Alexander Has Only Himself To Blame

Isabella Rossi stepped into the room, and Alexander Blackwood's face immediately darkened. "What are you doing here?"

His sharp gaze snapped to the assistant trailing behind her. "I was very clear in my instructions."

"You told him to hide this from me, didn't you?" Isabella cut in, her voice sharp.

The assistant wiped his brow, his tone pleading. "Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Rossi was insistent. She threatened to drive her car into the gate if I barred her way. I had no other option."

Isabella's eyes widened in horror as she saw the blood staining Alexander's sleeve. Her hand flew to her mouth. "You're bleeding!"

She reached out instinctively, but he flinched away from her touch. Isabella recoiled, startled by his reaction.

Tears instantly sprang to her eyes. "How did this happen? Can you move your arm at all?"

Her voice shook with emotion as she clenched her fists. "Tell me who did this to you. I need to know everything."

A wave of guilt washed over her. She never should have made him leave their home earlier. If only she had known.

Seeing her tears begin to fall twisted something deep inside Alexander.

He gently brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Hush now, I'm fine. There's no need for tears."

From across the room, Theodore Vance watched the intimate scene, his annoyance simmering into something darker.

Why did it always have to be like this?

Why did Alexander get her sympathy, her concern, just for a scratch?

And what about him?

Isabella hadn't even glanced in his direction since she arrived.

The more Theodore thought about it, the more bitter he felt. He wouldn't let this display continue.

"Enough of this pathetic act," Theodore sneered, his voice cutting through the room. "Alexander has only himself to blame. What is there to pity?"

Isabella spun around at the sound of his voice, only now noticing his presence. Her expression hardened into a scowl. "Theodore! You're behind this, aren't you? You set Alexander up tonight!"

Theodore let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Is that what you think, Isabella? He's the one who started it!"

He pointed angrily at his own shoulder. "He burst in here and attacked me without any provocation! Look at this injury—it's worse than his! Can't you see that?"

Isabella refused to believe Alexander would start a fight without cause. She dismissed Theodore with a wave of her hand, turning back to Alexander for an explanation.

But Alexander offered no defense. He simply said, "Let me handle this. It's under control. You should go home now."

Theodore snorted derisively. "Handle it? How, exactly? Remember, William Sterling is the top lawyer in Crestwood. You should start preparing for a cell."

With Alexander out of the picture, Theodore was sure he could pursue Isabella unhindered.

Soon, he believed, she would have no choice but to come to him.

A cold dread gripped Isabella as she finally noticed the man standing quietly beside Theodore.

Everyone in Crestwood knew William Sterling.

Theodore's confidence made sense now. With a lawyer of that caliber, even a minor misstep by Alexander could be magnified into a serious charge.

Isabella knew Alexander's confrontation with Theodore had been to defend her honor.

She couldn't just stand by and watch him go to jail because of her.

Her face set with determination, and she confronted Theodore directly. "What will it take for you to drop the charges against Alexander?"

Marrying A Secret Billionaire: Happily Ever After