It was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday morning. The kind of morning that tiptoed in with golden light and birdsong. But in the Liang household, peace was a fragile thing.
Alina sat by the window in the sunroom, a book forgotten on her lap. Across from her, Lily knelt on the floor playing with a puzzle, her brow furrowed in concentration. The serenity of the moment was so rare, Alina didn't want to break it—even for something as small as a sip of tea.
Leonard entered quietly, his voice soft. "Alina."
She glanced up, catching the tension in his posture instantly.
"What is it?" she asked.
He hesitated. "We have a guest."
Her brows knit. "Who?"
Leonard looked down for a moment, then back at her. "Nadia Chen."
The name slammed into Alina like a cold wave.
Nadia Chen.
Leonard's ex-fiancée.
The one he almost married before his sudden decision to choose Alina. A socialite darling with a venomous smile, business connections across East Asia, and a history of leaving chaos wherever she went.
Alina stood slowly. "What is she doing here?"
"She said she's in the city for a charity gala," Leonard said. "Asked to stop by for a brief meeting."
"Let me guess," Alina said coolly. "She didn't know you were married."
Leonard said nothing.
That was enough of an answer.
Alina found Nadia in the drawing room, standing near the fireplace with an effortless elegance that always made headlines. She was dressed in a pale blue dress that hugged her figure, her hair swept back into a loose chignon, her lips painted a soft coral pink.
She turned at the sound of Alina's footsteps and smiled—sweet, poised, and deadly.
"Well," Nadia said. "I had no idea Leonard's wife was so… charming in person."
Alina crossed her arms. "Charming enough to have a name. Use it."
Nadia's eyes sparkled. "Touché."
Leonard entered behind Alina, his presence grounding but quiet.
"Nadia," he said curtly. "Say what you came to say."
Nadia arched a brow. "I didn't realize I was on such a tight schedule. But very well. I came with an offer."
Leonard frowned. "An offer?"
"For Liang Enterprises. A merger. My father's new tech company is looking for partnerships in green manufacturing. Our proposal would elevate your corporate profile internationally."
Alina blinked. "You're here for business?"
Nadia's smile didn't falter. "Always. Though I can't deny I was curious about the woman who managed to land the man I almost married."
Alina stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "It's not a prize, Nadia. It's a commitment. A messy, difficult, real one. Not everything can be worn like jewelry."
Nadia tilted her head. "Oh, darling. Still trying to prove your worth? That's exhausting, isn't it?"
Leonard moved between them. "This isn't the time or place for personal jabs."
"Fine," Nadia said lightly. "Just business, then. I'll have the paperwork sent over."
She started toward the door, then paused beside Alina.
"One piece of advice," she said, her voice a silky whisper. "Men who choose convenience over passion always circle back eventually. Make sure your leash is tight."
She walked out, her heels clicking like applause.
After Nadia's departure, the air inside the manor felt colder.
Leonard sat in his study, papers strewn across his desk, but he wasn't working. His eyes were fixed on the fire.
"She's a strategist," he said as Alina entered. "Everything she does is calculated."
Alina leaned against the doorframe. "Why didn't you tell her about us?"
"I did. A year ago."
"But not now."
Leonard didn't reply.
Alina sighed. "She still thinks she has a chance."
"She doesn't."
"Then tell her," she said. "In public. In front of the board. Make it clear."
Leonard looked at her, something flickering in his eyes.
"You want me to humiliate her?"
"No. I want you to stop protecting her at the cost of my dignity."
The words hung heavy between them.
The next day, Alina met with her assistant, Rina, to finalize arrangements for Lily's school transfer. The transition would happen over the next two weeks, with Alina managing the logistics directly.
"Are you sure you want to handle this yourself?" Rina asked. "We can hire a placement consultant."
"No," Alina said firmly. "This is too important."
She paused, then added, "And Lily… she needs to see that I'm not leaving again."
Rina smiled. "You've changed."
"Maybe I've just stopped pretending."
Later that evening, Alina was in the garden when Leonard approached her again.
"She called me," he said.
"Nadia?"
He nodded. "She asked for a private meeting. I said no."
Alina turned to him. "Why?"
"Because she's not my past anymore. And you're not just my present—you're the future I didn't know I needed."
Alina's breath caught, her fingers tightening around the railing.
"I know I've failed you," Leonard said. "But I'm done hiding behind business and image. I want to be the man who shows up—for you, for Lily, for us."
Alina looked at him carefully. "You mean that?"
"Yes. I'll tell the board. I'll make it public. No more ambiguity."
For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to hope.
"Okay," she said. "But don't do it for me. Do it because it's right."
"I'm doing it for both."
That Friday, Leonard called for an executive board meeting. Alina attended, sitting beside him as he formally rejected the Chen merger proposal and announced new philanthropic initiatives under Alina's direction—including education funding for underserved children in the city.
It wasn't just a rejection of Nadia—it was a statement of values. Of commitment. Of evolution.
Some executives were surprised, others impressed. One even leaned toward Alina afterward and said, "He's different since you. Sharper. Softer. Better."
She didn't respond aloud, but a quiet pride bloomed in her chest.
Meanwhile, Lily settled into her new school with surprising ease. Her teachers reported strong engagement, and even a budding interest in robotics—a delight no one expected from a child who once feared bells.
One afternoon, Alina found a drawing in Lily's backpack.
It showed a house, three stick figures holding hands, and a caption in crayon: "My forever family."
Tears sprang to Alina's eyes before she could stop them.
But peace, like all precious things, was never permanent.
That weekend, an anonymous envelope arrived at the manor addressed to Alina.
Inside: a photograph.
Leonard. Nadia. Together.
In a hotel bar.
Time-stamped two days ago.
Alina stared at it for a long moment, heart sinking.
She stormed into Leonard's office.
"Explain this," she said, slamming the photo on his desk.
He froze.
"That's not what it looks like," he said quickly.
"You said you rejected her."
"I did."
"She looks pretty comfortable for someone rejected."
Leonard exhaled. "She cornered me at the Vacheron fundraiser. I didn't even know she was there. I spoke to her for three minutes. That's it."
"And the hotel bar?"
"It's where the event was hosted. Public, not private."
Alina looked down at the photo again.
"I want to believe you," she said. "But I've been played before."
"I'm not playing you, Alina. I'm fighting for you."
She didn't speak for a long time.
Finally, she whispered, "Then fight harder."