Chapter 5

Besides the Clayton family, Leyla stood closest to Alexandra.

She overheard every word of the phone call.

Leyla froze, staring at Alexandra in shock.

She hadn't expected Alexandra to actually develop the antidote.

Rather than joy, fear consumed her.

Leyla knew better than anyone how ruthless Caiden could be.

If he survived, his sweet promises to her would vanish like smoke.

Her face paled, and she bit her lip hard.

In that moment, a twisted, obsessive glint flashed in her eyes.

She would never let Caiden leave her again.

Nor would she allow him to reconcile with Alexandra.

Alexandra, focused on the call, missed the madness in Leyla's gaze.

After hanging up, she looked toward the arena.

Caiden's three matches had ended.

As the heir who had triumphed in the Fowler family's brutal competitions, Caiden's strength was undeniable.

He was the only one still standing after three fights.

Bloodied and battered, he carried an air of unyielding dominance.

His eyes, still burning with intent, swept the crowd.

They landed on on Alexandra. "Satisfied?" he asked.

Their eyes met, but Alexandra's face remained cold. She said nothing.

She had nothing left to say to Caiden.

His gaze softened as it shifted to Leyla.

"Let's go," he said, extending a hand to her.

From start to finish, he didn't spare Alexandra another glance.

Despite the Clayton and Fowler families standing up for her, everyone felt Alexandra had lost.

Her expression was icy.

As Caiden left, she silently turned her wheelchair and departed the Fowler residences.

Once, she might have felt anger or sorrow, but now her heart was calm.

She thought this would be her last encounter with Caiden.

In a few days, after delivering that gift, she would be done with him forever.

Leaving the Fowler residence, Alexandra had Josh take her to an upscale sanatorium.

In the top-floor VIP room 303, she donned a sterile gown and wheeled herself in.

A boy, about five or six, lay on the bed, his face rosy but unconscious.

Alexandra touched his cheek gently. "Little Treasure, have you been okay these past few days?" she whispered.

After a pause, she continued, "Today, I came to tell you that your father and I..."

Her voice broke. Even in front of her child, she couldn't hide her emotions.

Seven years was too long.

Cutting Caiden out of her heart felt like tearing out a piece of her flesh.

No matter how composed she appeared, the pain was bone-deep.

Alexandra sniffed, then continued, "...are divorced. But don't worry, he didn't fight for you. I'll make sure..."

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her.

Caiden's hoarse, cold voice came through, still raw from his injuries. "Alexandra, I warned you. Leyla is my line in the sand. You shouldn't have touched her," he said.

Alexandra frowned. "What did I do to her?"

Caiden's tone grew colder. "You've been slandering her online. It seems last time's lesson didn't sink in," he said.

Alexandra's face darkened. "I didn't..."

But Caiden had already hung up.

She searched Leyla's name online. The screen filled with trending posts about Leyla being a homewrecker.

Within minutes, as Alexandra scrolled, the posts vanished.

Then a new headline surged to the top. "Clayton Heiress Caught Cheating."

A bad feeling gripped Alexandra.

She clicked the post.

A video appeared, showing her in bed with a man having sex.

The setting was her and Caiden's home.

But the man wasn't Caiden.

Her pupils constricted.

She hadn't expected Caiden to stoop so low as to fabricate a video to ruin her for Leyla's sake.

Josh strode in, his voice grave. "That video isn't fake!"

"What?" Alexandra's face drained of color, her eyes trembling with disbelief.

Who was the man in the video?

Why had she no memory of it?

It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her. Her hand could barely hold the phone.

Before she could process, another bombshell hit the trending list. "Fowler Heir Not Caiden's Son-Clayton Heiress's Illegitimate Child."

Caiden had personally released a paternity test proving their son wasn't his.

Alexandra felt cold from head to toe.

Even when she learned of Caiden's affair and realized she'd been a substitute, she hadn't lost control like this.

She rushed to the hospital where Caiden was recovering, her lips trembling. "What's with that video?"

Caiden stared at her, expressionless.

"I needed an heir," he said. "But I'd never let any woman but Leyla bear my child."

Those two sentences revealed a horrifying, sordid truth.

To secure an heir, Caiden had drugged Alexandra and arranged for another man to sleep with her.

Now, he'd turned his vile actions into a weapon to defend Leyla, plunging a knife into Alexandra's heart without mercy.

In that moment, Alexandra looked at Caiden.

She had thought their love was gone, that parting ways was the best outcome.

But now, hatred filled her heart.