"Sleep!" Alexander said, switching off the lamp. He pulled Evelyn close and they lay down together.
Evelyn wanted to say more. Alexander cut her off. "We'll talk when we wake up."
"But I can't sleep now!" Evelyn mumbled, embarrassed.
"Then let's do something else," Alexander replied, his fingers already working on the buttons of her pajamas.
"What's wrong?" Evelyn was still lost in her own thoughts, barely reacting.
Alexander answered her question with action.
Early morning. A burst of birdsong pulled Evelyn from sleep.
She turned her head and looked out the window. The weather was beautiful. Sunlight streamed in.
Evelyn stared at the scenery outside, feeling lazy. She just wanted to stay in bed.
Then the memory of last night hit her. Seeing Alexander and Grace O'Sullivan walk into that Japanese restaurant together. Her heart twisted.
She had been so shocked by the ninety-eight thousand dollars that she forgot all about it. Now, the thought came back, and it stung.
She knew Alexander and Grace had known each other for a long time. But Grace being his first love? Alexander had never mentioned it. Neither had Grace.
Evelyn had even thought they weren't that close. Grace hadn't come to their wedding banquet. And Grace had been on duty at the same hotel that day.
Alexander hadn't reacted at all when he saw Grace back then. He looked at her like she was a stranger.
But last night, his sisters said Grace was his first love. They said Alexander had taken Grace home to meet his family.
That meant they had been serious. With Alexander's personality, he wouldn't take someone home without real feelings and a clear commitment.
So what happened? Why did they break up and become strangers?
And now, they were having dinner together again.
Evelyn felt a headache coming on.
A moment later, she sensed movement beside her.
Evelyn turned her head and met Alexander's gaze. A smile almost reflexively appeared on her face. "Good morning," Alexander said.
"Good morning," Evelyn replied.
The events of last night flooded back.
"Still thinking about the ninety-eight thousand?" Alexander asked, looking at her with a smile.
"No!" Evelyn answered quickly.
"Didn't get enough sleep?" He reached out and rubbed her head.
"No!" Evelyn shook her head.
"Then why the long face so early in the morning?" Alexander looked directly at her.
"Alexander—"
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something? Will you explain it to me?"
"What is it?"
"Last night, I... Last night, I..."
"What about last night?" Alexander waited patiently.
"Nothing!" Evelyn couldn't bring herself to say it. She muttered and avoided his gaze. "I'm getting up."
She got out of bed from the other side and walked into the bathroom.
Alexander watched her go, his eyes darkening.
Evelyn was brushing her teeth when Alexander walked into the bathroom.
The next second, she heard the sound of water running.
Fine. She couldn't hear anything now. She focused on brushing.
When Evelyn finished, Alexander came to her side and picked up his own toothbrush and cup.
Evelyn suddenly felt trapped. She couldn't help but shrink back.
Alexander looked at her in the mirror. "If you have something to say, say it. I don't want us playing guessing games."
Evelyn pursed her lips. She looked up and met his eyes in the mirror.
"What's wrong?" Alexander asked again.
"The restaurant we had dinner at last night... it was right across from that Japanese place."
"Hmm," Alexander replied.
Evelyn turned her head to look at him. What did that mean?
"Go on," Alexander said calmly.
"I saw you with Grace O'Sullivan," Evelyn said. Her voice was so low at the end, it was almost inaudible.
She wasn't the one who did something wrong. But standing in front of Alexander, she felt her confidence shrink. In the end, she felt like she was the guilty one.
"I had dinner with the chairman of the Zenith Grand Hotel last night," Alexander explained. "Grace was the receptionist."
"Oh," Evelyn answered, drawing the word out.
"In the future, I hope you'll ask me directly. Don't keep things to yourself," Alexander said, then started brushing his teeth.
"I wasn't keeping anything to myself!" Evelyn murmured. She grabbed a towel and started washing her face.
"Do you have any other questions?" Alexander asked after he finished brushing his teeth, looking at her in the mirror.
"I... I heard that you and Grace used to be..." Evelyn trailed off, not knowing how to finish.
"She's my ex-girlfriend," Alexander said calmly.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" Evelyn looked at him in surprise.
She had thought his sisters were mistaken. Because Alexander and Grace never looked like two people who had any history.
"It's been years. What was there to say?"
"Oh."
"It's not what you think."
"I don't think anything!"
"Evelyn, we're married. We're loyal and responsible to each other. I will follow those basic rules. I don't want to talk about the past, and I don't think being completely open about it is the only way to respect our marriage. Everyone has a past. I won't ask about yours. The past is the past. Dwelling on it is meaningless. But I will cherish the present and the future with you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Alexander turned and put his hands on her shoulders. He made her face him, looking directly into her eyes.
"Yes," Evelyn nodded, a little dazed.
"Good," Alexander said. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Then he turned back to wash his face.
Evelyn felt like her brain couldn't keep up with his. But she held onto his last words. I will cherish the present and the future with you.
Wasn't that enough?
No matter what Alexander and Grace had in the past, it was over. As long as Alexander wasn't going to get tangled up with her again. As long as the two of them could live a good life together.
That was all that mattered.
Evelyn felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
After Alexander finished washing, he went to the dressing room first. Evelyn was slow, so she entered the bathroom first but came out later.
They changed clothes and went downstairs for breakfast.
Lily Thompson had prepared breakfast according to their tastes.
The longer Evelyn lived with Lily, the more she realized how capable she was. Lily kept the house spotless. Her cooking was excellent. She observed their preferences and adjusted every meal accordingly, always changing things up.
Same job, different person, completely different results. No wonder Lily had worked at Sterling Manor for two or three years.
After breakfast, Alexander went upstairs to change for work.
Evelyn ate slowly. When she finally entered the dressing room, Alexander was almost dressed.
He held up two ties and asked, "Which one looks better?"