Chapter One Hundred-Nine

In his dimly lit home bar, Alexander slumped onto a barstool, his grip on a whiskey glass betraying the turmoil within him.

The amber liquid swirled as he stared into its depths as if seeking answers within its confines.

The scene from Maria Clint's party replayed in his mind like a broken record, the memory of Camilla's kiss with Edward etched painfully into his consciousness.

The news of her engagement to the same man felt like a cruel twist of fate, a blow to his already wounded heart.

With a mix of desperation, anger, and hurt coursing through him, he downed the whiskey in one swift motion, his frustration echoing in the sound of the glass meeting the counter.

The bottle of whiskey beckoned to him, offering a temporary solace, and he seized it without hesitation.

The warmth of the liquid brought momentary relief as it cascaded down his throat, only to be replaced by a searing burn that mirrored the ache in his chest as he set the bottle down with an audible thud.

His gaze turned v