Chapter 143

Daniel’s POV.

I sat in the back seat of my car, staring at the tall glass building in front of me. Christiana’s company. Her pride and joy. The place where she spent so much of her time building her dreams. She was probably in there right now, walking back and forth in her office, trying to figure out how to let me down gently

It wasn’t because my offer wasn’t good. It was perfect. It could benefit her in ways I knew she hadn’t even thought of yet. But I knew the real reason she would say no.

Alexander Alistair.

I felt my hands tighten into fists as I thought about him. That man was the reason Christiana held herself back. The reason she couldn’t fully move forward, not with me or anyone else. And it wasn’t fair.

He had abandoned her when she needed him the most. Left her completely alone while she was carrying his children, struggling to figure things out on her own. And now, just because he decided to show up again after all these years, he got to have a place in her life? Just like that?

It made me angry.

Christiana didn’t deserve that. She deserved someone who was going to stand by her no matter what. Someone who wouldn’t leave when things got tough.

She deserved me.

I let out a slow breath, leaning back against the seat. The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror but didn’t say anything. He could probably feel the tension radiating off me. Smart man to stay quiet.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm myself down. Christiana didn’t she owed him something, probably because he was the father of her kids.

love Alex. I knew she didn’t. But she felt like

her way

softened when we eyes Still,

every time I saw her smile at me, I felt like she was trying to tell me something. The talked, the way she laughed more freely when it was just the two of us–it wasn’t just in my head. I knew she cared about me.

But she wouldn’t let herself show it. She was holding herself back because of Alex.

The thought of her choosing him, even out of some misplaced sense of duty, made my chest ache. She didn’t owe him anything. He was the one who had left her. He was the one who had turned his back on her when she needed someone most.

stop thinking about how she’d looked earlier. The way she crossed her arms, as if she was trying to shield herself from me. The way her voice got quieter when she mentioned Alex, like she

ran a hand through

we staying here for a while?”

the block,” I replied, sitting up

“Yes, sir.”

idea how much she meant to me. Or maybe she did, but she didn’t know what to do with it. Either way, I wasn’t going to give

wasn’t like Alex. I didn’t run away when things got difficult. I wasn’t going to let

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Wed, Nov 27

Chapter 143

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we turned a corner, caught sight of a delivery truck pulling away from the building. My flowers. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I knew sending them was risky. I wasn’t

to remind her that I was here. That I was thinking

my

be patient. Christiana was worth

patience wasn’t going to get Alex

I already knew–that she deserved

the light from the candles on the table. I could hear the sound of voices

for the noise or the drink. I was

Christiana.

she was the reason I’d played Russian Roulette more times than I could count, risking my over and over just to get the money to face Alex. To

life

drown out the ache in my chest. But no matter how much

care for me. I saw it in her eyes, in the way her smile softened when she looked at me.

clenched my jaw. Alexander

she needed him the most. The man who left her pregnant and alone, not even knowing that she was carrying his child. Now, he was back, and Christiana felt obligated to him

standing near my table, smiling at me. I didn’t even need to hear what they had to say…I could already tell by the way they

them asked, her voice sweet and inviting, leaning in

her. “Not tonight,” I muttered, my voice flat. I kept my gaze fixed on my glass, as if that would

placed her hand on the edge of the table, trying to draw me in with her touch. “Oh, come on. You look like you could use

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