Amy's expression turned icy. "And what if I say no?"

"You're Liam's mother. I don't want to force you into anything unpleasant."

"So that is a threat?" Amy let out a bitter laugh. "You acknowledge I'm Liam's mother, yet you expect me to become Victoria's personal composer? To serve your lover?"

"I've told you before—there's nothing between Victoria and me. She isn't my lover."

Did it even matter whether Victoria was his lover or not?

What mattered was that Amy refused—she would never degrade herself to being Victoria's on-call musician.

Beneath her composed smile, fury simmered. "The opportunities that should have been mine, you gave to Victoria. The studio that was rightfully mine, you want me to surrender for her. And now you expect me to compose for her? Alexander, you truly know how to drain me of everything, don't you?"

Alexander's gaze was dark and unreadable. "I'll give you time to think it over. Answer me when you're ready."

Amy didn't hesitate. "There's nothing to consider. My answer is no."

Alexander studied her for a long moment, silent.

His eyes were cold—detached, emotionless—yet the weight of his stare sent a chill through the room.

Finally, he spoke. "If you agree now, you can set your own terms. The next time we discuss this... things won't be so simple."

Amy let out a soft, mocking laugh, her refusal clear.

Alexander said nothing more. He turned and walked out.

Amy watched him leave, her face unreadable.

Work beside Victoria for three years, watching them play happy family every day? If that was the arrangement, then what was the point of divorcing Alexander in the first place? She'd still be subjected to Victoria's whims.

She'd have to be insane to agree.

After leaving Amy's studio, Alexander suddenly asked, "This is the studio Nathan destroyed, isn't it?"

The memory of the wreckage—scattered sheet music, overturned instruments—was still vivid.

Gregory was caught off guard before nodding. "Yes, and it's also the one Ms. Langley wants."

Ever since Victoria returned to the country, there had been constant demands. If Gregory wasn't handling one of her requests, he was reporting back to her. Meanwhile, Amy—Alexander's own wife—rarely asked for anything. When she did, she went through Gregory.

At first, Gregory always informed Alexander. But over time, Amy never made unreasonable requests, and eventually, Alexander told him not to bother reporting. Maybe it meant Alexander trusted her as family. Or perhaps... he simply didn't care.

Either way, Alexander's sudden interest in the studio now was unexpected.

Alexander pressed his lips together, silent.

He only knew that Victoria had finally found a studio she truly loved—unfortunately, it happened to be Amy's.

The compensation Alexander offered was more than generous. But for someone like Benjamin Carter, a few million dollars was nothing. With the concert season approaching, two million was negligible compared to their usual expenses.

In fact, Alexander had initially planned to compensate Amy with five million. She was, after all, his ex-wife and the mother of his child. He wasn't petty—not that petty.

If Amy would just bend, even slightly, money would never be the issue.

But Amy was stubborn to her core—she never backed down.