Chapter 4

Chaos erupted at the scene.

Alexandra watched coldly, the frustration in her heart easing slightly.

She grabbed her handbag and stormed out.

When she returned home, someone suddenly threw her into the pool.

A heavy hand pushed her underwater.

Who was it?

Fear gripped Alexandra's heart.

She struggled desperately, but the hand holding her was like iron, unyielding.

Just when she thought she would drown, she was pulled to the surface.

Choking coughs tore through her as she gasped for air by the poolside.

A pair of polished shoes appeared before her.

Alexandra looked up into Caiden's cold, dark eyes.

In that moment, she saw unmasked killing intent in his gaze.

"Alex, Leyla is my line in the sand. You shouldn't have hurt her," he said.

Caiden crouched beside her, wiping a tear from her cough-strained eyes.

"Go spend a few hours in the freezer to reflect," he added.

"Caiden!" Alexandra screamed his name.

He knew she had claustrophobia.

But her terrified cries didn't sway him.

Alexandra was roughly dragged into the freezer.

As the heavy door slammed shut, cold air and darkness closed in. She curled up on the floor, laughing bitterly.

Her smile was uglier than her tears.

She and Caiden had been together not for seven days, but seven years.

Seven years of love wasn't easy to let go.

But in that moment, her lingering feelings for him vanished completely.

Alexandra didn't know how long she was locked inside.

When she woke, she saw Josh by her hospital bed.

"Josh..." she whispered.

Josh touched her head gently. "How do you feel?"

Alexandra gave a weak smile. "I'm okay."

She looked around. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

Josh's face darkened. "They went to the Fowler residence."

From her brother, Alexandra learned she had fluid in her lungs, hypothermia, and severe frostbite. She had nearly died.

Her father, furious, had gone with her mother to confront the Fowler family, demanding answers.

"Caiden's been detained by the Fowler patriarch," Josh said. "They're waiting for you to wake up before deciding what to do with him."

When Alexandra felt stronger, Josh wheeled her to the Fowler residence.

In the grand hall, Caiden knelt, bound tightly, with a trembling Leyla beside him.

When Caiden saw Alexandra, he seemed shocked by her condition but said nothing.

He turned to his father.

"I did nothing wrong," Caiden said calmly, still kneeling. "I don't regret any choice I've made."

The Fowler patriarch's face turned ashen.

Though both the Clayton and Fowler families were among Glimon Province's elite, the Claytons had deeper roots.

The patriarch didn't want to lose this alliance.

He had made Caiden kneel to appease the Claytons and to dissuade him from divorcing Alexandra.

But Caiden continued. "I have less than five days left. I just want to live for myself," he said.

Leyla suddenly dropped to her knees before Alexandra. "Miss Clayton, please, I've waited for Caiden for seven years. I just want to be with him for his final days. Please don't make this harder for us," she pleaded.

Alexandra nearly laughed, feeling like the villain in their story.

She ignored Leyla and met Caiden's eyes. "Caiden, have you ever considered you might not die?" she asked.

Caiden froze, then smirked. "They haven't found an antidote in three months. What chance do I have?"

He had checked every source that day, and the answers were still hopeless.

Alexandra began, "The Clayton lab..."

Caiden cut her off impatiently. "Enough, Alexandra. We've signed the divorce papers. No matter what you say, I'm not coming back to you," he said.

He paused. "I've decided to marry Leyla."

Before Alexandra could respond, the Fowler patriarch slammed the table. "If that's your choice, you're stripped of your position as company president, expelled from the Fowler family, and denied burial in our ancestral graveyard!"

Caiden's face paled. "Father!" he protested.

The patriarch turned away.

After a long pause, Caiden gritted his teeth. "Fine, I accept!"

The patriarch's face grew darker. He raised a hand. "Take him to the underground arena."

The Fowler family had risen from gang roots, retaining some old traditions.

Family members who committed grave errors were injected with muscle relaxants and sent to the family's underground arena for three fights.

Their survival was their own responsibility.

In the first match, Caiden broke an arm and three ribs but didn't back down.

As blood spilled on the stage, Leyla, now standing beside Alexandra, whispered, "Miss Clayton, do you see? He's willing to die for me."

Alexandra said nothing.

She believed Caiden loved Leyla.

But she also knew he loved himself more.

His recklessness stemmed from believing he was dying.

If he survived, regret and collapse would follow.

Just then, Alexandra's phone buzzed. "Ms. Clayton, the antidote has been successfully developed!"

Alexandra gave a faint smile.

It would make a fine wedding gift for Caiden.