My CEO Ex: Let Me Go.-Chapter 23

I pointed toward the bathroom inside the room. "I’m done, you can go ahead and wash up."

Alexander picked up his pajamas and entered the bathroom.

In the separated wet-and-dry bathroom, the scent of shower gel lingered in the air.

It was the scent that belonged to Vivienne.

The fragrance wafted up to Alexander’s nose, his nerves reacting, sending the scent straight to his brain.

The heat inside him became increasingly unbearable. Closing his eyes, his mind was flooded with memories of the intimate moments he’d shared with Vivienne.

I sat on the bed, scrolling through my phone briefly before preparing to sleep when I suddenly realized that Alexander had been in the bathroom for a while but there was no sound of running water.

Suspicious, I lifted the covers, got out of bed, and walked to the bathroom door. Faintly, I could hear the sound of heavy breathing from inside.

A few seconds later, it hit me what Alexander might be doing, and my face flushed with embarrassment. I hurried back to the bed.

After a while, the sound of water began to trickle from the bathroom, then stopped. Alexander finally emerged.

I felt the bed dip beside me.

Soon, I drifted off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I stirred half-awake, hearing the sound of heavy breathing in my ear.

I snapped fully awake, realizing the breathing wasn’t from a dream but from Alexander beside me.

In the moonlight, I glanced at him. "Alexander, are you asleep?"

"No," his voice was raspy.

"Why is your face so red?"

I reached out and placed my hand on his forehead.

It was burning hot.

"Alexander, you have a fever?!" I immediately sat up, alarmed.

My hand felt cool, like rain after a long drought.

Without thinking, Alexander grabbed my hand and pressed it against his face, opening his eyes. In the darkness, his gaze burned with intensity, a shadowy gleam in his eyes.

"It’s not a fever. The soup I had tonight was off." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

It must have been a health tonic. A very strong one.

I wasn’t an innocent girl who’d never experienced anything, so I quickly realized what was going on. I asked, "So... what do we do now?"

Alexander propped himself up and suddenly pinned me underneath him. Our eyes locked.

He held back his urges, his brows furrowed tightly, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.

The heat from his breath was almost unbearable.

I hesitated, then wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingers brushing the stubble at the back of his neck. I whispered, "Take it easy."

Alexander’s face twisted with restraint, and he took a deep breath, burying his head in the crook of my neck.

Suddenly, he smoothly rolled off the bed and strode toward the bathroom.

"Alexander?"

"Sleep for now, I’m going to take a shower."

Alexander entered the bathroom, and soon the sound of running water filled the room.

I lay there, feeling utterly embarrassed.

I wanted to be his remedy, to ease his discomfort, but it seemed he didn’t want that.

He’d rather suffer, would rather take a cold shower, than let go of his loyalty to Isabella.

I was just fooling myself.

I pulled the covers up and curled into a ball, closing my eyes.

The sound of water from the bathroom felt like cold rain falling on my heart.

Yet, even so, I couldn’t stop worrying about him. A cold shower at this hour could make him sick.

I quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

Just like he would disregard his health for Isabella and endure the spice, he was willing to do that.

If he didn’t care about his own health, why should I interfere?

After a moment, the sound of water stopped.

The bathroom door creaked open.

Footsteps slowly approached.

I heard a rustling sound behind me, and I felt the bed sink beside me.

A rush of cold air hit me, and I pulled the blanket tighter.

"Feeling better?"

"Mm." Alexander replied softly. "Go to sleep."

I didn’t say anything else.

The room fell quiet, with only our breathing filling the space.

I wasn’t sure if Alexander had fallen asleep. I lay still on the bed, the sleepiness I’d felt earlier long gone, my mind wide awake.

Lying there for so long, my body began to feel stiff, so I shifted positions.

After what seemed like an eternity, Alexander cleared his throat softly.

"Vivienne?"

I didn’t respond.

Alexander took a deep breath, carefully lifted the blanket, got out of bed, and walked toward the bathroom.

The sound of water trickling echoed through the room.

Moments later, Alexander came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, and the figure on the bed shifted.

"Did I wake you?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, his voice low.

"No," I shook my head.

"Can’t sleep?"

"Mm."

"Shall I tell you a story in German?"

"Mm, thank you."

Alexander spoke four languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, and German.

When I couldn’t sleep before, he would tell me German stories.

I didn’t understand German, but the soothing tone of his voice always made me feel safe.

The room filled with Alexander’s deep, magnetic voice.

I pushed aside the thoughts in my mind and listened carefully.

I don’t know how much time passed, but soon I heard the steady rhythm of his breathing. His voice slowed, and he whispered, "Vivienne?"

There was no response.

I had fallen asleep.

Alexander tucked the blanket around me, closed his eyes, and drifted into a deep sleep.

In a daze, my phone rang. I fumbled to grab it, still half asleep, but somehow managed to answer.

"Who is it?"

There was a beep, but no one spoke, and the call was abruptly disconnected.

I blinked, slowly waking up, and glanced at the screen, my eyes widening.

I had just answered a call from Alexander’s phone.

I immediately realized I had answered Isabella’s call to Alexander.

I quickly shook him awake. "Sorry, I answered your call just now. It was Isabella. Shouldn’t you call her back?"

Alexander glanced at the call history on the phone screen, took it from my hands, and got out of bed. He dialed Isabella’s number and walked toward the bathroom.

As soon as the call connected, it was immediately disconnected again.

It happened several times, and it was clear Isabella was upset.

Alexander hurriedly dressed, opened the door, and said, "I’m leaving. Jim will come to pick you up."

I sat on the bed, watching him rush around, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

He was really nervous about Isabella.

"Ah-choo!" Evelyn’s voice came from the door as she knocked. "Vivienne, are you up? I saw Alexander leave earlier. That boy was in such a rush to get to work, he didn’t even eat breakfast."

"Nana, I’m getting up. I’ll be out in a minute."

I forced a smile, struggling to get out of bed and get dressed.

Meanwhile, Alexander had been standing at Isabella’s door for two hours.

Alexander’s POV

Eliza finally opened the door and let me in. She whispered, "Isabella’s situation is very unstable right now. Don’t upset her. Try to go along with her as much as possible."

"Okay." I walked over to the bedroom door and knocked. "Isabella, are you in there?"

"I’m not in here!" Isabella’s voice sounded frantic from inside.

I pushed the door open and saw her sitting on the window seat, looking tense. I rushed over immediately. "Isabella, please don’t do anything rash."

Her eyes filled with tears as she forced a sad smile. "Alexander, I’ve lived my whole life without asking for much. I only ever wanted to be with you forever, but now... even that simple wish can’t come true. What’s the point of living anymore?"