Trigger warning: This chapter briefly mentions miscarriage and abortion

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It had been two days since finding about Lucinda. Two days of that piece of information gnawing away at me, like a woodpecker pecking a tree.

I had been waiting for Alexander to tell me, but I got nothing from him. From what I sensed; they both have a history. I didn't want to push Alexander to tell me everything, I wanted him to tell me in his own time. However, I didn't expect radio silence for two whole days.

As each hour passes with him not telling me, the more restless I got. We're both in the office, my eyes move slightly to the side, to capture what Alexander was doing.

I see him engrossed into his laptop. Typing away at his desks. My eyes are moved back to its original place, I stare at nothing in front of me, trying to think how I would want to bring this up.

I clear my throat whilst shuffling in my seat, hoping to draw his attention, but I got nothing.

I closed my eyes and mustered up the courage to ask. I knew if I didn't say anything now, it will never be brought up.

"Baby." I say in a small voice.

Instantly without waiting another second, his eyes evert to me. His concentrated face suddenly changes into a happy glow as he looks as me.

"I don't want to pressure you to tell me, but-"

"I know." Alexander says before I could finish. He nods his head as if he read my mind.

He motions for me to follow him to the sofa situated in our office. Sitting right next to him, I let myself relax, whilst also feeling like I'm on the edge; not knowing what he will say. He brings my hand close to him, soothing the back with his soft and delicate touch.

"I don't know where to begin." He sighs.

I return the motion, soothing his hand. It was clearly evident he didn't want to dig up old memories, but he wanted to get it out of the way.

"I guess she was my past I wanted to keep buried, that's why it never occurred to me to tell you about her." Alexander starts off.

"It's okay." I whispered sending him a reassuring smile to comfort him.

"We met when we were seventeen, our fathers were really good friends, so we were kind of brought together through our fathers. She was my first in all things to do with love. When my father died, she was there for me, she was my rock. She made me feel like I couldn't live without her so I proposed, when she agreed to marry me, I felt like the happiest guy alive."

Alexander pauses for a while to gather his thoughts. I study his face closely, looking at the uncomfortableness showcased on him.

"Then it all changed, when she came to me and told me she was pregnant. I couldn't believe it at first, I wasn't ready to be a father at eighteen. But I thought about how she made me feel, I was happy and excited to start a family with her. She never once indicated that she didn't want the baby. She told me how happy she was to start a family with me. I thought it was going all well, but she rang me one day to tell me she had lost the baby. I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth, I wanted to go over to her a console her, but she told me to stay away and give her space."

I Empathetically nod to Alexanders words. Then it suddenly occurs to me, a conversation we've never had is kids. Questions of doubt spur into my mind. Does Alexander want to have children with me. I push these thoughts to side, when I continue to listen to Alexander.

"A few days after, she comes to me acting like nothing had happened. I wanted to support and care for her, but she insisted she was fine. That same day, I wanted surprise her so I went to her place without telling her. When I got there, I overheard her telling someone how she couldn't handle having a child so she had it aborted. She lied to me and told me she miscarried, it felt like my heart shattered into pieces. I confronted her and she denied everything. That wasn't the worst part, I then found out she was sleeping around with some guy. When I confronted her about that, she said it didn't mean anything and that she loved me, I lost all my trust in her. If she had just told me how she felt about the baby, I would have supported her decision."

Alexander drifted to a pause. He sat there staring far into the distance. I was taken back at the heartbreak he went through. This was the first time I saw him in a different aspect of vulnerability.

"When Lucinda's father and brother heard about what she did," Alexander continued. "They were livid, they told her to never contact the family again, they disowned her, we then got into a crazy argument where she blamed me for everything. Her true colours showed that night, she threw the engagement ring, stormed out and I never saw her until the other night."

Alexander let's out a slow sigh, as if a whole burden has come of his shoulders. I don't respond to anything, I only shuffle closer to him, wrap my arm around him and pull him in for a hug.

I run my hands down his back, as a way of comforting him. I feel his shoulders relax as he nuzzles his face into my neck.

I come to the realisation to why Alexander was angry about Calum cheating on me, back then when we barely knew each other. I quickly come out of the hug and gaze deeply into his eyes.

"What you went through, is that why you were so angry-"

"Yes." He instantly says as he nods, it was like he read my mind and knew what I was going to say.

I let out a nervous chuckle. "Look at us. Two people who had their hearts broken-"

"Two heartbroken people who found each other." Alexander finishes my sentence.

My eyes soften, I place my hands delicately on Alexander's face and pull him in to meet my lips. My lips brush onto his, like butterfly wings, delicately and softly. I could feel the warmth radiating from him.

We're interrupted by a knock on the door. As I groan in annoyance, I shout for the person to come in. Lily enters the office displaying a worried look on her face.

"Sorry to interrupt, Lucinda is here." Lily says as she shuts the door behind her.

My belly churns at the sound of her name, in an instant I shoot up from the sofa, facing towards Lily.

"What?" I exclaim feeling the blood inside me boil.

"She's come to discuss designs for the new houses with Alexander." Lily responds showcasing a sense of awkwardness.

I scoff at the pathetic attempt of Lucinda coming to the office.

"Tell her, if she wants to discuss designs she'll have to make an appointment. And that's not just with Alexander, it's with me, Jason and Rose. If she doesn't like the sound of that, call security and get her escorted out of the building." I boldly respond.

Lily nods in agreement and exits the office. I let out an exasperated sigh as I turn to face Alexander.

"Baby, we need to find another interior designer." I let out with a sigh, sitting back down on the sofa, laying my head onto Alexander's chest.

"I've already discussed it with Jason. We can't, we've already signed the contract, and paid for the deposit, which is non-refundable." Alexander replied running his fingers down my hair.

I let out another sigh. "Great. I don't know if I can handle working with her."

"If I can get through working with her, then you can. It's only till the houses are complete, then we don't have to see her again." Alexander calmly responds.

I mumble in agreement. With Lucinda in the picture, it's like we got rid of one devil, only to be replaced by another. From the first-time meeting Lucinda, I had an uneasy feeling about her.

For some reason, in the back of my mind I felt like she was up to something. It didn't make sense why she would come to discuss the designs with Alexander alone, she knew this project is handled by the four of us.

Whatever she had in mind, I wasn't going to let it affect us. This girl broke Alexander's heart, making me feel like my heart is broken with him.

I have the need and desire to protect him from an evil, malicious person like Lucinda. I may not know her, but I know whatever Alexander told me about her, she someone not to deal with and be friends with.

I only have to endure her for a short while, then she can exit from our lives.

***

A/N

We finally get the backstory of Alexander and Lucinda's relationship.

Were you shocked about their history?

How do you think Louisa is feeling right now?

Don't forget to share, comment your thoughts and vote!

Love _xxAMxx