Все главы His uncle's sweetheart : Глава 91 - Глава 100

"Is this what you do every day, Bernice?" Liam's voice shattered the silence, teasingly as he entered Alexander's hospital room. He was grinning, one of his eyebrows rising as he took in the scene before him. Bernice was methodically arranging the food she'd packed while Alexander watched her with a faint smile.She cast a glance up at Liam, her eyes rolling on a sigh. "If by 'this' you mean making sure Alexander doesn't have to live off of bland hospital food, then yes. You'd think he could survive without me being here every second.""Survive?" Alexander scoffed, exchanging a look with Liam. "I think I'd waste away without you.”“See?" Liam said, laughing as he plopped into a chair. "It sounds like he's completely dependent on you now. Are you sure it's not… something more?"Bernice felt a wave of heat creep up her cheeks, and she shot him a warning look. "Liam, please. We are not doing this right now.""Oh, come on, Bernice," Liam teased, falling back in his chair with a smirk. "Ad

Two weeks have gone now, Alexander is fully recovered and back to work. "Bernice, what do you think about expanding to the European market?" Alexander leaned back in his chair and fixed his gaze upon her.Bernice was taken aback; her eyes widened in wonder. They were in her office, no doubt surrounded by plans and prototypes of the new fashion line their companies were collaborating on. It was a project she'd poured her heart into, and she knew Alexander had done the same. "Europe?" she asked, an eyebrow cocked. "I mean…it's a big leap. But why now?"“Because I do not rule out something of value beneath the mud," he said with the ghost of a smile. "And I know a company in Rome which would like a partner.”The mention of Rome stiffened her a little, but she masked it by looking over the sketches she had laid out on her desk. Clara, her assistant, sat in a chair beside her, writing furiously, and Alexander's assistant stood to one side, listening intently. Bernice forced herself to loo

"Do you even hear yourself, Olivia?" Ethan suddenly exploded into the silent room, as a shade of bitter venom crept into his voice.Olivia barely looked up from her phone onto which she was typing away with consummate ease. "Oh, don't be melodramatic, Ethan," she said nonchalantly, eyes fixed upon the screen. "Everything is under control."Ethan's jaw hardened. "Under control?" he repeated. Incredulous. "You just hired someone to… to murder, Olivia. In cold blood. When did you become capable of such things?"She finally looked up, her gaze cool, impassive. "When did you become so squeamish? They were nothing more than loose ends, Ethan. We can't afford to let anyone start talking, especially about us.”Ethan ran an angry hand through his hair, every action speaking volumes of his guilt and blame. "You're not the same person anymore. The Olivia I married-she would have never gone this far. Kidnapping, now murder… How much more are you going to do?”Olivia leaned back, crossing her arms

"Ready for this?" Alexander asked, his voice slicing through the silence in the car. His eyes remained on the road, turning occasionally to glance at Bernice.Bernice blew out a breath and watched as the Italian countryside whizzed by them. The flutter of nerves felt like fingers closing in on her chest. "As ready as I'll ever be," she returned, though little conviction was laced in her tone. "It's just…I haven't seen Rafael in years, and the last time we were face-to-face…Alexander leant forward, his hand reassuring her. "Hey, this isn't the past we're revisiting. This is business. And you have every right to be here, Bernice. You're stronger than this."She nodded, taking some comfort in his being alongside her. Alexander's nature over the years had always been steady and sure-mostly in light of everything Rafael and their history had brought about, of course. Yet here now, amidst Rome, even having Alexander at her side, the notion of standing before Rafael again gave her the sens

"Shall we proceed, then?" Alexander's cool voice rumbled with authority across the table, his glance sweeping the room.Rafael nodded curtly, shifted in his seat. "Of course, Mr. Cole. We're eager to hear more about this proposal."As was typical, Bernice was as cool as ice next to Alexander. She spread the papers in front of her, her hands sure as she began to outline their business plan. Ethan shifted uneasily into his seat, the tension in his body plain to see; his eyes danced between Alexander and Bernice as though he felt their presence to be some sort of imposition."The plan is simple," Bernice began, her voice even and professional, though her eyes seemed to dart to Rafael's as if watching for his reaction. "Our purpose is to align our companies in such a way that will be profitable to both of us while tapping into the European market, which-as you quite know-is very competitive.”Rafael's gaze had settled on her and for a brief moment, wordless acknowledgement flashed in his