Alexander stubbornly clutched the photo album, refusing to let go.

"This album is mine," he insisted, his voice firm.

Eleanor shot him a look of pure exasperation.

"You're unbelievable. I've seen these pictures a thousand times. I just want to show Evelyn. She's your wife! What's the harm in letting her see your childhood photos?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Alexander's face.

Evelyn, her curiosity thoroughly aroused, looked up at him.

Her expression was soft, pleading.

"Alexander, I really want to see them. Please? Aren't you going to share them with me?"

Perhaps these photos could help her understand the man beside her a little better.

Seeing the hopeful look in Evelyn's eyes, Alexander finally relented.

He let out a long, resigned sigh.

Under her gentle but persistent gaze, he slowly handed the album back to Eleanor.

A brilliant smile instantly lit up Evelyn's face.

"Thank you, darling!"

From the side, Eleanor couldn't resist a teasing comment.

"Well, well. Who would have thought? The great Alexander Blackwood, completely wrapped around his wife's little finger."

A delicate blush colored Evelyn's cheeks at the playful jab.

"Eleanor, let's just look at the album," Evelyn suggested quickly, eager to change the subject.

With growing curiosity, Evelyn opened the album and studied the first photograph.

The boy in the picture wore a snug red jacket.

His young face was full of innocent wonder as he observed the world around him.

Eleanor pointed to the photo.

"This was taken when Alexander was just one. Look how adorable he was. You could already tell he was going to be a handsome man."

Evelyn studied the child's features, trying to connect them to the man sitting beside her.

It was difficult to imagine they were the same person.

Alexander sat quietly next to Evelyn, watching her absorb the image.

A faint, involuntary smile touched his lips.

As they turned the page, however, his smile vanished.

The next photo showed a young Alexander sitting in a mud puddle.

His rosy cheeks were streaked with tears.

Evelyn burst out laughing.

"How on earth did you end up in a mud puddle?"

Eleanor chuckled softly.

"He was a terribly mischievous little boy. Things like this happened constantly. I got used to it after a while."

They continued flipping through the album.

In the following picture, a young Alexander looked utterly terrified, his eyes wide with fear.

Eleanor's voice softened as she explained to Evelyn.

"This was taken after a caterpillar scared him to tears. I remember it clearly. He was determined to play in the backyard. I warned him that spring brought out all sorts of insects, but he wouldn't listen. Of course, he ended up crying when a caterpillar startled him."

Evelyn pointed at the child.

"He must have been about five or six here."

Eleanor nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, around that age."

Evelyn couldn't help but smile too.

"Afraid of bugs. What a kid."

Evelyn's gaze remained fixed on the album.

With each page she turned, she grew fonder of it.

Alexander had been such an adorable child, naturally charming.

Lost in her thoughts, she voiced them aloud.

"He was so cute as a little boy. How did he grow up to be so... reserved?"