Stuck Up Meets Crazy. [COMPLETED]

EIGHTEEN

As expected, an angry Liza storms into the restroom, her heels clicking sharply against the tiles, each step echoing the tension that has been building all evening. She's breathing heavily, her eyes ablaze with a mixture of fury and desperation. It's clear she's been rehearsing this confrontation in her mind since the moment she saw Cara with Xander.

"How much?" Liza demands, her voice barely restrained, yet trembling with intensity.

Cara, who had been adjusting her lipstick in the mirror, raises an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "What?" she replies, her tone deliberately detached as she studies Liza's reflection, noting the rage simmering just below the surface.

Liza steps closer, her eyes narrowing. "For you to leave Alexander alone, how much will it cost?" She pauses, letting the words sink in before continuing. "A million, two..."

But before she can finish, Cara interrupts with a dismissive wave of her hand, rolling her eyes as if the mere suggestion bores her. "Oh, please," Cara scoffs, turning to face Liza fully, her expression now one of mild amusement. "I don't want your money."

Liza's face contorts with anger, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "Look here, Carazan," she spits out Cara's full name with venom, "I don't know how you managed to hook Alex down with a baby, but it won't work. Alex and I fight a lot, but we always get back together," she asserts, her voice lowering to a more menacing tone as she steps closer. "Always," she adds, drawing out the word slowly as if trying to drill the idea into Cara's head. "So spare yourself the embarrassment because Alex is mine."

Cara's smile widens, but it's not a friendly one. She's far too evolved to get into a catfight over a man, but there's something undeniably satisfying about pushing Liza's buttons. If she's learned anything tonight, it's that Liza isn't used to being challenged—especially not by someone she considers beneath her.

"Really?" Cara purrs, her voice laced with mockery. She takes a deliberate step forward, closing the gap between them, her eyes never leaving Liza's. "I'm pretty sure it's my name he yells when I let him deep inside me." The words roll off her tongue smoothly, designed to sting, and they hit their mark.

For a split second, Liza's confident facade cracks. Her eyes widen in shock, and her mouth opens slightly as if she's struggling to process the insult. But the disbelief quickly morphs into rage, and Cara can see the exact moment Liza decides to strike. It's almost amusing how predictable she is.

Liza's hand shoots up, ready to deliver a slap, but Cara is quicker. She catches Liza's wrist mid-air, her grip firm but controlled. "It's just wrong to hit a pregnant lady," Cara says calmly, her voice dripping with faux concern. She releases Liza's hand with a small, dismissive flick, her pout morphing into a triumphant smirk. "I guess I'll have to teach you some manners," she adds, her tone playful, but the underlying threat is clear.

~~~

They are heading back home, after the drama there was no use staying. She had done what she came there for.

The car is always quiet, but this time it's not the comfortable silence that always exists.

There's tension in the air, Cara feels the need to say something, and so she does, "I liked the ball." Cara looks towards his direction.

"Whatever," Xander says, staring at the window.

Wow, drunken Xander is more of an asshole.

Cara rolls her eyes, turning to her own side of the window as well.Her phone buzzes in her lap, and she glances down to see Xavier's name flashing on the screen. She answers with a tired sigh, grateful for the distraction."How is it going?" Xavier teases.

"How's it going?" Xavier's teasing voice comes through the line, light and carefree, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere in the car.

"It's not," Cara replies, glancing sideways at Xander's brooding profile. "We're on our way home. Order me pizza; I'll be hungry."

"Sorry, Cassie and I are heading out to the movies," Xavier says, his tone apologetic but not enough to change their plans.

"I hate you guys," Cara grumbles, though there's no real malice in her words.

"We love you too," Xavier quips before hanging up.Cara stares at her phone for a moment, a small smile playing on her lips despite everything.

How did she manage to end up here? Attending a celebrity ball, sitting beside a billionaire, and carrying not just one but two of his babies? It all feels surreal, like something out of a crazy dream.

~~~

When they finally reach the house, the task of getting Xander—now fully embracing his drunken stupor—up the stairs falls to Cara. It's no easy feat; he's a dead weight, slumping against her with each step, grumbling about his suit being creased. "Watch the suit," he slurs, his voice heavy with alcohol.

Cara bites her tongue, resisting the urge to snap back. It takes all her self-control not to yell, "I'm trying to help your drunken ass!"

Arrogant much, she thinks with an eye roll as she half-drags, half-carries him to his room.

Jonathan would usually help with this, but the old man is probably fast asleep by now, leaving Cara to manage on her own. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, she manages to drop Xander onto his bed, unceremoniously yanking off his shoes. Within seconds, he's out cold, his deep, even breaths filling the room.

Cara stands there for a moment, catching her breath. She should leave, she knows that. She's done what she needed to do—got him home, put him to bed, and made sure he didn't pass out in the hallway. But something stops her. Maybe it's the way he looks right now, so peaceful, so unlike the arrogant jerk she's used to dealing with. There's something almost... cute about him, she realizes with a start.

What the fuck, Cara? This is creepy, she mentally scolds herself, quickly shaking off the thought.

As she turns to leave, she hears him mumble in his sleep, "Stay..."

Cara freezes, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She turns back, expecting to see him awake, but no—his eyes are still closed, his face relaxed in sleep.

The Alexander Black sleep talks?

Cara stifles a laugh, the absurdity of it all nearly breaking her resolve. But then she hears him again, this time clearer, more pleading. "Stay, please."

Her heart tugs at the sound, and despite her better judgment, she hesitates. Would it really hurt to stay just this once? The bed is big enough for both of them, after all.

"Go to your room, Cara," she mutters to herself, trying to muster the willpower to leave. But her feet remain planted where they are, torn between doing what she knows is right and what she wants.

"Just this one time," she finally whispers, convincing herself as she carefully pulls back the blanket and sits down on the edge of the bed.

But just as she's about to get comfortable, she hears him mumble again, "Don't go, Liza... stay."

Cara jerks back as if she's been burned.

Liza? Seriously?

~~~

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT XANDER CALLING OUT LIZA'S NAME?

THIS HAS TO BE THE SHORTEST CHAPTER SO FAR.

COMMENT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN.