Chapter 4

When the party ended, Vanessa's face was as pale as a sheet. She leaned against the wall to steady herself, and she dug her fingertips deep into her palms just to stay upright. Alexander stood at the bar to settle the bill, but his gaze kept drifting back to that swaying, unsteady figure. It wasn't until the server reminded him for the third time that he snapped back to reality and signed the receipt. Once that was done, he turned to get the car, telling Vanessa to escort Lucille out first. Vanessa nodded and helped the slightly tipsy Lucille walk outside. However, as they passed the artificial lake, Lucille deliberately let her foot slip. As she tumbled into the water, she screamed dramatically. Hearing it, Alexander came running, just in time to see Lucille splash into the lake. His face turned cold as ice as he grabbed her wrist hard. "Vanessa! Are you out of your mind? How dare you push her?" Vanessa stumbled from his grip. Her soaked dress was clinging to her legs, bone-chillingly cold. She looked up into his furious eyes and gently shook her head, mumbling, "I didn't..." "I saw it with my own eyes, and you're still lying!" he snapped, tightening his grip. Her brows furrowed in pain, but he showed no mercy. "Since you like hurting people so much, have a taste of it yourself!" With that, he shoved her into the lake without hesitation. As the loud splash echoed, the icy lake water swallowed her whole. She was already feeling weak all over from her period, and the cold made her curl up as darkness clouded her vision. Alexander watched her coldly and ordered his bodyguard, "Watch her. Don't let her come up." The lake water was bone-chilling, and Vanessa's consciousness gradually faded. The last thing she saw was Alexander carrying Lucille away. ... When she woke up again, Vanessa found herself lying on a bed in a guest room at the Hawke residence. Alexander sat beside the bed with an unlit cigarette between his long fingers, his deep eyes churning with emotions she couldn't read. He asked, "Why didn't you say earlier that you were on your period?" Vanessa plastered on a weak smile. "Even if I did, you'd still push me into the water, right?" The air turned still and heavy. The cigarette between Alexander's fingers was crushed out of shape, tobacco crumbs falling to the floor. He stood up and looked down at her from above. "Why do you keep hurting Lucille again and again?" Vanessa's voice was feeble as she replied, "I didn't. She jumped in on purpose." Alexander roared, "Vanessa! Lucille isn't that kind of person!" Vanessa stopped defending herself and just looked at him quietly. She knew he would never believe her. Alexander took a deep breath, pulled a gold-stamped folder from his suit pocket, and tossed it onto the bed. He said, "Make it up to her. Lucille's birthday party is coming up. You're in charge of planning it. Her preferences and things she dislikes are all listed in there, so don't screw this up." Vanessa opened the folder, and her fingers trembled. Those meticulously recorded preferences reminded her that someone had once cared enough to remember everything about her, too. Matthias had always known exactly what temperature she liked her coffee and remembered the color of every dress she owned. Seeing her lost in thought, Alexander frowned."Did you hear me clearly?" "Yes," she replied softly, "You really love her very much." She slowly climbed out of bed and began getting dressed to leave. However, as she reached for her coat, her phone slipped from her pocket and hit the floor. The moment the screen lit up, Alexander's eyes widened. On the lock screen was a photo of Vanessa being tenderly embraced by a man who resembled him. Moreover, the way that man looked at her was as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.