The Promotion

Chapter Thirty-Six

I never imagined that on a day like this—my wedding day—I would find Alexander standing in front of me.

Yet there he was.

His hair, soft and perfectly styled, was pushed back from his face, revealing that sharp jawline I knew too well. His eyes—those eyes that always saw too much—were fixed on me with an intensity that made my chest ache. His lips, familiar and dangerous, parted slightly as if he was struggling to find the right words.

Every ounce of self-control I possessed went into stopping myself from reaching for him. From memorising the way he felt under my hands. From pretending this moment wasn't unraveling everything I had worked so hard to bury.

"You came," I said softly, my voice betraying me despite my effort to sound steady.

Alexander tilted his head, studying me like he always did—like I was something fragile and rare. Slowly, carefully, his hand lifted to my cheek, cupping it with such tenderness that my breath caught. I leaned into his touch before I could stop myself.

"Louisa..." His voice dropped, thick with emotion. "You look... beautiful."

Heat rushed to my face. I lowered my gaze, smiling despite the ache in my chest. His fingertips gently tipped my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"I—" He exhaled, frustration flickering across his face. "I don't even know where to begin."

He took both my hands in his, threading his fingers through mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. His grip was warm, grounding. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

"You drive me insane," he admitted quietly. "From the moment I saw you in that club, something shifted. I told myself it was nothing—just attraction. But then fate kept throwing you back into my life. Once was coincidence. Twice was impossible to ignore."

My heart hammered painfully.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he continued, voice breaking. "When I close my eyes, it's you. When I open them, I still see you. When you're near me, all I want is to hold on—to memorise how you feel, how you breathe."

He let out a small, breathless laugh. "I know I sound ridiculous. But what I'm trying to say is... Louisa Watts, I am in love with you. I have been for longer than I care to admit."

Something inside me shattered and healed all at once.

Tears spilled before I could stop them—hot, uncontrollable, full of everything I had been holding back. I laughed through them, overwhelmed by relief and heartbreak all at once.

"Why?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Alexander's forehead dropped against mine.

"Because I was a coward," he said honestly. "Because I didn't want to complicate your life. Because I was terrified that if I said it out loud, it would make everything real."

He pulled back just enough to look at me. "But I can't pretend anymore. I'm hopelessly in love with you."

For a moment, the world ceased to exist. There was only us. His hands. His breath. The truth vibrating between us.

"You've put me in an impossible position," I murmured, my chest tight.

My mind raced, thoughts colliding, panic rising just as—

"What the hell is going on here?"

The voice shattered the moment.

I pulled away instinctively, my heart slamming into my ribs. I turned just in time to see Calum storming down the stairs, fury etched across his face. Sarah followed behind him, her expression frozen with panic.