Chapter 23

SYDNEY'S POV Alexander cleared his throat when I didn’t look up.?“Sydney?” I looked up with a smile.?“I’m sorry. I got distracted. What were you saying?” His eyes strayed to the phone in my grip and lingered there, and I thought I saw his jaw harden, but his voice was calm and soft when he spoke again.?“I got you a gift.” “Oh yes, of course,”?I spluttered, then quickly took the box from his outstretched hands. As he stood there, smiling at me as if he was waiting for something, I contemplated transferring the?five million breakup fee?to him now so I could just leave with some of my things tonight. That way, I’d get to spend the first hours of the day with Grace. But then I looked down at the gift he got me, and my gaze slid back to his. He had never gotten me a gift before. Perhaps, it was to dissuade me from insisting on breaking the mating bond. I couldn’t bring myself to bring up the issue now. “Thank you,”?I said instead, observing my handiwork.?“It’s a beautiful bracelet.” “I made