Page 109 of Surrendering to the Obsession

He walked toward her with a cold, controlled intensity that made the air tighten. When his gaze finally shifted to Sawyer, it cut with sudden frost—icy, sharp, and unmistakably displeased. It was obvious he hated the sight in front of him.

The moment Mia took an instinctive step back, Alexander’s steps quickened, moving toward Mia, but before he could reach her—

Sawyer stepped in front of Mia.

He stood tall, blocking her completely, his jaw clenched, his eyes hard with protective focus. He glanced over his shoulder at her and said, in a steady voice, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

Alexander stopped—only a breath away.

At Sawyer’s words, a muscle in Alexander’s jaw twitched violently. Fury flashed across his face, dark and unmistakable. Mia could clearly see that he had already lost control.

His eyes burned through Sawyer with a fury that felt almost violent.

He took one step toward Sawyer.

Mia’s breath caught. She quickly reached out, grabbing Sawyer’s arm before things exploded. She gently pushed it down and stepped in front of him.

Alexander’s steps halted. His eyes never left her.

Mia came forward, placing herself between the two men. She looked at Sawyer and softly said, “Don’t worry, I will take care of it. I know him. I’ll talk to him and come back soon.”

Sawyer hesitated, but seeing her determined expression, he stepped back.

Mia turned to Alexander, lifted her hand slightly—wordlessly telling him to follow—and walked toward the exit.

Alexander’s eyes lingered on Sawyer one last time, ice-cold and warning. Then, forcing himself to look away, he followed Mia out of the house.

Outside, they stopped in a quiet corner of the garden. The afternoon light was dim, the sky cloudy, a cool breeze brushing against Mia’s hair. But her face was distant—tight, unsettled—nothing like the gentle expressions Alexander was used to seeing.

The unfamiliar coldness in her eyes made something sharp twist inside him.

He stepped closer… then closer again… until not even an inch remained between them.

His voice was low and strained.

“Why did you leave the house without telling me this morning?” he asked.

A long pause. His eyes searched her face carefully.

“You saw the album… didn’t you?”

Mia’s throat tightened. She looked away, her fingers fidgeting nervously.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered.

Alexander’s gaze sharpened. His eyes grew darker, more intense, watching every small tremble in her expression.

His hand lifted, his rough fingers brushing her cheek, slow and gentle against her soft skin. “My Mia has learned to lie?” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “You’ve never been this distant with me before.”

Mia swallowed hard. Her hands trembled at her sides. She looked restless, panicked—her eyes filled with fear and anxiety.

Alexander stayed silent, but his entire body was tense. His heart had been pounding since the moment he realized she hadwalked out. He finally looked at her and asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer:

“Mia… do you hate me?”

Chapter 19 Too Late

Mia’s face tightened. She turned her eyes toward him at last, meeting his gaze.