Madison
My hand was on the gearshift when a familiar Aston Martin pulled into the lot.
My heart jumped into my throat as Alexander emerged from the car. He wore dark jeans and a white button–down, sleeves rolled to his elbows, Casual but still somehow expensive looking.
He spotted me immediately and walked over. I climbed out of my car, suddenly hyperaware of everything: the way my dress clung to my body, the hammering of my pulse, the late afternoon sun making his hair gleam.
“You came,” he said simply.
“You’re late.”
“Traffic.” He glanced around the park. “Should we walk?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. We fell into step beside each other, heading toward the walking path that wound along the waterfront.
For a minute, neither of us spoke. The silence felt heavy, loaded with everything we weren’t saying.
“Nice park,” Alexander finally said.
“It’s my favorite spot in town.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“Five years.” I kept my eyes straight ahead. “You know that already.”
He didn’t deny it. “Connecticut suits you.”
“Does it?”
“You seem… peaceful. More relaxed than you were in New York.”
I laughed without humor. “Maybe because I’m not juggling two jobs and dealing with an impossible boss.”
His jaw tightened. “I was never impossible.”
“You absolutely were.”
We reached a bench overlooking the water. I sat, grateful to get off my feet.
Alexander sat beside me, maintaining a careful distance. “What’s his name?”
The question caught me off guard. “What?”
“The boy from last night. What’s his name?”
My chest tightened. “Why do you want to know?”
“Curiosity.”
“His name is Ethan.”
Alexander repeated the name softly, testing it. “Ethan. And he’s in school?”
“Yes.”
“What does he like? Chocolate? Dinosaurs? Trucks?”
I turned to look at him. “Why are you asking me this?”
“Because I want to know about your life.” His expression was unreadable. “Is that so strange?”
1.5
Chapter 395
“Yeah, it’s pretty strange.”
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He flinched. “Madison
“What did you want to talk about?” I cut him off. “You said we needed to talk. So talk.”
at
the screen, and his face went carefully
Alexander’s phone rang before he could respond. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced
blank.
“Katherine,” I guessed.
He didn’t confirm or deny it, just declined the call and pocketed his phone.
It rang again immediately.
“You should answer it,” I said, standing up. “It might be important You know, your fiancée might need you.”
“Madison-
“Answer the phone, Mr. Knight.”
He looked at me for a long moment, then accepted the call and walked a few steps away.
“Katherine. Now’s not a good time.”
I couldn’t hear her response, but Alexander’s posture tensed.
“I’m in Connecticut for business. I told you that… No, I don’t know when I’ll be back… Katherine, we’ll discuss this later.”
He ended the call and turned back to me, but I was already walking toward my car.
“Madison, wait.”
I stopped mid–step. The park stretched before me, the water glittering in the afternoon sun. Behind me, I could hear Alexander’s footsteps. My chest tightened.
Turn around. Face him. Get this over with.
I pivoted slowly, crossing my arms. “What?”
He stood a few feet away, phone still in his hand. For once, the great Alexander Knight looked almost… uncertain. Almost.
“I told you I wanted to talk,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Why are you leaving?”
A bitter laugh escaped before I could stop it. “Are you serious right now?”
“Perfectly.”
I gestured at his phone. “Your fiancée called. Twice. You clearly have somewhere more important to be.”
“I’m exactly where I need to be.” He pocketed the phone. “Katherine can wait.”
“How generous of you.” The sarcasm dripped from my words. “But I’m not in the mood for this. You said we needed to talk. Katherine interrupted. I’m leaving. Simple as that.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re making this difficult. I just want answers.”
“About what? What could you possibly want to know that’s any of your business?”
Alexander took a step closer. “The kid. Ethan.”
My blood turned to ice. “What about him?”
“Why haven’t you told me about him?”
The question hung between us, loaded with implications I wasn’t ready to unpack. My hands clenched at my sides.
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“Told you? Why would I tell you anything?”
His eyes searched my face. “Because I have a right to know.”
“A right?” The word came out sharp. “You think you have rights? After ghosting me?”
“I didn’t ghost you.”
“Really?” I stepped closer, anger overtaking caution. “From my perspective, that’s precisely what you did. I sent you a message. An important message. And you read it and never replied.”
Alexander’s expression shifted. “What message?”
“Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Madison, I’m asking you a direct question. What message?”
I stared at him, searching for any sign he was lying. But his confusion looked genuine. Which was impossible because I’d seen it. The read receipt. The little checkmark confirming he’d opened my text.
“The pregnancy message,” I said, my voice dropping. “Five years ago. I sent you a text telling you I was pregnant. With your child.”
The color drained from his face. “What date?”
“What?”
“What date did you send this message?” He pulled out his phone. “Give me the exact date.”
“I don’t remember the exact date off the top of my head. It was five years ago, Alexander.” I fumbled for my own phone, fingers shaking. “But I remember sending it. I remember seeing that you read it.” 1
“And you’re certain I saw it?”
“Yes! I watched the read receipt change. You opened it almost immediately.” My voice cracked. “And then… nothing. Days of nothing. I kept waiting for you to call, to text, to show up at my apartment demanding answers or offering support or just… something. Anything. But you didn’t.”
“Madison, I swear to you, I never saw any message about a pregnancy.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“It’s not. Check your phone. Right now. Show me the conversation.”
I fumbled for my phone, fingers clumsy as I unlocked the screen. “I changed phones maybe two or three years ago. I might not have-”
But there it was. The old conversation thread, preserved when I’d backed up my data. I scrolled to the pregnancy message and turned the screen toward Alexander.
His eyes scanned the text, then the timestamp, then the read receipt. Two checkmarks. Message delivered. Message read.
“I swear to you,” Alexander said, his voice low and intense, “I never saw this message.”
“But it says you read it.” I pointed at the screen, my hand shaking slightly. “Right there. You opened it.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etching lines around his mouth. “I was unconscious at that time.”
“What?”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
