Chapter 81

The car pulled up in front of the villa. Alexander stepped out, cradling Elizabeth in his arms. As the door opened, Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open; still groggy, she mumbled, "Am I home?"

Alexander glanced down at her. Her brows were knitted in pain, likely from her injuries. “Yeah,” he replied, carrying her upstairs. Elizabeth felt dizzy and drifted back to sleep.

Watching her sleep so soundly, Alexander felt a pang of helplessness. This silly woman, falling asleep so easily. Good thing it was him taking her to the hospital today. What if it had been Joseph? he thought.

Just the thought of Joseph taking her home was unbearable for Alexander. Alexander pushed open the bedroom door, and as he flicked on the light, the emptiness of the room hit him hard. Since Elizabeth left, he hadn’t set foot in this room. Now, everything felt foreign.

He gently laid her on the bed and pulled the quilt over her. Elizabeth turned over, clutching the quilt, murmuring, “It hurts.”

Standing by the bed, Alexander looked down at her awkward sleeping posture, a hint of amused helplessness in his eyes. He bent down, adjusted her clothes, and brushed her hair back behind her ear. Her eyes were closed, her lashes long. She was truly beautiful, captivating, making him fall more in love each time he looked.

In high school, she got love letters every day. In college, she was confessed to daily. Everyone said Alexander was lucky to marry Elizabeth. But Elizabeth felt marrying Alexander was her blessing. So what about now? Would they still think marrying him was a blessing? Now, they probably only hated him, right?

Thinking of this, Alexander felt a pang in his chest. Just as he was lost in thought, Elizabeth’s phone rang. He picked up her bag, seeing it was Joseph’s call.

Alexander frowned. It was almost midnight; wasn’t it too late for Joseph to call? He glanced at Elizabeth, then at the phone. After a moment, he answered it.

“Elizabeth, are you home? Is your wound deep?” Joseph’s voice was gentle, full of concern. Alexander whispered, “She’s asleep.” There was silence on the other end.

Thinking Joseph had hung up, Alexander checked the screen. Seeing the call still connected, he felt a moment of satisfaction. “Alexander?” Joseph asked.

“Surprised?” Alexander sat on the bed’s edge, his palm resting on Elizabeth’s cheek, his thumb brushing her lips. Joseph chuckled. “Not really. Thanks for taking care of Elizabeth.”

Alexander’s eyes darkened as he said, “Mr. Stewart, Elizabeth is my wife. It’s inappropriate for you to say that.” Before Joseph could respond, Alexander added, “It’s rather late for you to be concerned about her. Thanks, Mr. Stewart!”

Joseph caught the implication that Alexander was Elizabeth’s husband, but he just chuckled, neither angry nor concerned. “Since you know Elizabeth is your wife, why are you involved with other women?” Joseph sighed. “How can you emphasize you’re her husband now?”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed, a chill rising around him as he shouted, “Joseph!” Unfazed, Joseph continued, “Your actions are disgraceful for a man.”

Alexander gripped the phone tightly, almost through gritted teeth, “Mr. Stewart, mind your own business. Flirting with a married woman doesn’t make you a gentleman either!” With that, Alexander hung up.

Who he was wasn’t for Joseph to judge! He tossed the phone onto the bedside table and looked at Elizabeth again. Thinking of Joseph’s words made Alexander increasingly irritable. He grabbed Elizabeth’s face and said, “You are not to entangle yourself with other men!”