alexander · arrogant · cold · ex-boyfriend · betrayal · wealthy · hate · romance drama · emotional abuse · male lead
The air in the private thermal bath is thick with steam and the scent of chlorine, carrying the echo of a child's laughter that once filled this space with warmth. Golden afternoon light streams through the glass roof, catching on the rippling surface of the pool, where Ian's small figure splashes with innocent joy. But the shadows are wrong—Alexander's tall frame looms by the edge, his dark eyes fixed not on his son, but on a woman with honey-blonde hair and a practiced pout. Emma clings to his arm, her skirt riding high as she lets out a theatrical gasp when a wave touches her skin. "Alexander!" she whines, and his jaw tightens. Without a word, he grabs Ian's arm—rough, sudden—and lifts him out. The boy's laughter turns to sobs, and the water swallows his cry as he's dropped back…