AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Caroline," he said feelingly, once again. Caroline took a deep breath and when she looked at Alexander again, she was baffled to see him staring at her with immense love and emotion on his face. She could not understand how he could look at her in this manner when she had seen him with his former lover in a position they should have never been in.
"I have missed you so much. The house has not been the same since you left, Caroline," he said, walking toward her to take her into his arms, but Caroline moved away from him. She was confused about what game he was playing. This was not what she had expected when she left her parents' home this morning and she did not know if she could take any more of his pretense.
"I did not come here for any of this, Alexander. You said you wanted to talk,” Caroline spoke finally, surprised at the strength of her voice. She had been afraid that speaking more than a word would have her in a fit of tears and rage, but her calmness was a miracle she was glad for. "Since we clearly can no longer be together after what happened, the only reason I am here is to discuss the way forward."
"Alright," Alexander said, returning to his seat. "You are right, I should not expect anything more than I suggested in my letter, let us discuss what your demands are, then."
Now that he had agreed to it and was staring at her expectantly, Caroline did not know how to voice her thoughts, despite having had time to go over what she wanted to say.
Snap out of it, Caroline. Now is not the time to clam up.
"I— I do not think this marriage can work anymore, so I have decided that I do not wish to stay here. I obviously cannot live with my parents because I am already married, but I will still require their assistance, so I want a house close to them where I can live alone and they can visit me easily," she paused for a breath before continuing. "You are not permitted to enter the house unless I approve it, and the house must be completely mine in order for me to have some security, so it must be purchased in my name.I intend to raise my child alone there. If, at any time, I decide to marry, you will still have no right to take the house from me, instead, it will be an inheritance for my child."
Caroline tried to catch her breath after she had completed her demands. She had rushed through everything as she had practiced, and Alexander had not tried to interrupt her at any point, instead choosing to listen to her. Caroline felt silly as he sat there quietly. She doubted anyone would agree to all of that, especially after she was told they couldn't come without her permission. But she'd said it, and if Alexander didn't do what she wanted, she'd leave, and he'd never hear from her again.
"Alright," Alexander said suddenly, shocking Caroline. Although she had decided she would go back to her parents’ home and plot her next move on how to take care of herself and her child if he had not agreed to her demands, she was still very relieved when he did. "Alright, I will do all that you have asked. Anything you want, but there is something, just one simple thing you have to do for me first." Alexander got up and walked her way until he was standing in front of her.
Caroline was angry, she should have suspected that he would want something in return for agreeing to do the right thing for her and her baby. Still, she asked, grinding her teeth, "What is it you want?"
"I just need you to wait here for half an hour," he said, directing her to stand behind the large screen room divider. " If you still want to leave after the timeis up, I will let you go and give you everything you want."
Caroline was confused by his strange request; she did not know what to expect and was not sure why he needed her to stand there. "What can you mean? I am with child, and you think I would stand behind a screen for that long? What exactly am I supposed to do?" she asked in anger.
"Isabella is currently on her way here and I want you to be present when she arrives. I want you to listen to what she says," he said.
"Why would I want to listen to you and your lover talking? I can't believe you made me come here with her present. Are you trying to gloat?” she asked, mad that Isabella was coming, and Alexander was aware of it.
"Caroline, please. I know the gravity of my request, but please, I need you to listen to everything we say. Please just trust me, Caroline, I wouldn't be asking you to do this if there was no reason for it."
Caroline was still considering his strange request when there was a knock on the door. "Master Alexander, Lady Westworth is here to see you," Barnaby said.
Alexander sent Caroline a pleading look and went to the door. Seeing no other option, she rolled her eyes and grudgingly went to stand behind the room divider.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
After leaving Caroline behind the screen divider, Alexander closed his eyes to collect his thoughts. Seeing herafter so long had flooded him with emotions. He was nostalgic, glad to finally see her and see for himself that she was well. But the overwhelming emotion was sadness. When he saw her, all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and tell her how much he missed her, assuring her that he had and would never do anything to hurt her.
But Alexander knew that was the last thing Caroline wanted, and he respected her enough to fulfill her wish, so he had quietly listened to her demands, no matter how much it hurt him to hear plans she had made without him.
Alexander couldn't shake the sadness that filled him at the fact that she hadn't even tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and listen to what he had to say, no matter how hard he tried to talk himself out of it and understand her reasons. He was relieved, however, that she had chosen to care for their child. The child would be his heir and inherit the Barony if it were a boy so at least, in a way, he would be able to do something for it.
Alexander hoped that after what was about to happen, even if she still refused to take him back, she would at least allow him to be involved in his child's life. He didn't think he could handle losing both of them. Especially because of something that was not his fault. He would need proof to clear himself, and he hoped Isabella would be such a blabbermouth that she would tell everything and make it easy for him to prove himself.
He told Barnaby to let Isabella in and waited while he rehearsed his plans. Alexander found himself fighting rage like he'd never felt before the moment Isabella walked in, a smug expression on her face as she sauntered in like she'd won a prize. He struggled to keep his anger from showing on his face, because he doubted she'd be persuaded to share if she didn't believe things had gone her way.
Alexander could believe he had almost ended up with someone as shallow and selfish as Isabella. She was the polar opposite of the beautiful angel who was currently standing behind thescreen, perplexed as to why she was there and enraged at him. He was furious that Isabella had squandered the best thing that had ever happened to him, and that she had felt so at ease cheating on her husband.
He did not know the man, but he doubted he deserved it. Alexander wondered whether the man knew what Isabella was doing or if he was at least suspicious of her.
Alexander's anger was threatening to erupt again, and he needed to think about his plan, or rather, Colin's plan. Colin had thought aboutIsabella confessingin a public place where Caroline could hear, because telling her that he was never unfaithful was not enough to persuade her. Alexander had been worried about getting the two women in the same room while Isabella admitted her plans to ruin his marriage so she could have him all to herself, but then it occurred to him that shewouldn'tknow Caroline was there.
He knew that if he let his anger get the best of him, Caroline would not give him another chance to explain or get the truth out, so he struggled to remain calm. Caroline, no matter what she heard him say, he hoped, would be patient enough to wait until the end. If she didn't, none of this would help either of them.
"I believe you said you never wanted to see me again and that I would regret it if I were to ever come near you. So why have you invited me here, Alex?" Isabella asked him, breaking the silence whilst still wearing her smug look that he wished he could wipe off her face.
Pained to have to utter the words he had practiced, even though it was just a trap, Alexander took a second to force the words out. "You were right, Isabella." He gestured for her to have a seat as he did the same. "I have given it much thought since the last time you were here, and I realized that you were right. That is why I have invited you here today."
"Right about what?" she asked, clearly knowing what he meant but taking great pleasure in making him say the words.
