Chapter 18 What Did You Say to Her?
One look at Alexander's face told Elsa he had come back to say something.
Yet after entering the bedroom, he only glanced at her and went straight into the bathroom.
The sound of running water soon filled the room.
Elsa could no longer read a single word.
She closed her laptop, stacked her books on the nightstand, then sat against the pillows and waited quietly for Alexander to come out.
Whenever Alexander returned home from outside, he always showered first.
It had been his habit for years.
Somewhere along the way, it had become part of Elsa's routine too.
She loved the clean scent of him after a shower.
She loved falling asleep in his arms.
During the happiest period of their marriage, Elsa had once told him that she loved him so much he had to hold her every night or she would be heartbroken enough to die.
Since the day she discovered his betrayal, she had spent almost every night alone, sleepless and in pain.
And she was still alive.
So there truly was no such thing as being unable to live without someone.
Even loving Alexander enough to die for him did not stop Elsa from hurting with perfect clarity while still preparing to leave.
Alexander came out wearing dark sleepwear.
Elsa was sitting on the bed, staring into space.
His gaze fell on the stack of medical materials beside her.
He picked up a few pages and flipped through them.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Why did you suddenly start reading medical books again?"
Elsa didn't answer the question.
Alexander reached out and tucked the long hair lying across her chest behind her ear.
"Do you want me to arrange an easier position for you?"
Elsa shook her head.
"My parents have already moved out of the downtown apartment. They hired cleaners and left it spotless. The entry code hasn't changed. They asked me to tell you that you can take the property back."
Alexander barely reacted. "Where did they move?"
Elsa answered honestly. "Near Emerald Bay Avenue. It's close to the factory where my father works."
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Elsa, I'm the heir to Horton Group. Do you think it's appropriate for my in-laws to live in relocation housing?"
Elsa looked at him. "We don't want to owe you anything else."
Alexander answered coolly, "Does the Winters family really think it can stop owing me now?"
Their eyes met.
The tension in the room became oppressive.
Humiliated, Elsa looked away.
She should have known better than to speak.
After a long silence, Alexander sighed.
"Elsa, as long as you remain Mrs. Horton, you have the right to use all my resources and wealth."
Elsa did not have his emotional control.
The words escaped before she could stop them.
"I don't want your money anymore. I want a divorce."
Alexander looked directly into her eyes.
His voice remained calm.
"You can have one whenever you want, as long as you can produce one billion."
Elsa buried her face in her arms.
They had grown up together for more than twenty years.
She had chased after him and loved him for more than twenty years.
Then she married him and spent three more years as his wife.
Yet he could corner her like this without mercy.
Hurt her without hesitation.
He didn't feel sorry for her at all.
He was even prepared to divorce her at any moment if she could pay the price he'd named.
The pain in her chest was so deep that she couldn't even cry.
Alexander watched her carefully.
Then he asked in a testing tone, "You saw Serena, didn't you?"
Elsa lifted her head and met his examining gaze.
His voice became heavier.
"What did you say to her?"
Elsa saw concern in his eyes.
But it wasn't concern for her.
It belonged to Serena.
Something in Elsa snapped.
She pushed herself onto her knees and shoved Alexander hard.
"What exactly gives you the right to question me? Are you speaking as my husband—or as her lover?"
Alexander's brows tightened. "Elsa, I warned you not to see her."
Pressure built in Elsa's chest. "I'm not that bored."
"Do you know she almost got hurt because of you?"
Elsa laughed in disbelief.
She had merely run into Serena at the hospital and exchanged a few polite words.
That was all.
Her strength suddenly disappeared, and she sank back onto the bed.
"So you abandoned your business trip and flew back overnight because you were worried something might happen to Serena?"
Alexander stood, visibly irritated.
He looked down at her from beside the bed.
"Elsa, I know exactly what your temper is like. Serena is physically weak and can't handle stress. She also has a child to care for. I don't want anything like this happening again."
Elsa grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.
Then she climbed to her feet on the mattress and screamed, "Alexander, you bastard!"
Alexander bent and picked up the pillow.
Elsa grabbed a book from the nightstand and threw that next.
"You're the one who cheated on me! How can you stand in front of me and worry about her like this? How can you say something so cruel to me?"
Alexander remained beside the bed, calm enough to dodge everything she threw.
When Elsa lifted her laptop, he stepped forward and caught her before she could launch it.
"Are you finished?"
The laptop was taken from her hands.
Elsa broke completely.
She sobbed, screamed, hit whatever she could reach, and lost every trace of control.
"Then protect her twenty-four hours a day! Because if I see her again, I'll hit her every single time!"
She screamed through tears.
"The Winters family is already ruined. Fine! I'll destroy everything along with myself if I have to!"
"Alexander, I'll take you to court for divorce!"
"I'll make sure everyone knows you betrayed this marriage!"
"And I'll make the woman you love wear the label of mistress forever!"
Elsa was dangerously out of control.
Alexander stepped onto the bed and wrapped both arms around her to keep her from falling.
Unable to escape, Elsa lowered her head and bit hard into his shoulder.
She bit so viciously that her entire body shook.
Pain flashed across Alexander's shoulder, but he did not move.
Only when the taste of blood filled Elsa's mouth did she finally loosen her teeth.
Alexander spoke quietly.
"If you're done, lie down. I'll get you water."
He settled her back onto the bed, brought a glass, and helped her rinse the blood from her mouth.
Even after the explosion of rage, Elsa felt numb.
She lay down again and closed her eyes, but tears continued leaking out.
Since discovering Alexander's betrayal, every argument had ended exactly like this.
He pushed her until she lost control.
Then he either cared for her calmly as though nothing had happened, or simply left.
No explanation.
No tenderness.
Only duty.
Alexander cleaned up the room, climbed into bed, and turned off the light.
He reached over to hold her.
Elsa pushed him away on instinct.
Alexander paused.
Then he rolled over and turned his back to her.
That tiny movement hurt her all over again.
This time, Elsa remained silent.
She only bit her lower lip until it hurt.
Three years of marriage.
After all the fighting, there was nothing left to say.
Even lying in the same bed, Elsa knew Alexander's heart was thousands of miles away.
His silence was like a wall.
Every time he refused to explain, it rose higher between them.