During the time he despised me, my feelings for him had only grown. Because I cared for him deeply, I was always cautious around him, trying hard to avoid giving him any reason to dislike me. I offered him my genuine affection, terrified that he might reject me.
Despite my best efforts, nothing I did ever seemed to please him. Everything I did always seemed to fall short compared to what Cassandra did.
Always Cassandra.
Alexander’s initial surprise faded, and he returned to the couch, holding my sister close. As I began to walk away, I heard his warning. "Don’t make me angry, Natalie."
His bodyguard stopped me and escorted me back in front of them. Damn it! These people were both our men and yet they were only loyal to him. Now, I regretted giving him all the power in both our families and companies. He even honed them to be a sword pointing at my neck.
Alexander sat there, legs crossed, observing me with a detached air. The pressure in the room was palpable.
"Apologize to Cassandra," he repeated.
Cassandra flashed me a challenging smile before turning to my husband. "It’s okay. Natalie didn’t mean it."
When she uttered those words, Alexander looked at her with pity. "You’re too soft-hearted. You treat her well, but she’ll never see you as her sister."
He then turned a steely glare at me. "Anyone who hurts Cassandra will pay double."
I recalled a time from elementary school, just a year after I saved him when I had been cornered by older students who stole my money. Alexander had suddenly appeared, fiercely beating up the one who had kicked me. The boy who once protected me was now defending someone else.
And now, my defiant attitude had clearly angered him. It seemed like he was intent on teaching me a lesson. He signaled to the bodyguards to force me to kneel before them.
I gritted my teeth in anger. I had knelt enough before him already! And now he was forcing me to do these things all for a woman? If only he could put as much effort into our son!
As I bowed my head, Alexander’s expression softened slightly, as if he took some satisfaction in my submission.
A bodyguard stepped forward, raising his hand to strike me. But Cassandra intervened. "Alexander, she’s still my sister. Men can be too harsh, and I’m worried they might hurt her."
Then, after a pause, she continued, "If she really needs a lesson, I should be the one to teach it," Cassandra insisted.