The confrontation ended and the trio made their way back to the dining room. They entered the dining room, their arrival met with a round of curious glances. The room was filled with the clatter of cutlery against porcelain, the hum of quiet chitchat. The remnants of breakfast lay scattered on the table - plates of half-eaten toast, bowls of oatmeal, cups of lukewarm tea.Gilbert guided Alexa to her chair. He then took his own seat, his gaze scanning the room, finding Clement. Jean, on the other hand, resumed his place at the table without a word, his expression stern. Clement, Gilbert's trusted servant, watched from the corner of the room, his task completed, nodded subtly to Gilbert. The bowls had been switched - Gilbert's with a random uneaten bowl, and Alexa's with Jean's. Gilbert returned to his oatmeal, his spoon stirring the creamy mixture with an air of nonchalance. His eyes lit up with mirth, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Sat next to Alexa, Jean watched him, hi

The night came after Alexa shares the silly tips to Lady Renata. Now, in the privacy of Gilbert's bedroom, Alexa and Gilbert found a refuge from the world. The dimmed lights, the plush sheets, and the scent of their mingled perfumes set the stage for an evening of intimacy.Alexa, clad in a sexy silk robe, looked expectantly at Gilbert. He sat on the edge of the bed, a playful glint in his eyes."Maybe it's time for us to be very very close, my lord." Alexa said, started to undress herself."Alexa," he began, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic seriousness, "there’s something you should know." Intrigued, naked Alexa moved a bit closer to him. "Yes, my lord?" He took her hand, his grip firm yet gentle. "I want you, Alexa. I won't lie about that. But," he paused, looking straight into her eyes, "I won’t cross that line until we're officially man and wife." Alexa blinked, a mix of surprise, disappointment, and a growing admiration sweeping over her. She looked at Gilbert, her soon

Alexa stood in the bathroom, staring at the calendar on her phone. Her finger traced the days, stopping on the date circled in red—an ominous reminder that her period was late. Late by several weeks. “I’ll just take a test,” she muttered to herself. “It’s probably nothing.” The walk to the pharmacy felt longer than usual. Her mind raced with every step, each scenario more daunting than the last. She slid her sunglasses on, hoping to hide the worry etched on her face.Inside the pharmacy, her gaze swept over the shelves, landing on the array of pregnancy tests kit. Her hand hovered, hesitant, before she grabbed not one but several, from 10 different brands—she needed to be sure. At the counter, she avoided the cashier's eyes, her cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and fear. “Is this all for you today?” the cashier asked, ringing up the tests. “Yes, thank you,” Alexa replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Back home, the tests sat on the counter like a jury ready to del

Alexa let out a half-hearted chuckle, still clinging to the hope that this was Dio's idea of a twisted joke."Well, heartbreak is an unusual way to turn brotherhs againts each other." Dio said."Heartbroken? Gilbert?" she echoed, incredulity painting her words. "If he ever found out about this, he'd be crushed." Dio leaned back, his gaze fixed on her with unsettling intensity. "Crushed is an understatement. He wouldn't just be licking his wounds. He'd go after Jean. Gilbert's the kind of guy who doesn't just get mad; he gets even." "You're saying he'd kill his own brother over this?" Alexa's voice was a mix of shock and skepticism. Dio nodded, his lips curling into a wry smile. "Kill, elliminate, murder, butcher, you name it. Remember, I am talking about the same scary smart boy who turned his high school buddies into a cold case. Gilbert's not just smart, actually; he's a genius... with a very dark side. He's been playing this deadly game since he was a teen, and the family? They

Jean's phone vibrated softly against the nightstand, a beacon in the darkness. He glanced at the screen—Alexa's name lit up. "Meet me at the gazebo, please. Now?" the text read. He smiled, how happy he was, Alexa texted him back after months."Off couse, dearest love." he replied.As he approached the gazebo, he found Alexa's form framed by the delicate lattice of the gazebo, bathed in the soft silver of moonlight. "I got your text," Jean said, breaking the silence as he stepped into the gazebo. "What' is it, baby?" Alexa's gaze met his."Jean, my lord, we need to talk about... something." He took a deep breath, the cool night air filling his lungs. "I know. I did a lot of bad things to you, especilally that one night in the wine cellar, but I can't shake these feelings for you, Alexa. I'm still deeply in love with you. It's a mess, I know, but it's the truth."Alexa's eyes held his, a silent war of emotions raging behind them. "Jean, I am not here to talk about that..."He cut her