Page 83 of Surrendering to the Obsession
And he certainly wasn’t the type to send texts.Especially to her.
Almost instantly, another message appeared:
“I’m sorry. It was my fault for not protecting our marriage… for not protecting you from that kidnapping. I want to take you out for dinner. Let’s go to your favorite steakhouse.”
Mia stared at the text, her brows knitting together. She read it again. And again. Just to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, confusion and irritation mixing into a storm behind her eyes. The words on the text made her mood sour instantly. She stared at the message with a weird expression, then tossed the phone aside. ‘What a jerk,’ she muttered under her breath. “What’s the use of apologizing now when I’ve already made it clear that there's nothing between us now?’
But after a second, she picked up the phone again, staring at it in disbelief.
Her confusion deepened.
“How did he even find my number?” she whispered. “And why is he texting me when everything is already over?”
She sighed, exasperated, and typed back curtly: ‘No, thank you. I’m not interested.’
Footsteps echoed through the house, sharp and deliberate. Her heart jumped into her throat. She shot to her feet, instantly recognizing the familiar rhythm.
The sound grew closer. She quickly switched off the TV and rushed toward the door. The moment Alexander stormed in, she threw herself into his arms, clutching him tightly as if letting go would mean losing him all over again.
She tossed the phone aside once more.
Just as she leaned back, footsteps echoed through the house, and her heart leapt into her throat. She sprang to her feet, instantly recognizing the familiar rhythm.
She turned off the TV and hurried out of the living room. The footsteps grew closer, faster. The moment Alexander appeared, she ran into his arms, holding him tightly.
He caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a protective embrace. His hands slid to her waist, holding her close, and then he gently cupped her face, meeting her eyes with a softness that melted her.
“Let’s go out for dinner tonight,” he said, his voice low and warm.
Mia blinked, startled yet happy. “Okay… where are we going?”
“A steakhouse,” he said, leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips as he spoke. Pulling back slightly, his gaze met hers, affectionate and warm. “You like steak, don’t you? Or would you prefer somewhere else?”
“The Hillside Steakhouse?” Mia asked, her eyes lighting up. “That’s my favorite, but it’s nearly impossible to get a reservation.”
“You don’t need to worry about that, Mrs. Graves,” Alexander said with a confident smile. “I’ll take care of it. Go get ready… or do you want to go like this?”
“I’ll get ready,” Mia said quickly, pulling herself from his embrace and rushing upstairs.
Alexander watched her go, a small smile tugging at his lips. He then followed her upstairs.
An hour later, he descended the stairs, but tonight he wasn’t in his usual sharp suit. Instead, he wore a soft sweater and jeans. The casual attire only highlighted the perfection of his broad shoulders and strong frame.
Mia froze, her mouth slightly open, staring at him. He rarely dressed casually; usually, it was suits or T-shirts and trousers. But tonight… he looked younger, effortlessly charming.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Alexander wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. His eyes roamed over her with warmth and admiration, taking in every detail. “My wife is the most beautiful woman to ever exist,” he said softly.
Mia flushed, surprised, and before she could reply, he leaned down and kissed her. The world seemed to melt away around her.
She pulled back slightly, gazing at him. “Mr. Graves, you look so handsome,” she whispered, still catching her breath.
Alexander’s lips curled into an amused smirk. “Don’t I look handsome every day? I thought my wife liked me in every suit I wear.”
Mia laughed, her cheeks still tinged with pink. “No, I meant… this outfit. You look very handsome in jeans and a T-shirt too. It’s just… different. Special.”
