Chapter 164: All Her Doubts Faded Away
Alexander and Rain sat quietly in the back of his car, with Rico at the wheel. Tyron had taken Aunt Melanie in another vehicle, giving them some space. The air inside the car was thick with silence, only broken by the soft sound of their breathing. Alexander held Rain’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, as if letting go would sever something deeper between them.
After a long, tense moment, Rain finally spoke. "Hmm, I think you can let go of my hand now."
"I don’t want to," Alexander replied, his grip tightening. His hold felt protective, almost possessive, as though he was afraid to release her.
Rain raised an eyebrow, ready to tease him, but Alexander beat her to it. "About those news articles... they’re fake. I didn’t hug Carla. I was caught off guard. One second I was standing there, and the next thing I knew, she was hugging me," he explained, his voice firm, yet almost pleading.
Rain bit back a smile, determined to keep her composure. In a serious tone, she remarked, "Was it really that hard to dodge? I thought you could easily avoid a blow."
Alexander tensed at her words, clearly taking her comment to heart. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice softer now. "I didn’t see it coming, but I’ll be more careful next time. Actually, my mind was a mess that day. I was in a hurry to come back to you, and... I guess I always have my guard down when I’m thinking about you."
His words were smooth, disarming the annoyance that had been simmering inside her. Rain felt her heart soften, even though moments earlier, the thought of seeing Alexander in someone else’s arms had frustrated her deeply. He knew just how to lighten the mood, and despite her best efforts to stay serious, she found herself less angry, and more reassured.
"So, how did you feel seeing her again after all this time?" Rain asked, knowing she was treading dangerous waters, but her curiosity got the best of her.
Alexander’s response was calm, almost too calm. "It’s nice to see her doing well, and healthy," he answered plainly, his tone revealing nothing more. Rain turned slightly to face him, squinting in the dim light of the car, trying to catch a glimpse of his expression. It was too dark to read his face clearly, and that only added to the unease bubbling inside her.