Elizabeth pressed her lips together, her fingers tightening slightly around the fork.
“Do you still remember how I went drinking at that bar after our families arranged the engagement?
I wasn’t happy about it.”
As soon as she said that, something flickered in Alexander’s eyes—surprise, maybe.
“You already found out?”
Elizabeth blinked, clearly caught off guard.
“Wait, you knew too?”
Alexander gave a quiet nod.
“Yeah.
I got your message and went looking for you.
But by the time I got there, you’d already been drugged.
The stuff was strong…
so…”
“I looked into it after that,” he went on, his voice steady.
“It was Michael and Victoria who set the whole thing up.
Back then, you were into Michael, so you obviously wouldn’t believe a word from the guy who was forcing you into marriage.
That’s why I never told you.”
That last bit made everything click for Elizabeth.
She’d only had suspicions before based on some things Victoria said in her last life…
but turns out it was all real.
And this man?
He chose to keep it all to himself.
“No wonder someone suddenly pulled the plug on the Reed family’s partnership project.
That was you, wasn’t it?”
Alexander paused, his usually unreadable eyes now shadowed and deep.
A moment later, he gave the same calm nod, “Mm.
Just a small warning.”
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed.
“So that’s why Michael hasn’t shown up again all this time?”
Then, as something crossed her mind, she looked up.
“Hey, babe.
Do the Blake and Reed families know each other?
Any bad blood between you?”
She recalled Victoria’s words right before her death in the last life—Michael used her to mess with the Blake family.
That definitely hinted at something deeper.
“Why do you ask?” Alexander glanced at her.
“Our family’s based in Aurelia; most of our enemies are just business rivals.
As for the Reeds, I don’t really know if there’s actual beef.”
“Huh.
But don’t you think it’s weird?
Victoria and Michael teamed up to trap me, got me married to you, and then kept stirring the pot between us…
doesn’t that seem aimed at you?”
Alexander’s brow furrowed even more tightly than before.
“You’ve got a point.
You want revenge?”
“For what they did to me, I’ll handle it myself.
Our family took Victoria in and raised her like one of our own.
My parents never treated her like an outsider.
I already told them everything today when I went home, but she’s a master at playing innocent—it only took a few words to make them forgive her.”
“But,” she said with a hint of satisfaction, “I’ve planted the seed of doubt.
Next time she tries something, my parents won’t ignore it.”
Alexander studied her face quietly for a few seconds.
“Wouldn’t it be faster to just expose her?”
“No.
I want her to crumble little by little.
I want her to realize everything she ever had was thanks to the Harper family.”
Her tone turned ice-cold, her eyes gleaming like frost.
Alexander didn’t miss that edge in her expression.
Something unreadable flickered between his brows.
So that’s the reason behind her sudden shift.
And if that’s the case…
maybe she wouldn’t want to leave him anymore.
“Liz, if you ever need anything—just say the word.”
She nodded firmly.
“I will.
But hey, babe, the new semester’s starting soon.
Can I still go to school?”
Alexander’s expression turned visibly darker, his lips pressing into a hard line.
“I’ll come home every day, I promise.
And there’s only one year left until I graduate.
If I stopped now, wouldn’t all those years be for nothing?”
He looked at her, those hopeful eyes making it impossible to say no.
His hand visibly tightened around the fork.
“Alright.”
Hearing his reply, Elizabeth couldn’t hold back her smile.
“Thanks, babe.”
The next morning.
She woke up before sunrise.
The spot beside her was already cold—he’d been up for a while.
She quickly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, dressed in workout gear, she went downstairs.
Stepping out of the villa, she made her way to the usual spot where Alexander exercised every morning.
She waited near the entrance for a few minutes before spotting him jogging over from a distance.
She immediately followed.
“You’re up early,” he said with a glance.
“I’m keeping you company for your workout.”
He turned slightly, shooting her a mildly puzzled look.
“Thought you weren’t into working out.” His tone carried a hidden meaning—he remembered how she used to try to gain weight with junk food just to get out of their marriage, though her metabolism always won.
Elizabeth caught the unspoken jab and bit her lip.
want to run with you.”
He glanced at her again, then said nothing, just slowed his pace a little.
After two laps trailing behind him, Elizabeth was already gasping for air.
“Honey, can you slow down a bit?”
Alexander eased into a gentler pace and, seeing how winded she was, wrapped up the jog early.
Back at the villa.
He headed straight upstairs to the bedroom.
Elizabeth collapsed onto the couch, her legs like jelly.
After breakfast.
Alexander drove her to Halden University.
“I’ll have the driver pick you up later.”
She waved him off.
“No need, I can grab a cab.”
He paused, watching her for a moment before saying, “Alright.”
Once his car pulled away, Elizabeth turned around and started walking toward her dorm.
She hadn’t gone far when someone called out.
“Elizabeth?
Didn’t you quit school after getting married?
What are you doing back?”
She stopped in her tracks and turned toward the voice.
Nancy Grant.
Rich girl, friend of Victoria, and too clueless to realize she was being used.
“What I do with my life is none of your business,” Elizabeth said with a mocking smile playing on her lips.
“You’re so full of yourself.
Heard your family almost went broke and you had to marry some old, ugly dude to bail them out.”
Elizabeth’s eyes darkened.
She couldn’t stand hearing people badmouth her man.
“Apologize.”
Nancy froze.
“Why should I?
The Harpers are nothing now.
My family’s way ahead.
Back then you had the upper hand, but now what are you even proud of?”
Elizabeth took a slow step toward her, her expression icy.
“I said, apologize.”
“I won’t.”
A glint of coldness flashed in Elizabeth’s eyes.
“Your mouth’s nasty.
If you’re gonna bark in public like that, at least rinse it first.” Then slapped her clean across the face.
Nancy, furious, raised her hand to hit back, but before she could land it, someone grabbed her wrist.
Elizabeth turned to see who it was, and when she spotted the face, her expression hardened.
She narrowed her already cold eyes.
“Nancy, if you enjoy playing the obedient lapdog role, by all means.
But maybe get your facts straight before barking at me again.
Otherwise, I won’t go easy on you the next time.”
Nancy bit her lip, shot her a venomous glare, and stormed off.
“This isn’t over.”
Elizabeth gave a quick look to the person beside her and said coolly, “Why are you still here?”