Chapter 10

Alexander took a couple hits before finally pinning her against the wall. He rubbed his side, his face dark as the dim stairwell around them. "Eira, you did that on purpose?" Eira shoved him away, her brows slightly raised, obvious amusement flashing on her face. "What, only you get to throw your weight around? I'm not allowed to fight back?" "You're unbelievable-you really think the world revolves around you, huh?" Alexander yanked at his tie, the black shirt on him rumpled and half open, clinging to his frame. He didn't even pretend to care about her sarcasm. His voice was sharp, accusing. "Who's that pretty boy? No wonder you suddenly have the guts to ask for a divorce. Already got your next guy lined up?" Eira let out a soft laugh. "Him? We've known each other for ages, but-" She tapped his chest with a teasing smile in her fox-like eyes. "But seriously, what's it got to do with you? I never questioned your side chick, so how about you stop meddling in my business?" Back then, Eira used to behave like a doormat around him. Now that she asked for a divorce, this is the real her? Isn't flaunting herself with that sleazy dance in front of everyone shameless enough? One pretty boy isn't enough for her-she's casting a wider net now? "You seriously have no shame, do you?" Alexander's anger flared as he took a step closer. "Look at yourself-heavy makeup, dressed like that. Don't forget, we're still in the cooling-off period. I'm not about to let you make a fool out of me." His imposing presence loomed, making Eira instinctively tilt her head up. All she saw in his eyes was resentment and disgust. So in his eyes, whatever she does is wrong? What a joke. Eira's laugh was cold, her lips curved mockingly. "Oh, don't worry, I remember. What about you, though? Still so invested-could it be you've still got feelings for me?" "Besides, I can do whatever the hell I want. It's my life. Mind your own damn business!" She jabbed a finger into his chest, putting some distance between them. Seeing how much she pushed him away only added fuel to Alexander's fire. "So all those moments over the past two years... fake?" "You really wanna know?" Eira snorted. "Why would I bother telling you?" Alexander grabbed her arm tightly. "You're not going anywhere until you give me a straight answer." At this point, whatever hope Eira had left was gone. With a bitter smile tugging at her lips, her lashes drooped, hiding her disappointment. "That's right. I faked it all. Happy now? Stay the hell away from me." With that, she yanked her hand free and made to leave. But the door was behind him, and as she brushed past, he grabbed her wrist again. His burning touch shot through her skin, all fury and desperation, like he was trying to brand her with it.She was yanked back by Alexander and pinned hard against the wall. Heat radiated off him, and the icy cold from the wall behind her made her whole body tense up. Not comfortable in the slightest, Eira shoved at him, trying to create some distance. Her eyes blazed with anger. "What the hell is this supposed to mean?" Alexander's eyes were like frozen lakes in the dead of winter-cold and deep. "The divorce isn't public yet. I'm warning you-don't go messing around out there, making the Brooks family look like a joke." Eira let out a low laugh, her lips curling with sarcasm. "If it weren't for your grandma's health, you think I'd have put up with your crap for this long?" She scoffed, voice laced with disdain. "And for the record, I've kept quiet about you and Sophia all these years. But if you keep pushing me, I won't mind airing your dirty laundry." She gave him a hard shove, glaring at him coldly. "Get lost." Alexander's face turned darker, his stare sharp enough to cut. "You really think you're somebody? If it weren't for Grandma, you'd never have made it into the Brooks family." Those words made Eira's blood boil. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him-hard. Her arm even shook from the force. With a controlled voice, she said, "That slap was for Grandma." "You act like you care about her, but I know what you've been up to behind her back. What, now that we're getting a divorce, you're planning to pin everything on me?" She thought of the things he just said and chuckled bitterly. "Alexander, I must've really been blind to waste two years of my life on you." Only after she finished did his expression change, disbelief flickering across his face. "You actually hit me?" "Why wouldn't I? Honestly, I should've used the other hand." His jaw clenched tight, veins popping on his arm as his expression turned ice cold. Barely days after the divorce was mentioned, and now she's acting all new-wearing that kind of dress, dancing here like some showgirl? What, does she think she's some big deal now? Just some girl from a poor neighborhood-no matter how she'd dressed up for the Brooks family, she couldn't shake the cheapness inside. Eira caught the growing storm in his eyes, and his grip on her wrist was getting more painful by the second. She tried to pull away, but it was no use-he held on like a vice. He looked like he wanted to crush her arm. Seriously. "Let go of me, Alexander!" she yelled, lifting her knee and landing a solid kick. Just then, there was a burst of fast footsteps outside, followed by a door slamming open and a boy's urgent voice shouting, "Let go of her!" Startled, she looked up and saw the boy rushing down the stairs, hair all messy from the run. He reached out, pried Alexander's hand off her, and stood protectively in front of Eira, eyes full of worry as he looked at her swollen, red wrist...