Chapter 8

Tyler's face reddened with rage as he confronted Alexander. "You fucking signed it; why? Are you insane? You fucking bastard!"

Alexander's expression turned icy, his voice low and menacing. "Language, Tyler! I warned you last time."

Tyler's sarcasm dripped like venom. "Oh, yes, sure, the great Alexander Valtor. How dare I forget?"

Alexander's glare intensified, his eyes flashing with anger.

Tyler continued, undeterred. "Your mountain-like ego, couldn't you throw it out the window for a while? Couldn't you talk to her calmly and softly for a few moments?"

Alexander's silence was palpable, his jaw clenched.

Tyler's voice softened, taking on a tone of disappointment. "You messed everything up, Alexander."

Alexander's eyes dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's changed, Tyler. She no longer has old Roslyn in her. That softness and care are no longer visible in her eyes."

Tyler's gaze bore into Alexander's soul. "And who is responsible for this, Alexander?"

The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken truths.

Tyler's words cut deep. "You, when she was around you, didn't pay attention to her. Now that she's gone, you can't bear it. It's not ego or anger, Alexander; it's love—and you yourself don't know."

Alexander's eyes locked onto Tyler's, a mixture of emotions swirling within.

Tyler's parting words hung in the air. "There's still time, Alexander. You can stop this divorce."

As Tyler turned to leave, Alexander's gaze followed him, his mind reeling.

Alone, Alexander's thoughts consumed him. He flipped through his phone's gallery, stopping at Roslyn's picture—the one with that stranger.

Jealousy flared anew, his heart heavy with regret.

"Why did I sign those papers?" he wondered, torment etched on his face.

The image of Roslyn with another man seared his mind, fueling his inner turmoil.

Alexander's thoughts echoed Tyler's words: "It's love—and you yourself don't know."

Was it true? Did he truly love Roslyn, or was it just pride and possession?

The questions swirled, leaving Alexander lost and uncertain.

"Why did Tyler have to utter those words, piercing my soul like a dagger and forcing me to confront the emotions I'd been desperately trying to suppress? Does he know something about my feelings that I've been unwilling to acknowledge?

"Love? Is that what this gnawing, suffocating feeling is? This desperation that threatens to consume me whole? I thought I was angry and hurt by Roslyn's perceived betrayal, but Tyler's words have awakened a realization within me.

"Memories of Roslyn's radiant smile, her infectious laughter, and her eyes sparkling with joy flood my mind, each recollection a painful reminder of what I've lost. I took her for granted, ignored her, neglected her, and now she's gone, moved on to a life without me.

"The image of Roslyn with that stranger continues to sear my mind, fueling my inner turmoil and igniting a fire of jealousy that refuses to be extinguished. Why did I sign those papers, relinquishing my claim on her? Why did I let her go without a fight?

"Was it pride? Ego? Or was it fear—fear of confronting my true feelings, fear of vulnerability, fear of rejection? Tyler's words have stripped me bare, exposing the depths of my soul.

"I realize now that I didn't appreciate Roslyn, didn't truly see her, didn't cherish her as I should have. And now she's gone, lost to me forever.

"But what if... what if I still have a chance? What if I can make it right, prove my love, and reclaim her heart? The thought sends a surge of hope through my veins.

"But how? She's gone, moved on, and I'm left with the shattered remnants of my own heart. Does she still love me? Could she ever forgive me for my transgressions?

"The thought of living without Roslyn, of facing a future devoid of her presence, is unbearable. I'll do anything—anything—to make her mine again, to restore our love to its former glory.

"But is it too late? Have I squandered my chance, irreparably damaging our bond? The uncertainty hangs over me like a guillotine, threatening to sever my last thread of hope."

Alexander's assistant, Lily, entered the room with a gentle knock. "Sir, your next meeting is scheduled in an hour. The marketing team will be discussing the quarterly sales projections."

Alexander nodded, still lost in thought. "Very well, Lily. I'll be there."

Lily hesitated before continuing. "Also, sir, your family lunch at Bellavista is scheduled for 2 PM today. Your mother, Aunt Malicia, and Cousin Lylah will be joining you."

Alexander's expression darkened, his jaw clenched. "Remind me why I agreed to this again."

Lily's tone was cautious. "You mentioned it was important to maintain family ties, sir."

Alexander's irritation flared. "Maintain family ties? They're the ones who poisoned my mind against Roslyn. Aunt Malicia and Lylah were merciless, always finding fault in her."

Lily's expression remained neutral. "I understand, sir. But perhaps this lunch can be an opportunity to—"

Alexander cut her off, his voice rising. "To what? Pretend everything's fine? Forget how they treated Roslyn like dirt? My mother's bad enough, but Aunt Malicia and Lylah... they were relentless. Their cruelty still echoes in my mind."

Alexander's gaze turned inward, memories of Roslyn's pain and humiliation flooding his mind.

"Aunt Malicia's condescending smiles, Lylah's mocking laughter... the way they made Roslyn feel inferior... how can I face them again?"

Lily's voice remained gentle. "For your own peace, sir. Not for them."

Alexander's sigh was heavy, his shoulders sagging. "Fine. I'll attend the lunch. But I make no promises."

Lily nodded. "I'll inform your family of the confirmation, sir."

As Lily departed, Alexander's thoughts lingered on Roslyn, his regret and longing intensifying.

Why did he agree to this lunch? Was it truly to maintain family ties, or was it a desperate attempt to cling to the familiar, to distract himself from the ache of losing Roslyn?

Lily finished and departed; Alexander's gaze lingered on the folder, his mind still reeling with emotions.

The lunch loomed ahead, a daunting prospect.

Alexander's mind drifted back to that fateful evening, Roslyn's birthday dinner at Bellavista. Unbeknownst to everyone, she had meticulously planned the evening, hoping to create cherished memories with Alexander's family.

As they gathered around the table, Roslyn's radiant smile hinted at her excitement. Alexander recalled his own obliviousness, unaware of the significance of the night.

The dinner began, and Alexander's mother, Aunt Malicia, and cousin Lylah dominated the conversation, discussing trivial matters while ignoring Roslyn's attempts to engage.

The dinner began, and Alexander's mother, Aunt Malicia, and cousin Lylah dominated the conversation, discussing trivial matters while ignoring Roslyn's attempts to engage.

Alexander's mother, her voice shrill, launched into a lengthy monologue about her gardening exploits. "I simply can't get the roses to bloom this season. I've tried everything."

Aunt Malicia chimed in, her tone condescending. "Dear sister, you're using the wrong fertilizer. I swear by organic compost."

Cousin Lylah snickered, inserting herself into the conversation. "I heard the Johnsons' daughter is getting married. Such a lovely couple."

Roslyn attempted to interject, her voice tentative. "I've been reading about sustainable gardening practices. Perhaps we could discuss—"

But Alexander's mother talked over her, unaware or uncaring. "Lylah, have you heard from Emily recently? How's her family?"

Aunt Malicia pounced on the topic, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "Yes, I heard Emily's husband is struggling in his business. Such a shame."

Cousin Lylah's laughter trilled. "I know, right? Some people just aren't cut out for entrepreneurship."

Roslyn's attempts to contribute were consistently dismissed, her words lost amidst the cacophony of conversation.

As the main course arrived, Roslyn's enthusiasm had waned, her eyes clouding with disappointment. Alexander's family continued their verbal jabs, targeting her background.

"Roslyn, dear, your grandfather was a kind man, but really, he didn't leave you much, did he?" Alexander's mother said, her tone dripping with disdain.

Aunt Malicia chimed in, her voice laced with malice. "Yes, and his financial struggles were quite...legendary."

Cousin Lylah snickered, her eyes flashing with cruelty. "I hear he was living on welfare before he passed away. How tragic."

Roslyn's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. Alexander remembered feeling a surge of discomfort but remained silent, unaware of the evening's true significance.

Little did they know, Roslyn had organized this dinner to celebrate her birthday, hoping to find acceptance and belonging among Alexander's family. Instead, she found herself brutalized by their thoughtless words.

As the dinner drew to a close, Roslyn's tears had fallen, her fragile smile shattered. Alexander's heart ached, but his silence had spoken volumes.

It wasn't until later, as they prepared to leave, that Alexander stumbled upon a forgotten card on the table:

"Happy Birthday to me."

A lump formed in his throat as realization dawned. This dinner, orchestrated by Roslyn's eager hands, had been her birthday celebration. And no one had known.

The memory lingered, a festering wound. Alexander's thoughts returned to the present, his regret and resentment toward his family simmering.

How could he have missed it? How could he have let her down so utterly?

The weight of his silence that evening now crushed him, a constant reminder of his failure to protect Roslyn from his family's toxicity.

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The memories of that fateful dinner flooded his mind, and Alexander's heart swelled with regret and empathy. He realized now that Roslyn had been desperately seeking acceptance and belonging among his family, but instead she was met with cruelty and disdain.

"How alone she must have felt that night," Alexander thought, his conscience wracked with guilt. "Her grandfather, her only family, was gone, and I, her husband, stood idly by, allowing my family to ravage her spirit."

He recalled Roslyn's fragile smile, her eyes brimming with tears, and his own silence, which had spoken volumes. "I was her rock, her safe haven, but I failed her," Alexander thought, his self-reproach intensifying.

As he reflected on Roslyn's isolation, Alexander understood that her loneliness wasn't just about that one evening; it was a chronic condition, exacerbated by his family's toxicity and his own inadequacy.

"Roslyn's strength and resilience amazed me, but I didn't appreciate it then," Alexander thought, his admiration for her growing. "She endured the unbearable, and I didn't even notice."

The weight of his neglect crushed Alexander. "How could I have missed it? The signs were there—her hesitant smiles, her fleeting laughter, her desperate attempts to connect."

In that moment, Alexander vowed to make amends, prove his love and devotion to Roslyn, and ensure she never felt alone again.

"But is it too late?" Alexander wondered, his uncertainty gnawing at his soul. "Have I irreparably damaged our bond?"

Alexander's feet carried him toward the meeting room, but his mind lingered elsewhere, consumed by memories of Roslyn.

As he walked, the soft hum of the office faded into the background, replaced by the haunting image of Roslyn's tears, her smile faltering under his family's verbal assault.

"How could I have let her down so utterly?" Alexander thought, his self-reproach intensifying with each step.

He passed by colleagues, exchanging perfunctory nods, but his focus remained on Roslyn. Her laughter echoed in his mind, a bittersweet reminder of happier times.

Alexander entered the meeting room, taking his seat mechanically. His marketing team began their presentation, but he struggled to focus.

Numbers and charts blurred together as Roslyn's face hovered before him, her eyes searching for validation, for love.

"What did I ever do to deserve her?" Alexander wondered, his thoughts a jumbled mix of regret and longing.

The meeting room's fluorescent lights seemed to dim, replaced by the warm glow of Roslyn's presence. Alexander's heart ached, his soul crying out for a second chance.

"Can I make it right?" he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. "Can I prove my love and restore her trust?"

The meeting continued, but Alexander's participation was superficial, his mind trapped in the past, reliving moments with Roslyn, seeking redemption.

Alexander's gaze drifted, his mind still with Roslyn, as the marketing team droned on.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, shrill in the quiet room. He glanced at the screen, his heart skipping a beat.

"Vincent" flashed on the display, his personal investigator.

Alexander's instincts stirred. Vincent only called with crucial updates.

"Excuse me," Alexander murmured, pushing back his chair. "I need to take this."

The team paused, expectant, as Alexander stepped out of the meeting room.

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