There was no sound.
No footsteps.
No voice.
Yet somehow…
I knew.
There was only one person whose presence alone could change the atmosphere this completely.
Mike seemed to sense it too.
His expression slowly stiffened as he turned toward the darkened entrance of the garden.
Silence settled between us.
Someone…
was definitely coming here.
An icy pair of blue eyes suddenly emerged from the darkness.
For a brief moment, that was all I could see.
Then his tall figure stepped out from the shadows, his impeccably tailored black suit blending almost seamlessly with the night.
His usual unreadable expression rested on his face, though somehow it seemed even colder than before.
The air around us grew noticeably heavier.
Neither Mike nor I spoke.
Our eyes met.
I almost flinched as Alexander slowly walked toward us, his gaze never once leaving mine.
Alexander finally stopped beside me.
Only then did he speak.
“Why are you here?” His voice was calm…
Cold.
“Ahm…
I was just…” “We were only taking a short break from the party,” Mike answered politely.
“It’s a little crowded inside.” Alexander didn’t even spare him a glance.
His eyes remained fixed on me, making my heart beat faster.
I hadn’t seen my brother since his argument with Aunt Rose and Uncle Herbert a few days ago.
When he never showed up during the earlier part of the celebration, I had assumed he wasn’t coming anymore.
Yet now…
Standing face to face with the very person I’d unconsciously been searching for all evening…
I suddenly wished he hadn’t come at all.
He was somehow even more intimidating than usual.
For a moment, I thought he would scold me for leaving the ballroom.
Instead, his expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever.
“Mom is looking for you.” He extended one hand toward me.
“Come on.” “Let’s go back.” I stared at his outstretched hand.
Then at his face.
There wasn’t the slightest change in his expression.
“Aren’t you coming?” he asked again.
After a brief hesitation, I slowly placed my hand in his.
Then I turned toward Mike.
“I’m really sorry.” “We’ll talk another time.” Mike smiled, though there was unmistakable disappointment hidden in his eyes.
“It’s alright,” he said softly.
“We’ll talk later.” Before he could say anything else, Alexander had already begun leading me away.
I glanced back once.
Mike was still standing exactly where we had left him, quietly watching us disappear into the hallway.
Neither of us spoke as Alexander led me back through the familiar corridor and into the ballroom.
The lively music continued to fill the hall.
Guests laughed.
Conversed.
Danced.
Everything seemed exactly as we had left it.
Yet the moment Alexander stepped inside with me beside him, conversations gradually softened.
People instinctively moved aside to make way for us.
Whispers quietly spread across the ballroom.
I thought he was taking me back to Aunt Rose.
Instead…
He continued walking straight toward the center of the dance floor.
My brows furrowed.
I looked up at his expressionless face.
“Brother…” “Are you taking me to Aunt Rose?” He didn’t answer.
Instead, he came to a stop in the very center of the ballroom.
Almost immediately, the music softened.
The overhead lights shifted.
Before I could process what was happening, a warm spotlight settled directly on us.
I froze.
Alexander turned to face me.
He extended one hand once more.
“Will you dance with me?” My mind went completely blank.
My adoptive brother…
Alexander…
Was asking me to dance.
This was the same man who barely spoke to me unless it was absolutely necessary.
What was happening?
“Alice.” His voice remained as cold and composed as ever, though somehow less intimidating than it had been moments ago in the garden.
Only then did I realize…
The entire ballroom had fallen silent.
Everyone had stopped dancing.
Every single pair of eyes was fixed on us.
Swallowing nervously, I slowly placed my much smaller hand into his.
Alexander gently pulled me closer.
Much closer than we had ever stood before.
Our bodies were separated by only a breath.
His nose was almost touching mine.
Those piercing blue eyes stared directly into my grey ones as he guided one of my hands onto his shoulder before interlocking our other hands.
Then his free hand settled carefully against my waist.
My breath caught.
My entire body stiffened.
Leaning slightly closer, he lowered his head until his lips were beside my ear.
“Relax,” he whispered quietly….