Chapter 109

Scarlett’s POV

I limped back to my room, an inexplicable heaviness weighing on my chest.

Barely managing to collapse onto the bed, I discovered that whenever I closed my eyes, my mind conjured images of Alexander pressing Lillian against his desk, taking her as he pleased.

Especially haunting was Alexander's voice from the phone earlier—that deliberately restrained tone. How reluctant he must have been to hurt Lillian, to control himself so carefully.

When I thought about our own intimate moments, Alexander always satisfied himself first, only occasionally remembering to show me tenderness.

Perhaps it was because of my injuries, but my emotions felt particularly desolate.

I buried my face in the pillow, my body aching terribly, my stomach painfully empty, and my ankle throbbing with sharp, persistent pain.

Tears of self-pity instantly rolled down my cheeks, disappearing into the pillow.

Time passed hazily. The gnawing hunger gradually subsided, and drowsiness began to overtake me.

In my semi-conscious state, I felt an arm snake around my waist, lifting me up.

I lazily opened my eyes to find Alexander's face just inches from mine.

Instinctively, I tried to struggle free, but his grip on my waist tightened.

"You're the most goddamn dramatic one of all!" His sudden harsh rebuke made me immediately press my lips together.

Tears welled in my eyes, suspended and ready to fall.

Alexander promptly extended his tongue, catching the tears at the corner of my eye.

"Dirty," I whispered.

Alexander bared his teeth. "You find me disgusting?"

"No..."

I denied it verbally, but inwardly, I did find him repulsive!

A filthy, unfaithful man!

Thinking about Alexander being intimate with Lillian just moments ago filled me with an inexplicable sense of betrayal.

"Put me down!" I demanded, though having starved for two days and still weak, even my attempt at anger sounded pathetic, like a sickly child.

Alexander pinched the flesh at my waist. "Am I being too nice to you? Is that why you're so fierce with me? Hanging up on me whenever you're upset ?"

"Where's my phone?" I asked irritably.

Alexander's expression was caught between laughter and exasperation. "Look at you... As if I'd take your cheap phone."

He tilted his chin, indicating my phone sitting safely on the table.

Seeing my phone resting undisturbed, the anxiety I'd been holding finally released.

I was about to get out of bed when Alexander stopped me. "A doctor will be here soon to check your leg."

I blinked at him.

Alexander gave me a harsh glare. "I have plenty of women who want me. If you become lame, I won't want you anymore."

Though he was threatening me as usual, somehow his words warmed my heart.

Without thinking, I threw my arms around Alexander.

"Mr. Gray, please don't reject me. I'll be good from now on, do whatever you say."

I clung tightly to his neck, tears and mucus smearing his clothes.

Alexander remained still. I only felt a slight tremor in his back.

His fingers traced along my ribs.

"But you... will eventually need to marry, won't you?"

He smiled faintly, his cold lips pressed against my ear. "Don't forget your position."

—Little Aunt.

The doctor arrived ten minutes later, treating my wounds again. The ankle injury wasn't serious—just broken skin with minimal bleeding—and would heal within a week.

After receiving a new IV, I obediently lay down.

But after all the commotion, I was genuinely hungry, and my stomach embarrassingly growled several times.

Alexander suppressed a laugh and reached under the blanket, his hand eventually landing on my stomach.

"It's concave," he observed.

I felt somewhat embarrassed.

I'd been locked in the Gray house for two days with just one cup of water per day, not even allowed bathroom access. If Camila had arrived any later, there would certainly have been a new grave on the back mountain of the Gray estate.

Thoughts of Camila naturally led me to wonder about her deal with Alexander.

"Mr. Gray, why did you let her take me away from the Gray house?" I wasn't stupid; I knew Camila wouldn't help for a trivial benefit. "What did you promise her?"

"Guess," Alexander said nonchalantly.

I frowned. How could I possibly know?

Alexander watched me, and the hand resting on my empty stomach began sliding lower.

My cheeks instantly flushed red, and I instinctively clenched my thighs.

"Don't..."

"Don't what?" Alexander smirked. "I lost several billion dollars because of you. How many times do I need to take you to make up for it?"

Alexander's explicit words hung in the air, but this time, I found myself unusually compliant.

Not because I was trapped in his territory, but because I knew I had nearly "betrayed" him.

"Maybe when I'm feeling better," I whispered, my voice tinged with unmistakable shyness.

Alexander observed me, a smile tugging at his lips.

One moment threatening to kill me, the next speaking words of affection.

"Wait here. I'll have someone bring you food," Alexander said.

As he rose to leave, I caught his pinky finger with my own.

"Could you stay?"

"You want my company?"

I nodded, my other fingers drawing circles in his palm.

"I haven't slept properly for days, hanging there... Everything hurts."

Reflecting on my recent experiences, they actually paled in comparison to what I'd endured at the Obsidian Palace as a child.

But as Alexander said, I'd grown more sensitive now, learned to leverage his affection.

I calculated that perhaps being gentler might make him treat me even better.

"Fine. Just this once, I'll stay with you."

Alexander agreed, settling into the chair beside the bed, crossing his legs and resting them on the edge of the mattress.

My hand still held his pinky, my heart remarkably calm.

After resting for a while, Alexander woke me up.

"I had some porridge prepared for you. Get up."

I managed to sit up, supporting myself on the edge of the bed, but didn't reach for the steaming bowl on the nightstand.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Do you expect me to feed you?"

I did want that, but feared I wouldn't be so fortunate.

I merely mumbled, "It looks very hot."

“Are you really considering yourself the mistress of the Gray family now?” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.