Chapter 105

Isabella assumed Alexander wouldn't return.

She moved to shut the door before heading to the bathroom. But as she reached for the handle, she collided with Alexander who had unexpectedly turned back.

Her breath caught. She stepped aside quickly.

Perhaps he'd only returned for something forgotten - his luggage still sat unpacked in the corner.

Yet when Alexander entered, he casually closed the door behind him. His posture suggested he intended to stay the night.

This surprised her.

Before she could speak, Alexander brushed past her toward the bed.

As he moved by, Isabella caught the distinct floral notes of Victoria's expensive perfume clinging to him. Worse, a smudge of lipstick stained the collar of his sleep shirt.

He'd showered and changed before leaving earlier. The evidence was undeniable - Victoria had marked him after their departure.

She'd noticed the unnatural redness of his lips immediately. At first, she'd dismissed it as imagination.

Now she knew better.

Alexander settled onto the bed, clearly preparing to sleep here tonight.

Unexpected. She'd thought...

But with Eleanor's watchful presence in the house, spending the night with Victoria would be too risky. Had Victoria sought him out earlier out of jealousy? Fear that something might happen between them?

And Alexander, ever the gentleman, had clearly reassured her. The perfume and lipstick told their own story - they'd shared an intimate goodbye.

Isabella pushed the image away.

Thirty minutes later, emerging from the bathroom, she found Alexander reading. The book in his hands was hers.

Her jaw tightened. She disliked him touching her belongings without permission. As she opened her mouth to object, he glanced up. "Do you mind?" he asked, noting her expression.

She did mind. But beyond some personal annotations in the margins, it contained nothing sensitive - certainly nothing related to today's business discussions.

"A little," she admitted coolly.

Alexander studied her face. "I'll ask next time," he conceded.

Next time?

She doubted their strained relationship would ever place them in shared quarters again.

He returned to reading, then remarked unexpectedly, "Your notes show remarkable insight."

A compliment.

Isabella pretended not to hear. She snatched up the hair dryer and retreated to the bathroom.

When she emerged again, Alexander still read.

After completing her nighttime routine, she slipped into the far side of the bed.

Alexander didn't join her immediately.

She never noticed when he finally turned out the light - sleep claimed her quickly.

Dawn found her awake early.

Sunlight barely touched the horizon. The other side of the bed lay empty.

Silence filled the room - Alexander had already gone.

So early? Perhaps he'd never slept here at all.

She'd arranged with Nathaniel to return to the office today for urgent matters.

After breakfast, she packed efficiently, grabbed her suitcase, and opened the door.

Sophia's petulant voice carried down the hall: "Victoria promised to stay with me last night! But she left in the middle of the night!"

Sophia was complaining to Margaret.

Hearing this, Isabella understood - Alexander hadn't spent the night in their room.

He'd gone to Victoria instead.

Couldn't they bear a single night apart? Was their passion truly so consuming?