Quinn's teeth ground together in a grimace, the pain washing the color from her face as she ceased her struggle.
Alexander did not press further.
He observed Quinn until she was utterly motionless before relinquishing his hold on her. She slid off the desk,
crumpling onto the floor, her hands protectively cradling her stomach.
She dared not move, for every slight shift brought a wave of excruciating pain that pierced her heart."Consider
my proposal," his voice echoed from above. He pivoted to depart but felt a gentle pull at his trouser leg.
Glancing down, he found Quinn clutching at the fabric.Slowly, she raised her head, her face a mask of pallor.
There was no denying the torment she was enduring. She stilled her quivering lips and took deep, measured
breaths to manage the pain before releasing him.
Then, with deliberate movements, she signed, "If you loatheand everything associated withso much,
why don't you just divorce me?"A fleeting shadow passed over his eyes before he abruptly crouched down.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAlexander lifted her chin and retorted, "Seems you're having trouble recalling things lately, huh? Have you
forgotten what I told you?"Quinn looked at him, her energy depleted.
She hadn't forgotten. 'He instructedto avoid Abigail and never to utter the word 'divorce.' Yet, | find myself
continually defying him. | feel like a caged dog, left with no option but to wag its tail and plead for mercy from its
master. She signed, "Is this your idea of 'taking care offor life'? Imprisoningin a cage?"As he watched
the tears shimmer in her eyes, a flicker of something crossed his own, too swift to identify. After a pause, he
responded, "If that's your interpretation, then so be it."His words struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her
reeling and disoriented.
She shut her eyes as the tears overflowed, her face ghostly pale. She finally capitulated.Stlater, Quinn
opened her eyes and gestured to him, "If | stop seeing Abigail, can you extricate her from her current
predicament?""Quinn, I'm not here to negotiate with you," Alexander dismissed her flatly.
He released her chin, stood, and declared, "It appears you've made your choice." With that, he exited the study
without a backward glance.Quinn collapsed onto the floor, her head bowed low, her hair obscuring most of her
face. Alexander was descending the staircase just as Juliet was unpacking her belongings. She froze upon
sighting him, her possessions impossible to conceal. Her items were too shabby, utterly incongruous in the
immaculate villa.He seized his coat from the rack, cast a cursory glance at her, and remarked, "I don't want to
see this junk again.""I'll dispose of them immediately," Juliet's voice wavered.
She turned to Alexander, puzzled, "Alexander, what exactly are you implying?"With an indifferent tone, he
replied, "Since she permitted you to stay here, you'd better take good care of her."Juliet remained rooted to the
spot until he was out of sight, only then grasping his insinuation. A wry smile etched itself onto her lined face.
She dropped her belongings and ascended the stairs to find Quinn.At the threshold of the study, Juliet spotted
Quinn huddled on her side, her clothes in disarray. She hastened in to assist her and inquired, "Quinn, what's the
matter?"Quinn slowly opened her eyes, her forehead and neck slick with perspiration as if she had been
submerged in water. She raised a tremulous hand to her abdomen. Only then did Juliet notice the blotches of
blood staining Quinn's trousers."You..." Juliet's face contorted as panic seized her. Without a moment's hesitation,
she reached for her phone, ready to dial for an ambulance.
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