Chapter 2

Alexander had just laid down with Elizabeth in his arms when a quick but restrained knock came from the door.

"Mr. Blake." It was a subordinate's voice—low but full of tension that couldn't be ignored.

His brows knit slightly. He gently laid Elizabeth back on the pillow and tucked the blanket around her, with a rare softness in his movements.

"What is it?" he asked while heading to the door. He cracked it open a little, pitching his voice low to avoid waking the sleeping woman behind him.

Seeing Alexander half-dressed, Jordan Duncan's eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained composure. Leaning in closer, he whispered urgently, "Sir, we found him. The traitor's hiding in Warehouse No.7 at the docks. Our team has surrounded it in secret. Just waiting on your word."

A sharp gleam flashed through Alexander's eyes. The same traitor who had caused the company massive damage and almost taken out some of their top guys—finally caught.

He instinctively glanced back at the bed. Elizabeth appeared to be fast asleep. A fleeting hint of hesitation crossed his gaze, but it quickly gave way to cold resolve.

Some things, he had to handle himself. And some debts had to be paid in blood—by his own hands.

"Watch her," he said, his tone cutting like ice—not just to Jordan, but to the hidden guards as well. "She's not to leave this place. Not even one step, unless I say so."

"Yes, sir."

Alexander changed clothes swiftly. At the door, he paused, eyes fixed on the curled-up figure in bed, gaze lingering for a moment before he turned and strode out.

The door shut softly behind him.

And right as the lock clicked, Elizabeth's eyes snapped open.

Clear and wide awake, not a trace of sleep in sight—only a chilling calm and the weight of worry in her stare.

In her past life, he went out like this too—came back with traces of blood on him, mood dark as hell, locked himself in his study for an entire day. Back then, she thought he was terrifying. Just wanted to get away.

But now, she realized—that betrayal probably wasn't just a business issue.

Could Victoria have something to do with this? Did she have her claws in Alexander's inner circle already?

Her chest tightened.

She had to do something. She couldn't be the clueless idiot she was in her last life!

But she'd just come back—weak footing, Alexander still didn't fully trust her, and Victoria hadn't shown her true colors yet...

So how could she flip the script?

Trying to think it through drained her fast, and her body, already worn out from earlier, couldn't handle more. As the thoughts swirled, her heavy eyelids finally won, dragging her back into sleep.

...

No idea how long she was out, but Elizabeth woke to muffled commotion and hurried footsteps coming from downstairs.

The sky outside was pitch-black, the kind of inky night that said it was already deep into the night.Her heart skipped a beat, a wave of unease crashing over her out of nowhere.

Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

Elizabeth's face tightened as she hurried down the spiral staircase.

The living room lights were all on, but the air felt stifling, almost like everyone was holding their breath.

A few people in white coats—clearly doctors—were gathered closely, and Jordan was pacing, giving anxious orders to the maids for hot water and towels.

"Mr. Duncan, what happened?" Elizabeth scanned the room, hoping for a glimpse of that tall figure—but he was nowhere to be seen.

Jordan turned toward her at the sound of her voice, visibly flustered and hesitant. "Madam, you're awake? It's nothing, please go back upstairs and rest..."

"Where's Alexander?" Her gaze locked onto the tightly shut study door, where two bodyguards stood at attention. A few doctors had just stepped out from there.

Her tone made Jordan flinch. He stammered, "Sir is... fine, just feeling unwell..."

"Unwell needs a whole squad of doctors? Get out of the way!"

An even heavier sense of dread churned in her chest. Elizabeth brushed past him, heading straight for the study.

"Madam! You can't go in!" one of the doctors blocked her path with a grim face. "Mr. Blake is unstable right now. It's dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Her stomach dropped. Her voice rose, sharper now. "What are you not telling me?"

Jordan's lips moved, but no words came.

A doctor nearby sighed softly. "Mr. Blake's old condition relapsed. The emotional stress triggered a violent episode. He's extremely aggressive at the moment. We just administered a sedative, but it isn't working. He won't let anyone near him..."

Old condition? Violent? Aggressive?

Elizabeth's ears rang. She hadn't known—Alexander never told her. Never showed any signs.

So, he'd just kept it all buried. Took it all on himself, away from her eyes.

"Let me in," she said calmly—too calmly. It was the kind of tone you didn't argue with.

"Madam!" Jordan and the doctor both gasped, panicked. "No! He won't recognize you right now! He might hurt you!"

"I said move!" Elizabeth lifted her chin, tears glistening in her eyes but her gaze ice-sharp. "He's my husband!"

Without another word, she shoved Jordan aside and gripped the doorknob.

"Get out!"

The second the door creaked open, a vase came flying right past her ear, smashing into the wall behind her.

The study was in total chaos. Papers and files were scattered everywhere.

Alexander was curled up in the corner, shrouded in shadows, panting hard like a wounded animal teetering on the edge.

"Alexander..." Elizabeth's eyes instantly welled up with tears the moment she saw him like that. Her chest tightened so badly it felt like she couldn't breathe.

Step by step, she carefully moved closer. "It's me, it's Elizabeth..."

"I told you to get out!" Alexander suddenly snapped his head up, eyes bloodshot and wild. There was none of his usual warmth.

Just chaos. Pain. And a look she barely recognized anymore.

His arm swung out hard, and a powerful force hit her straight on without mercy!

"Ma'am, watch out!" Jordan's alarmed voice came from outside.

Elizabeth was caught off guard and slammed hard onto the floor. Her forehead hit the corner of a toppled table with a sickening thud, and warm blood immediately trickled down, blurring her vision.

"Ma'am!" Jordan was panicking, clearly about to charge in.

"Stay back! Nobody come in!" Elizabeth shouted, gritting her teeth through the wave of pain and dizziness.

She wiped the blood from her eyes with the back of her hand, ignoring her throbbing wound and shaking limbs, and forced herself to stand up again.

She didn't hesitate. She just kept walking, step by determined step, toward Alexander.

"Look at me, Alexander. It's Elizabeth... it's me."

Alexander let out a guttural growl and raised his hand once more—

But this time, Elizabeth didn't flinch. Instead, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his burning, trembling body with everything she had.

"I'm sorry! Alexander," she cried, tears and blood soaking into his shirt. "I was clueless before! I won't mess up again—I'll never leave you, never let anyone hurt you again!"

The moment she wrapped her arms around him, Alexander froze. His hand—the same one charged with so much rage—stopped midway, trembling violently, like he was fighting some unbearable internal war.

Through the fury in his scarlet eyes, a flicker, the tiniest thread of something familiar, struggled to emerge.

"Elizabeth..." he choked, his voice barely recognizable, like he was clinging to her voice for dear life.

"It's me! Yes, it's me!" Elizabeth looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears, caught between fear and hope.

The red in his eyes seemed to waver. Then, just like that, he pulled her tight into his chest, burying his face into the curve of her neck, his breath scorching her skin, a low whimper escaping him like a wounded animal.

Elizabeth held back her pain, gently rubbing his back over and over, her voice softer than ever. "It's okay, baby. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."

After what felt like forever, the tension in Alexander's body started to loosen. "Elizabeth... I love you. If this is a dream... I hope I never wake up."

Her heart shattered into pieces.

She kissed his damp temple, her voice unwavering. "It's real, Alexander. I swear it is. And I'm right here. Always."