and headed inside. Alexander followed her, catching up and holding her hand, prompting her to stop and face him.
Clara came out to greet them but quietly withdrew with the other maids upon seeing the tense scene.
"Do you have something to ask me?" Alexander inquired.
"Yes, I have many questions. Why did my grandfather say I don't truly know you?" she asked.
"Follow me," he instructed, leading her to the elevator and pressing a button for the basement.
As they descended, Lilly was surprised, "There's an underground floor?"
"You'll see," Alexander replied.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped into the dark basement. Lilly, unable to see anything, remarked, "It's so dark."
"Lights on," Alexander commanded, and the room was immediately illuminated. Lilly observed the white-painted hallway and the glass door in front of them.
"What's behind that door?" she asked.
"You'll see," he responded, guiding her to the door and unlocking it with his fingerprint. The moment it opened, lights came on inside, revealing a shooting range filled with various guns displayed on glass shelves.
"Why do you have a shooting range and so many weapons here?" Lilly asked, waiting for an explanation.
"To clear my head sometimes," Alexander replied. Lilly examined the guns, recalling her own occasional shooting practice as exercise, but this wasn't what she wanted to know.
Turning back to him, she asked directly, "Are you involved in the underworld?"
His gaze sharpened, and he stared at her intensely, causing her to shiver. He stepped closer, maintaining eye contact. "Yes," he answered.
Lilly's breathing quickened. She had anticipated this but was still afraid of the truth. Her grandfather had called him a devil, implying many bad deeds. Alexander observed her tense reaction and asked, "Aren't I being honest now?"
Lilly sighed, realizing he was indeed being sincere. He had brought her here not just to show his shooting studio but to reveal the numerous weapons, indicating his true involvement. She now understood that he could have easily discovered her secrets from the beginning if he wanted, but he hadn't probed deeper, trusting her words. Meanwhile, she had lied to him. Yet, he was telling her the truth now, which he could have kept hidden.
Not wanting to learn more, she began to leave, but Alexander stopped her and turned her around. "Where are you going?"
"I need to clear my head," she replied.
"Don't leave the house," he insisted, not knowing her plans.
"I'll just be upstairs in my room," Lilly nodded.
Alexander scrutinized her before letting her go. He watched as she took the elevator back up.
For the next five days, they barely spoke. Lilly avoided having breakfast with him and ate dinner before he returned home. They seldom saw each other. One morning, she overheard Alexander talking to his sister about postponing her return.
After her bath, she emerged to dress and was shocked to see Alexander on her bed, engrossed in his phone. Surprised, she saw him look up, his eyes sweeping over her, a towel wrapped around her body, and another on her head, water dripping down.
Embarrassed, she quickly grabbed her clothes and rushed back into the bathroom. Leaning against the door, her heart raced. Why was he in her room? Her cheeks reddened at the memory of his gaze. Was that longing in his eyes? She wondered if he was starting to have feelings for her, but decided not to get her hopes up until sure.
After dressing and drying her hair, she stepped out again, their eyes meeting. This time, he looked directly at her. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I have a meeting with my grandfather at the Blake headquarters," she replied.
"Aren't you supposed to go for your antenatal care? It's every Tuesday, right?" Alexander noted, surprising her with his attention to detail.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"And you're trying to skip it?"
"No, I'll go before heading to the company."
"Okay," he said, standing and approaching her. "Are you avoiding me?"
"Huh?"
"For the past five days, you've been avoiding me," he observed. She hadn't thought he'd notice or care.
"I wasn't..."
"You were," he interrupted. His frustration at her avoidance was evident. "From today, you're having breakfast and dinner with me every day. It's an order."
Lilly was taken aback, staring at him silently.
Seeing her reaction, he continued, "You signed up for this, so you have to deal with whatever you find out about me, okay?"
Lilly blinked, not sure what to say. Her heart leaped with joy. He wanted them to spend time together, even if he didn’t say it directly. She felt she was making progress. She hadn't avoided him out of dislike but because she needed time to process his dual life in business and the underworld, and the dangers it posed to them and their baby.
Closing the gap between them, Lilly said, "Mr. Kane, my feelings for you haven't changed. I'm just waiting for you to reciprocate."
Alexander stared into her eyes, then at her lips, before wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her.
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