Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 65

Late into the night, Alexander finally arrived home from the hospital, his exhaustion palpable.

The house enveloped him in profound silence as he entered the living room, the weight of weariness settling upon his shoulders.

Surveying the stillness, he deduced that everyone had already gone to sleep, prompting him to tread softly as he made his way up the stairs to his and Camilla's room.

Ascending the staircase, his footsteps muffled by plush carpeting, Alexander finally reached the door to the bedroom.

A palpable sense of anticipation hung in the air, enveloping the surroundings in a heavy stillness.

Assuming Camilla was already asleep and not wanting to disturb her, he gently turned the doorknob and slipped inside the room, enveloped in darkness.

But as he closed the door, the room abruptly erupted in a blaze of light, momentarily blinding him.

His heart skipped a beat, and he turned toward the source, his gaze falling upon Camilla standing by the wall, her fingertips on the light switch.

Confusion mingled with surprise, etching lines of astonishment on his fatigued face.

As she stood there with curiosity glistening in her eyes, bathed in the radiant light, her nightgown shimmered with an ethereal hue.

The delicate interplay of satin and lace clung to her curves, accentuating her grace.

Camilla's voice cut through the air, laced with concern and confusion, as she questioned, "What are you doing?"

Her beautiful face furrowed with a frown, casting a shadow of worry.

Alexander blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sudden burst of light, but his attention was primarily captured by the enchanting sight that stood before him.

His eyes delicately traced the contours of Camilla's figure, captivated by the gentle curve of her small baby bump, a beautiful manifestation of their growing child.

"I... I thought you were asleep," he stammered, his eyes still fixated on her, finding it difficult to look away.

"I didn't want to wake you up," he added his words with a mixture of apology and explanation.

Camilla arched an eyebrow skeptically, her expression revealing her curiosity.

"Where did you go? I called you multiple times, but it kept saying you weren't reachable."

Rubbing the back of his neck wearily, Alexander took a deep breath before speaking.

"Sorry about that, I was at the hospital and I didn't realize my phone had died."

Camilla's expression softened slightly upon hearing his explanation.

"The hospital? Why? What happened?" Her voice carried genuine worry as she walked up to him, examining him for any signs of injury.

Alexander let out a small chuckle at her display of concern, reaching out to hold her hands and prevent her from examining him further.

"I'm fine, Camilla," he reassured her, attempting to ease her worries.

Her brows furrowed as she pressed further, her voice lowering.

"If you're fine, then why did you go to the hospital?"

He released her hands, lowering them briefly.

"Umm... It was Violet, she had a minor emergency," he replied, adding quickly, "But she's fine now."

Camilla's eyes widened in surprise.

"Violet? What happened?" Her voice carried genuine concern, evident in her tone.

Alexander sighed, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on him.

"It was nothing too serious... You don't need to worry about it," he responded, intentionally avoiding giving her the full details of what had transpired.

Understanding washed over Camilla, and she nodded, the lines of worry gradually fading from her face.

Her features softened as she took in Alexander's tired demeanor.

"You must be so tired," she remarked, her voice filled with affection.

He offered her a rueful smile in response.

"Yeah, it's been a long night," he admitted, weariness evident in his voice and she returned his smile with a sympathetic one of her own.

"And I'm sure you haven't had any dinner?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

Alexander shook his head in confirmation.

"Come on, I'll make something for us to eat," she offered, her hand reaching for the door handle.

However, Alexander's hand gently halted her motion, and she turned to look at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes.

"What?" Camilla asked, looking up at Alexander, her confusion evident.

Instead of answering, he simply raised his hands and gently placed them against her forehead to feel her temperature and she chuckled at his gesture.

"I'm fine, Alexander," she assured him, her amusement apparent.

Her forehead still pressed against his hands, he responded, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

"I'm just checking...you just got over your fever, and I don't want you to stress yourself for anything," he explained, his touch gentle as he stroked his fingers across her skin.

"It's past one at midnight, and the cooks have already retired for the day. My mom is already asleep, and I can't wake her up because she's been by my side since yesterday evening."

"And you...you can't even boil water. So..." Camilla's shoulders shrugged, indicating that she was the only option left.

Alexander's hand finally lowered, and he met Camilla's eyes with a sincere look.

She couldn't help but smile at the tender moment that was unfolding before her.

"Come on, I'll make something quick and stress-free," she urged, her voice filled with warmth and anticipation.

Alexander finally gave in, his weariness momentarily forgotten, and they walked out of their bedroom door, heading towards the kitchen together.

•~•~•~•~•~•

Clarissa stood on the porch of the house, her heart pounding in her chest as she took in steady breaths, trying to gather the courage to press the doorbell.

It had been a while since she had last seen Vivan, especially after their last encounter had ended on a sour note.

After a few moments of internal preparation, she finally reached out and pressed the bell.

The anticipation hung in the air as she waited for a response.

Shortly, the door creaked open, revealing the same older woman with silver-gray hair who opened the door for her on her first visit.

Recognition flickered in her eyes as she realized who stood before her.

However, instead of warmth or acceptance, resentment emanated from her gaze.

"Hi... Good morning," Clarissa greeted, her voice carrying a note of uncertainty.

"What do you want?" the woman asked curtly, her tone laced with hostility.

It was evident that she was still harboring grudges from Clarissa's previous actions towards her boss.

Swallowing her pride and ignoring the woman's animosity, Clarissa mustered her strength and asked, "Is Vivan home? I need to see her."

"Please," she added, hoping her plea would soften the woman's demeanor.

The woman's suspicion lingered, her eyes narrowing as she assessed Clarissa's intentions.

After a moment of tense silence, she reluctantly stepped aside, granting Clarissa entry, and led her to the living room.

"Have a seat," the woman instructed, her voice still cold. "I'll inform her of your arrival."

Clarissa nodded, her nerves and anticipation getting the best of her as she settled into the soft plush material of the couch.

Her mind raced with uncertainty, unsure of what to expect from Vivian after their last encounter, filled with accusations and heated words.

Minutes passed like hours, each tick of the clock echoing in the silence of the room.

Clarissa's fingers tapped nervously on her thigh as she anxiously awaited Vivan's arrival.

Suddenly, Vivan's voice pierced the silence, tinged with surprise. "Clarissa?"

The sound of her name caught Clarissa off guard, causing her head to snap up, her eyes locking with Vivan's.

"Vivan," Clarissa replied softly, her voice filled with acknowledgement, as she stood up instinctively.

The room seemed to hold its breath as they stood face-to-face, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

Finally, it was Vivan who broke the silence, her voice gentle and inquisitive.

"What are you doing here?" Vivan's words held a genuine curiosity as if she sought an explanation rather than harboring resentment.

Clarissa took a deep breath, summoning the courage to lay her intentions bare.

Her gaze brimmed with sincerity as they remained fixed on Vivian.

"I..." Clarissa began, her voice hesitant.

However, she couldn't help but notice the significant change in Vivian's appearance since their last encounter.

She seemed weary and frail, her face gaunt and unhealthily pale.

Dark circles rimmed her bloodshot hazel eyes, giving her the appearance of a ghostly figure.

The words slipped out on their own, driven by genuine concern.

"Are you okay... you look... sick," Clarissa voiced her observation, her voice a mix of genuine curiosity and concern but Vivian simply stared at her, and for a moment, her defensive facade seemed to falter, revealing a glimmer of vulnerability.