Chapter 18 Do You Hate Me?
It was still early when Mia’s eyes blinked open. She lay there for a moment, adjusting to the soft morning light. Then she turned onto her back and her gaze fell on Alexander.
His arm was wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her close. His breathing was deep and slow, completely soundless. He looked peaceful… almost boyishly soft compared to his usual cold presence.
She tried to gently slip out of his hold but his arm tightened instinctively around her waist instead, pulling her closer. His face nuzzled into the curve of her neck. His warm breath brushed against her neck, and she shivered.
Mia froze, her heart pounding, then slowly tried again. This time, she managed to ease out of his grasp. Once free, she lifted her head and looked down at him again.
Even like this—half-buried in the pillow, hair slightly messy, still lost in sleep—he was so handsome that she felt her breath catch.
The longer she stared, the more unreal it felt.
He was breathtakingly handsome in every angle.
Relaxed, unguarded—he looked impossibly perfect.
Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she simply watched him, unable to breathe properly.
She let out a soft, dreamy sigh and then grinned. It was the first time she had ever woken up before him.
She quietly slipped off the bed and picked up his shirt, pulling it over herself to cover her body. Then she looked around the room with curious eyes.
His room was nothing like the one she had moved into when she first started living with him. Her room had soft, feminine colors, pastels and flowers.
His room was clean, sharp, and cool-toned—color-coordinated, minimalistic, and impeccably organized. There was almost nothing personal in sight… except for a few race-car models neatly arranged inside one of the cupboards.
Mia walked toward them, her curiosity growing. From the detailed builds and the finish, it was clear these replicas were extremely expensive. Her eyes traced them, one by one, curiosity piqued, until something else caught her attention.
A single drawer wasn’t filled with the polished models. Instead, an album rested there, almost hidden.
She glanced back at Alexander, still asleep, and then at the album again. A slow, almost mischievous smile spread across her face. ‘Photographs from his past,’ she thought. ‘Why else hide it so carefully?’
Gently, she lifted the glass and pulled out the album. She set it down on the table and bent over it, eyes lingering on the worn brown cover as her heart fluttered with curiosity.
With a deep breath, she opened it… only to find that the first page wasn’t him.
It was her.
A photograph of her in her school uniform. From her last year of school.
Mia froze. Her hands trembled, her pulse spiking.
She turned the pages faster, each one revealing more: college days, the years she was married to James, the moments after she had left his house. Even the ones from the day she left James’s house. There wasn’t a single photo of him—only her.
Her heart dropped.
‘He knew me before I entered his house…’
A cold fear crawled up her spine.
How else could he have these pictures? Her hands shook as she closed the album quickly and slid it back exactly where it was. When she turned, Alexander was still lying there, eyes closed, breathing steady.
She grabbed the collar of his shirt that she was wearing, clutching it tightly. The fabric suddenly felt suffocating against her skin.
Quietly, trying not to make a sound, she stepped toward the door. Her hand reached for the handle, trembling slightly.
Before she could twist it, a large hand covered hers. Another pressed firmly against her waist from behind. Mia jolted in shock, her breath catching as she felt Alexander’s chest press against her back.
She spun around—and there he was, standing close, eyes heavy with sleep, hair tousled just enough to make him look impossibly dangerous and effortlessly alluring.
Before she could even react, Alexander dipped his head and pressed a soft, lingering morning kiss against her lips.
Shock froze her in place. Her lungs felt tight, her body refusing to respond, every nerve alight with electricity.
When he pulled back, confusion flickering across his sleepy expression. His brows drew together as he cupped her face with one hand, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to look into his eyes.
“Where are you going?” His voice was low, yet tinged with possessiveness. “I told you before…I don’t like it when you’re not in bed when I wake up.”
Mia’s breath broke unevenly. Her hands shook as she grabbed his arm just to steady herself, her fingers digging into his skin. The fear and panic swirling inside her were impossible to hide.
His sleepy eyes softened, the harshness melting into something gentler. He brushed his thumb across her cheek and asked quietly, searchingly, “Mia, are you all right?” His voice gentled even further. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”
For a moment, she almost melted under his touch—but then panic surged back, sharp and hot. She jerked away from him, shoving his hands as if his touch burned her. One step back, her body taut, her heart racing.
Alexander stared at her, stunned—his eyebrows drawing into a sharp frown at her reaction. “Mia…” he began, but she cut him off, words tumbling out in a rush, urgent and uneven.
“I… I have something to do,” she stammered. “I’m going out… to meet Hazel.”
She didn’t wait for his reply. She didn’t even look at him again. She turned and rushed out of the room, almost tripping in her haste.
He stood frozen, watching her retreating back with confusion and concern. A frown tightened his jaw, a shadow of something dark flickering in his eyes.
He started to rush after her, but then froze, hands clenching into a fist to gain control of himself.
A moment later, he drew in a sharp breath, turned back toward the bed. Silently, he grabbed a towel off the table against the wall and headed for the shower.
Mia hurried down the hall toward her own room. Her hands trembled as she locked the door behind her. She stripped out of his shirt, took a quick shower, and threw on the first dress she could find in the closet. She didn’t even brush her hair, just tied it into a messy bun, her breath shaking.
Heart still racing, she hurried down the stairs—but stopped abruptly when Allen appeared in front of her.
“Mrs. Graves, would you like to go anywhere? I can drop you off,” he offered politely, stepping toward her.
“I want to be alone. Please, don’t follow me,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.
Allen hesitated, stunned, but Mia didn’t let him speak. She hurried past him and ran out of the mansion, her eyes burning with tears.
She stepped past the gates of the massive estate, breathing heavily, when suddenly a black Mercedes screeched to a stop in front of her.
Mia froze.
Her steps halted instantly, her heart pounding. She took a frightened step back as the car door swung open.
But then a man stepped out.
Sawyer Stark.
“Mr. Stark…?” she whispered, confused and startled. “What are you doing here?”
She frowned, backing away slightly.
He held a file in one hand, and his eyes met hers with a quiet intensity that seemed to see straight through her.
Mia’s fear spiked.
She took another step back. “Mr. Stark, we’ve only met once. How did you know where I live?”
Sawyer stepped closer, his voice soft, careful. “Don’t be scared,” he said. “I got your address from Hazel.”
Mia looked at him, uncertainty clouding her expression. ‘Why would he be looking for me?’
Before she could ask, he held out that file toward her. “I want you to see this.”
Curious and hesitant, she took it from his hands and opened it. Her eyes widened as she scanned the contents.
It was a DNA report. The name Liana Stark appeared alongside her own, with a match of DNA connecting her to Sawyer. She looked up, confusion written across her face.
“What is this?” she whispered.
Sawyer’s eyes hadn’t moved from her—not even once. ‘The last time I saw you, I had this… pull. Like I knew you from somewhere.” He let out a slow breath. “I was right. Your mom… she’s my mom’s sister. You and are family.’”
Mia froze, her heart racing. “Mr. Stark… I think you’re mistaken. My mom never mentioned having any relatives—she said her parents died, and she had no one else.”
“Let me explain everything,” Sawyer interrupted gently. “Come with me… to my house. My mom wants to see you too. She’ll explain everything herself. She really wants to meet you.”
Mia’s eyes fell on the file again. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. Her mind spun with disbelief. ‘My mom had a sister? How could this be possible? After losing everything… losing everyone… could I really still have a family left?’
Her chest tightened, but a flicker of hope rose within her. She finally lifted her gaze to Sawyer.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
***
Alexander came downstairs fully dressed, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt as he walked into the living room. He placed the files he needed for the office neatly on the table, then scanned the room instinctively.
“Where is Mia?” he asked, surprised to find the space empty.
Allen stepped forward. “Mrs. Graves… left the house, sir.”
Alexander’s brows pulled together sharply. His voice dropped lower. “Left? What do you mean, left?”
Allen hesitated, his expression uneasy. “Did you get into a with Mrs. Graves today? She looked quite upset when she walked out.”
Alexander’s expression darkened immediately. His jaw clenched, irritation flashing in his eyes as he shot Allen a cold glare.
“My wife and I never fight, Allen! Why the hell didn’t you follow her?” Alexander demanded sharply. “ I told you—you’re supposed to take care of her. She is not to leave this house alone.”
Allen lowered his head slightly. “I tried, Mr. Graves. I even offered to drive her wherever she wanted to go, but… she asked me not to follow her.”
A sharp, uneasy thud echoed in Alexander’s chest.