Love Unspoken

A fleeting tension gripped Quinn's fingers, the thought crossing her mind that perhaps she too had been bugged by Alexander.

"Relax, don't be scared. I'm not going to do anything," Alexander assured her, his voice steady and calm. "After all, you're still injured."

He gently lifted the hem of Quinn's nightgown to inspect her wound. Seated on the icy floor, Quinn held her body tightly, a futile attempt to stave off the shivers that coursed through her. Alexander rose to his feet, his silhouette disappearing only to reappear moments later, a first-aid kit in hand. He squatted down beside her, carefully unwinding the gauze. The wound was healing nicely, save for a stubborn piece of dressing that clung to her skin.

Quinn raised her eyes to meet his. His focus was solely on her injury, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. A chill ran down her spine. If Alexander was unaware of Walter's actions, he wouldn't be treating her with such gentleness. He would've pinned her down in the bathtub as he had done before, or perhaps something even worse. But he hadn't. His calm demeanor was a clear indication... he knew everything. "We're almost finished," he suddenly announced, breaking the silence.

Quinn blinked, his words stirring confusion within her. What was almost over? The dressing, or something else? She didn't want to overthink - that would only exacerbate her headache. After securing the final bandage, Alexander scooped her up from the floor and exited the bathroom. Instead of returning her to her bed, he gently laid her down in the guest room next door.

Downstairs, Walter leaned against the wall, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. He tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on the moon, partially obscured by the clouds, and exhaled a stream of smoke. It was unclear how long he stood there before he flicked the cigarette away and disappeared into the night....Quinn had no recollection of falling asleep.

Alexander had remained by her side throughout the night, likely driven by guilt. Fear had kept her immobile, and now morning had arrived. Oddly enough, Alexander hadn't left for the day. She opened her eyes to find him resting against the headboard, his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Quinn remained silent for a moment, deciding against getting up. Sensing a change, Alexander suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Quinn's.

A knot formed in her stomach. Hesitantly, she gestured with her hand, questioning his absence from the office. "I'm not going," he replied, his hand gently resting on her head. "Are you hungry?"

Quinn shook her head. Alexander's question was merely a courtesy, his attention was already absorbed by the messages popping up on his phone. She quietly lay beside him, managing a small smile as he absent-mindedly stroked her hair, much like one would pet a dog. Meanwhile.... Early in the morning, Valerie made her way into the Kennedy Residence, a stack of documents in hand. She bypassed the villa staff who greeted her, heading straight for Wayne's study. She knocked on the door, and as expected, Wayne was in. Upon entering, Valerie handed him the documents. "Dad, why are you suddenly thinking of kicking Alexander off the board?" Wayne accepted the papers from her, his silence stretching out before he finally sighed. "You wouldn't understand." Of course, she didn't understand, but that didn't deter her from supporting Wayne's decision. After all, it was Wayne who had gifted her the shares. Even if he decided to reclaim them, she had no grounds to refuse. However, Valerie trusted that there was a valid reason behind her father's words.