Chapter 174
After my second glass of wine, I found myself stifling a yawn. The adrenaline from the confrontation with Ryan had worn off, leaving exhaustion in its wake.
“Getting sleepy there, Liv?” Emilia asked, noticing my struggle to stay engaged.
“Just been a long day,” I admitted, checking the time on my phone. Nearly midnight. “I should probably head home soon.”
“But we’ve barely started girls‘ night!” Ariana protested, already signaling the waitress for another round.
“I hate to say it, but I think tonight’s girls‘ night is kind of shot,” I said with an apologetic smile. “Between Ryan’s drama and these two crashing the party…” I tilted my head toward Alexander, who looked completely unrepentant.
Claire pouted dramatically. “Fine, abandon us for your gorgeous husband. We understand.”
“We’ll plan another night soon,” I promised, gathering my purse. “One without ex–boyfriend ambushes and surprise husband appearances.”
“Good luck with that,” Emilia snorted. “Your life seems to be nothing but surprises lately.”
If she only knew the half of it.
“Come on,” I said, standing up and smoothing my dress. “I’ll text you tomorrow and we’ll set something up.”
The girls exchanged knowing glances before nodding in unison. “Alright,” Emilia conceded. “Go home with your hot husband. We’ll survive somehow.”
“Thanks for understanding,” I said, giving each of them a quick hug.
with Claire and Ariana before giving Emilia a brief hug. “I’ll make sure she gets
warned, pointing a finger at him.
Alexander replied with a smile that seemed surprisingly
through the crowded bar toward the exit. Alexander’s hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me through the throng of Friday night
cool night air felt refreshing after the warmth of the bar. I took a deep breath, letting
mine?” Alexander asked as we walked across
take yours,” I
The car beeped as he unlocked it, holding the passenger door
settled into the leather seats, I couldn’t help but wonder about the evening’s strange sequence of events. Alexander
out of the parking lot, “are you going to tell me how you knew to show up tonight? Right
a small smile as he kept his eyes on the road. “I have my
“That’s not an answer.”
over at me. “You
be
the steering wheel, his eyes still fixed on the road. “I have a security team that follows
a what?” I sat up straight,
team.
followed? By strange men I don’t know about?” I
security,” he corrected, his tone frustratingly calm. “They’re professionals. You never even
exasperation building. “The point is, you have
have a lot of enemies. People who’d love to get to me by hurting someone I care
you put a tail on
agreed if I had?” He glanced at me,
not the point,” I muttered, knowing full well I probably wouldn’t have. “The
have mentioned it. But after what happened with Ryan tonight, aren’t
did they even know I was in trouble? Do they report my every
into places like O’Malley’s, but they keep an eye on
you just happened to be in the neighborhood?” I
Dropped everything and
the invasion of privacy and
someone’s watching
my hand. “It’s standard for anyone in my position.
not part of your
makes you a target whether
city lights blurring past the windows. I was still processing
long?” I
“Since the wedding.”
my coffee runs, shopping trips, visits to my parents, all
your every move,” Alexander
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