Chapter 150
The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the evening air and the distant chirp of crickets. Lily and Alexander sat together on the couch,wrapped in the warmth of each other's company. It had been one of those rare,peaceful evenings where the world seemed to pause. The kids were asleep, the house felt like a sanctuary, and for the first time in a long while,they had time to themselves.
Lily leaned her head on Alexander's shoulder, sighing contentedly.“I wish we could have nights like this more often."
Alexander chuckled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face."We will. It's just that life has a way of keeping us busy."
They both laughed, the moment feeling perfect. But just as Lily closed her eyes, content to soak in the stillness, the sound of a knock at the door shattered the calm.
"Who could that be?”Lily murmured, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Alexander stood up slowly, an uneasy tension flickering in his eyes.“I'll go check.”
Lily watched him, puzzled by his sudden change in demeanor. He was always calm, always confident. But tonight, something seemed different.As he opened the door, Lily's curiosity deepened, and when she saw the unfamiliar face standing in the doorway, her heart skipped a beat.
The man in the doorway was older than Alexander, with dark hair speckled with gray. His expression was neutral, though there was an unmistakable familiarity in his gaze as he locked eyes with Alexander.
"Alexander," the man said,his voice deep and steady.
Lily stood up. her instinets on alert. Something was wrong. The air felt thick with unspoken words. She glanced at Alexander, who had gone stiff.His jaw tightened, and his eyes shifted slightly,avoiding her gaze.
"John." Alexander greeted the man, his tone curt."What are you doing here?”
John stepped forward, his eyes flickering momentarily toward Lily before returning to Alexander.“We need to talk."
Lily felt a knot tightenin her stomach. The tension in the room was palpable, and as thetwo men exchanged a few more words, it was clear that whatever conversation was about to unfold, it was not meant for her ears.
Alexander turned to her then, his expression softer but still guarded.“Lily,I-”He stopped himself, visibly trying to collect his thoughts.
“I'll be in the kitchen,” Lily said, her voice steady even as her pulse quickened. She turned and walked away, her mind racing with questions.Who was this man? And why did Alexander seem so unsettled by his presence?
Lily sat down at the kitchen table, her hands gripping the edge as she tried to calm her thoughts. She couIdn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Why hadn't Alexander mentioned this person before? And why did he seem so... on edge?
It wasn't long before Alexander entered, his face a mix of frustration and something she couldn't quite place. He closed the door behind him,locking it, and stood there for a moment, as if gathering the courage to
speak.
"I should have told you about this earlier," he began, his voice low and heavy. "But I didn't know how."
Lily raised an eyebrow, her heart poundling.“What is this about.Alexander?"
Alexander sighed,sitting across from her. "John was someone from my past. Someone I thought I had left behind. But he... he has a lot of history with me. And some things he said tonight. things I never wanted you to know...”
Lily's breath caught in her throat. "What kind of history?" Her voice shook slightly, a mixture of anger and fear creeping in.
Alexander looked away, his fingers rubbing the back of his neck nervously.“It's not what you think. It's just... things from my past that I didn't want to bring into our present.'
Lily's gaze narrowed. “You're telling me that someone you knew...someone important enough for you to avoid mentioning all these years.just shows up at our door? And you didn't think to tell me about this before?”
Alexander's eyes softened with regret. "Lily, I never meant to keep this from you. I was just protecting you... from the pain of things that don't matter anymore."
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling."Why keep this a secret?"
"I didn't want to lose you," Alexander admitted, his voice cracking. "I was afraic that if vou knew the truth about everything,.. about who I was
before... you'd leave me. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
The weight of his words hit Lily hard. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The hurt wasn't just about the secret itself-it was about the fact that Alexander had felt he couldn't trust her with it.
Lily looked into his eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability there. She had always known him to be strong, unwavering. But this was a side of him she had never seen before-the side of him that was afraid, not of losing her. but of the unknown consequences of his past.
"Alexander, I..." She faltered. unsure of how to express the whirlwind of emotions that had risen in her chest. “I need you to be honest with me.Whatever it is, whatever you've kept hidden... we'll face it together. But you have to promise me-no more secrets. I can't love a man who keeps things from me. I need to trust you."
He nodded, his eyes filled with guilt. “I promise. No more secrets."
Lily took a deep breath and reached for his hand. “We'll work through this. But I need to know everything. I can't keep living with questions hanging over us.”
Alexander squeezed her hand, his grip firm. "I'll tell you everything.I won't keep anything from you again.”
The room was silent for a moment, as they both absorbed the gravity of the situation. Despite the uncertainty of the revelation, Lily felt a sense of relief in his honesty. This moment would pass, and they would grow stronger for it.
Alexander pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I love you, Lily. I'm so sorry for keeping this from you."
"I love you too," she whispered, her voice soft. “And we'll get through this.Together.”
As they stood there, locked in each other's embrace. Lily realized that love wasn't just about the good times. It was about facing the challenges, the secrets. and the fears-together. No matter what the past held.they would always have each other.
But just as they started to find solace in their renewed connection, the doorbell rang again, pulling them both out of their moment of peace. This time, the sound was sharper, more insistent.
Lily's heart skipped a beat.
What now?