Chapter 48

Scarlett POV

I stared intently at the man's retreating figure, then looked down at the photos.

The faces of these children were filled with fear and desperation, just like I had once been.

I bit my lower lip, quickly stuffed the photos back into the envelope, then into my handbag. I couldn't return to the dinner table, not in this state. I took out my phone and sent Camila a text, telling her I suddenly felt unwell and was heading back, then walked quickly toward the underground parking garage.

Pushing open the security gate of the parking lot, a rush of cool air hit me.

I fumbled for my car keys in the darkness, my breath still uneven from the earlier encounter. Suddenly, my gaze caught a familiar figure sitting on the hood of my car, and my heart skipped a beat.

It was Alexander, casually playing with a cigarette, the top two buttons of his collar undone, revealing his well-defined chest muscles.

Under the dim parking garage lights, his silhouette appeared exceptionally sharp, like a perfect marble statue, yet with deadly warmth.

"What’s wrong? Are you so captivated? Want to give it a try?" His voice was deep and husky, laced with a hint of mockery.

My heart pounded violently in my chest, as if trying to break free from its cage.

A hint of a playful smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but it quickly faded as he frowned. "Have you been crying?"

Only then did I realize my eyes were still wet. Damn it! I turned my face away, "No, just got something in my eye."

He lightly jumped off the hood, walked a few steps to stand in front of me, one hand lifting my chin, the other thumb gently wiping away the tear stains at the corner of my eye.

"Who made you cry? Was it Sandra?" His voice was close, his warm breath brushing against my cheek, causing a subtle shiver.

I tried hard to control myself, to not show any reaction to his touch, but my heartbeat was accelerating uncontrollably. "You're getting weaker, little aunt."

This intimate nickname pierced my heart like a needle. I abruptly shook off his hand, anger and shame churning inside my chest.

"Give me my keys. I want to go home," my voice was calm and determined, but inside I was in turmoil.

As I reached for the car keys in his hand, the photos from my bag fell out, floating to the ground.

My heart almost stopped beating. Alexander quickly picked up the photos, his long fingers holding the thin paper, his gaze lingering for a second, then another.

"What is this?" his eyebrows furrowed, a flash of confusion in his eyes as he stared at the photos.

My blood seemed to freeze—had he recognized something? I snatched the photos back and quickly stuffed them into my bag, my fingertips numb with tension. "Nothing, just work stuff."

Alexander's expression was slightly surprised, clearly taken aback by my reaction. After a suffocating silence, he didn't pursue the matter, but opened the car door and sat directly in the passenger seat, his movements so fluid as if the car were his own.

"What are you doing?" I stood outside the car, my voice sharp. "I'll drive you home," he said flatly. "You look too terrible today; it's not safe for you to drive."

I took a deep breath, deciding not to argue anymore, and walked around to the driver's seat to get in.

The moment the car door closed, the world seemed to be shut out, the space inside suddenly becoming cramped. I found it hard to breathe, with Alexander's presence filling every inch of air, strong and impossible to ignore.

"Your temper's getting worse lately," he turned sideways, his gaze fixed on my profile.

"You take out your anger on me when you've been wronged elsewhere. Tell me, Scarlett, what exactly am I to you?"

This question struck the deepest contradiction in my heart. I slowly turned to face him, looking directly into his eyes—those blue eyes as deep as the ocean, with emotions I couldn't decipher flowing beneath the surface.

The photos I had seen tonight, the man's warning, all echoed in my mind like persistent nightmares.

I needed to get closer to Alexander, needed information, needed to complete my mission, needed to save my sister. The boundary between mission and personal feelings blurred in this moment.

A strange courage rose from within, and I slowly spoke, "I think of you as my man."

The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Alexander was stunned, clearly not expecting such directness.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, examining me as if determining whether I was joking.

"Watch your words, little aunt." His voice grew deeper, carrying a warning, yet also hiding a desire I couldn't ignore. "You're supposed to marry my uncle."

"But you said," I looked straight into his eyes, no longer avoiding, feeling tears gathering, blurring my vision. "You said you didn't want to end what's between us. Were those words all lies? Does Alexander also lie?"

My voice carried a sob as emotions finally broke through. If he rejected me now, I would truly collapse.

Not because of love, I tried to tell myself, but because of the mission and my sister. Yet deep down, I could no longer distinguish between the two.

Through blurry tears, Alexander's gaze grew profound, like an unfathomable lake.

His hand suddenly covered my chest, the warmth of his palm transmitting through the thin fabric, burning and tremor-inducing.

My heartbeat accelerated under his palm, betraying all my pretenses.

"Why cry?" his voice carried impatience, but those eyes revealed a hint of softness, so fleeting it might have been my imagination.

"If you want to cry, save it for the bed."

A tear slid down my cheek, landing right on the back of his hand.

Alexander looked down at that teardrop, then suddenly chuckled. He pulled out a lighter from his pocket, the silver metal glinting coldly in the dim car interior.

I immediately took out a pack of cigarettes from the glove compartment—I knew which brand he preferred—and was about to hand him one when he placed the cigarette directly against my lips.

I hesitated, then slightly opened my mouth, holding it between my lips.

Alexander leaned in, the lighter's flame dancing between us, his eyes appearing even deeper in the firelight. "Take a drag," his seductive voice sounded as his fingers gripped the back of my neck, continuously caressing that patch of skin.

I carefully took a drag, immediately choking and coughing, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Before I could recover, Alexander's lips suddenly covered mine, carrying the taste of tobacco and an undeniable force.

This kiss was like an invasion, methodical yet completely destroying my rationality.

My mind went blank. In this moment, I didn't know if I was completing a mission or truly falling into his embrace.