Chapter 5 Ive Had Enough
Late that night, Alexander returned home to find every light turned off.
The house was completely dark.
He stood in the entryway for several seconds, strangely unsettled, before switching on the lights himself.
For three years, no matter how late he came home, Elsa would usually be curled on the sofa watching television and waiting for him.
The moment she saw him, she would run over barefoot, throw herself into his arms, and cling to him until he practically had to peel her off.
Tonight, she hadn't even left a light on for him.
She really was angry this time.
Tired, Alexander went upstairs.
The bedroom was just as dark. He used the faint light filtering through the curtains to find the bedside lamp and switch it on.
Elsa unconsciously buried her face deeper into the pillow.
Alexander sat on the edge of the bed and brushed a few strands of hair away from her forehead, trying to see whether she was asleep.
But Elsa kept her face hidden beneath the thin blanket.
He hesitated, then turned toward the bathroom.
Listening to the sound of the shower, Elsa slowly opened her eyes.
Her damp lashes trembled violently.
A moment later, she pulled the blanket over her head again.
Alexander came out wearing a dark robe, drops of water still clinging to his hair.
He bent down beside the bed to check on her. When she didn't move, he turned off the light and went alone to the study.
The study remained dark.
Alexander stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, lit a cigarette, and raised the diamond bracelet in one hand.
She shouldn't have discovered anything.
If Elsa had truly learned the truth, with her personality she would have caused a scene big enough to turn everyone's life upside down.
The fact that the bracelet had been found on the thirteenth floor had to be a coincidence.
The next morning, Elsa washed up and prepared to leave for the hospital with breakfast for her parents.
Alexander emerged from the dressing room already dressed for work.
Elsa had lost every desire to communicate with him. She picked up her phone and headed for the door.
Alexander stepped in front of her and caught her wrist.
"Where's the bracelet? Why aren't you wearing it?"
Elsa lowered her eyes, her voice still hoarse. "I don't know. Maybe I lost it."
Alexander ignored the ruined sound of her voice and watched her reaction closely. "I saw Noah at the hospital last night."
Only then did Elsa realize he was testing her.
She drew a slow breath and looked him directly in the eyes. "After we separated last night, I went to see my mother. Noah said he'd seen you go to the thirteenth floor, so I went looking for you. I couldn't find you, so I left."
Alexander pulled the diamond bracelet from his pocket. "You dropped this at the hospital. I found it and brought it back."
He carefully avoided mentioning why he had been there.
He reached for her wrist to put the bracelet back on.
Elsa pushed him away and pulled her hand free. "I don't want it."
For once, Alexander tried to coax her. "Wear this one for now. When things calm down at work, I'll take you to choose another one you like."
Elsa felt as though she were going insane.
Days of hurt and humiliation erupted all at once.
"I said I don't want it! I don't want it, I don't want it!"
Her voice broke as she shouted, "I don't want a gift that isn't mine alone, and I don't want a husband who isn't mine alone either! I don't want any of it!"
Seeing her finally lose her temper actually reassured Alexander.
Elsa had been spoiled by her family since childhood. Whenever something didn't go her way, she threw a fit.
So this was all it was.
She was angry because the gift wasn't special enough. Because it wasn't unique.
Alexander placed both hands naturally around her waist and leaned down to kiss her.
The instant their lips touched, Elsa shoved him away.
In the past, the smallest show of initiative from him had been enough to ignite her.
Not now.
She cried as she rejected him. "No. No. I said no!"
She pushed at him wildly, striking his chest and trying to force him back.
Alexander caught both her wrists, irritation entering his voice. "Elsa, enough. There's a limit to how unreasonable you can be."
He could tolerate her occasional temper and childish demands.
But not this kind of hysteria.
There was no talking to her like this.
Elsa's emotions spun completely out of control. "I've been unreasonable since I was a child. Is today the first day you've met me?"
Alexander remained calm. "All this over a bracelet?"
Elsa began throwing anything she could reach. "Alexander, you know exactly what you've done!"
Sobbing uncontrollably, she shoved him toward the door. "Didn't you refuse to come home? Then leave! Go! Get out!"
Alexander caught her and pulled her into his arms. "Stop it. You're going to hurt yourself."
At that moment, his phone vibrated, cutting through the argument.
The speed with which Alexander rejected the call only made Elsa more furious.
She reached for the phone. "Answer it! Aren't you always so busy with work? Go on, answer your phone!"
She couldn't take another second of this.
Alexander refused to give her the phone, so Elsa bit the back of his hand.
Pain made him fling her off instinctively.
Elsa lost her balance and fell hard onto the floor.
A dull thud filled the room.
Everything went silent.
Alexander's chest rose and fell as he stared at Elsa lying motionless on the floor, her hair scattered around her face.
Exhaustion swept across his features, and he turned away.
When she was little, she had been mischievous and sweet-tongued enough to charm anyone.
As a teenager, she had been bright and beautiful, full of the innocent confidence of a girl who knew the world loved her.
When she grew older, she became passionate and bold—always teasing him, demanding kisses and hugs, clinging to him and loving him with shameless intensity.
After marriage, some of that wildness softened. She became considerate, obedient, and learned to take care of him.
At every stage of her life, Elsa had been radiant, proud, and composed in her own way.
She had never acted like this—screaming at him like a woman driven past reason.
"We'll talk when you've calmed down."
Alexander left without looking back.
Violet happened to arrive just as he was leaving.
Alexander glanced toward the second floor and told her, "Your sister-in-law is upset. I ordered some food for her. Make sure she eats, then take her out for a while and help her clear her head."
Before Violet could answer, he was already gone.
This wasn't the first time Elsa had pretended to faint.
In the past, whenever she made him angry, she would sometimes fake dizziness, illness, or helplessness to soften him up.
Every time he saw her looking pitiful and wronged, he would usually let the matter drop.
This time she'd gone too far.
She needed to calm down properly.
Violet went upstairs and entered the master bedroom.
The moment she saw Elsa lying on the floor, she went pale.
"Elsa!"
She rushed over, lifted her, and realized Elsa was unconscious.
Violet immediately called Alexander, but his line was busy.
With no other choice, she called an ambulance.
When Elsa opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital room.
Violet and her mother-in-law, Eleanor, were sitting beside the bed.
The instant Eleanor saw her wake, she leaned forward anxiously. "Elsa, does anything still hurt?"
Weak all over, Elsa shook her head. "Mom... why am I in the hospital?"
Violet helped her sit up. "You fainted at home."
Memory slowly returned.
She remembered fighting with Alexander, biting him, and being thrown aside.
Elsa looked around the room, then turned to Violet.
"Did your brother bring me here and leave?"