One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood-Chapter 52 — Fifty-two

After lunch, Alexander decided to take Serena to see the city, but she stopped him.

"Didn’t you say you had something else to do in this city?" She folded her arms, one brow lifting as she locked eyes with him.

Alexander scratched his hair awkwardly. He seemed to have forgotten about this important detail. Serena, whose eyes were locked on, was tempted to burst into laughter. Her lips twitched uncontrollably.

"I thought I could show you the city." He confessed, whispering under his breath, but loud enough for Serena to hear him.

"We can do so another day." She remarked. "But you’re here for business, I think we should stick to that."

Alexander nodded.

----------------------------

Alexander and Serena returned to their city at night. He dropped her at her apartment before returning to his.

What he didn’t expect was that Rhea would be waiting at his place.

Alexander strode into his living room but he stopped in his tracks when his eyes met with Rhea.

"What are you doing here?" He asked icily, not taking a step forward.

Rhea smiled softly before she stood up. She walked slowly to him.

"I’ve never really stopped loving you." She whispered, trying to touch his chest. But before she could do so, he stopped her, glaring straight at her.

"I asked a question." His voice dropped, his tone dangerous. "What are you doing here? How did you find out about my apartment?"

"There’s nothing I can’t find out about especially when it concerns you." This time, she held his face, tracing the contours of his face. "Do you hate me that much? So much that you found a replacement."

Alexander scoffed, appalled by her words. "Serena isn’t a replacement."

Rhea paused, but she resumed in her actions. "Don’t you miss our moments together?" She stared straight into his eyes, hoping to find the answer. "There’s no way you don’t love me anymore."

Alexander shook his head, caught her by arms, then pushed her away, creating a considerable distance between them.

"The moment you chose your career over our relationship, then that was the end." His tone was cold, his eyes dark. "You don’t have any place in my life anymore."

Rhea’s eyes bulged in disbelief. She couldn’t believe his words. She didn’t dare trust him. "Impossible. There was a time you couldn’t do without me."

She tried holding his arms, but he took a step back.

"Miss. Rhea, this is against the ethics of your profession. If someone finds out you visited a man late at night, then your reputation would be ruined."

Rhea’s body trembled. She remembered this statement. She had uttered these same words to him when she called off their wedding and broke their relationship.

"Please leave." He said. "I would not want to be the reason for your tarnished reputation."

"Alex..." She trailed off when she saw the look in his eyes. "Can’t things go back to the way it was?" She whispered, a pleading look in her eyes while tears gathered in them.

Alexander, on the other hand, wasn’t moved by her tears. He recalled how adamant she had been when he begged her like this years ago..

"It would be humiliating if I ask my guards to throw you away. I’m sure you don’t want that. There might be paparazzi lurking around. Surely, you don’t want to be photographed."

He didn’t wait for her response, before bypassing her and walking straight to the stairs, leaving behind a stunned Rhea.

Rhea clenched her fists as she watched him walk up the stairs without sparing her a glance.

"All these are Serena’s fault." She seethed, the pleading look in her eyes vanished, replaced by a malicious look. "It seems I have to take matters into my own hands."

She took a deep breath, then walked out.

Alexander, on the other hand, collapsed to the bed. He let out a deep breath.

His mind replayed what happened years ago.

*Flashback*

"Alexander, I can’t marry you again."

Rhea’s voice was calm—dangerously calm. "I’m breaking up with you. My reputation and my career are more important."

The words struck him harder than any blow.

His fork slipped from his fingers and clattered against the plate, the sharp sound echoing in the private room. He stared at her as though she had spoken in a language he didn’t understand.

"What...?" His throat tightened. "I’m not against your career. I’ve never been." He leaned forward, desperation creeping into his voice. "I’ll always support you. Why do we have to break up?"

Rhea didn’t look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on the table, on the untouched food between them.

"You won’t understand," she said quietly. "I’m at the peak of my career. One mistake—just one—and I’d lose everything."

Each word felt deliberate. It was final. There was no changing her mind.

Alexander reached across the table and grasped for her hands, as if holding her could somehow stop what was happening. But she pulled away instantly, as though his touch had burned her.

"I’m sorry," she added, her tone unchanged. "We’d be better off not seeing each other again."

Sorry. That single word hollowed him out.

Rhea pushed her chair back and stood. She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t turn around. The door opened and closed behind her with a soft, merciless click.

Alexander remained seated, frozen.

The room felt unbearably empty. It was too quiet, and too cold. He could even barely breathe.

He had always been proud. He had never begged anyone for anything in his life.

But as he stared at the door she had walked through, something inside him shattered.

His shoulders trembled. Tears slipped down his face before he could stop them, dripping onto the table he no longer saw. His lips parted, voice breaking into a whisper meant only for her—

"Don’t leave me..."

But she was already gone.

*Flashback Ends*

Alexander ruffled his hair as he recalled the memory. He could recall having nightmares for a while before he finally moved on.

A huge part of his current attitude with women could be attributed to Rhea. He was hurt—deeply hurt.

And now, she waltz into his life and asks if things could be alright between both of them. She had forgotten about how she cruelly broken up with him.

He sneered. He’d be fool if he ended up with her again.

His thoughts strayed to Serena and a smile bloomed on his face. Serena was perfect — perhaps too perfect for him.

But he would pursue her. He had moved on, and he loved someone different, someone pure.