A soft knock echoed through the room.
Once.
Twice.
Before the door opened slowly.
Alex stepped inside, holding a tray filled with freshly prepared breakfast. The aroma spread gently across the room, warm and inviting—completely opposite to the heavy atmosphere inside.
"Ma'am, your breakfast."
His voice was as steady as ever.
But she didn't respond immediately.
She sat on the bed, unmoving.
Her expression distant.
Eyes wide, yet empty—still trapped in everything that had happened just moments ago.
Alex paused for a second before clearing his throat softly, making his presence known.
That was when she flinched slightly, as if pulled back to reality.
"Oh…"
She blinked rapidly, trying to compose herself.
But it didn't work.
Not completely.
Her eyes were red.
Swollen.
Tired.
Alex noticed.
Of course he did.
His expression remained neutral, but for a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes.
Something softer.
Something almost like… guilt.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
He walked forward and placed the tray gently in front of her.
"Ma'am, please eat while it's still warm."
She stared at the food for a moment before looking up at him again.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Mr. Alex…"
Her voice was weak.
Unsteady.
"I… I showed Mr. Adrian the proof."
She hesitated, her fingers gripping the bedsheet tightly.
"But he… acted strange."
She didn't know how to explain it.
Didn't have the words.
The way he looked at her.
The things he said.
The way her body reacted—
It was all too much.
Too confusing.
But even without her saying more—
Alex understood.
Perfectly.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly what had happened.
Because the "figure" she had seen last night—
Was none other than Adrian Volkov.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Alex didn't respond.
Didn't say anything at all.
He simply stood there.
Quiet.
Still.
And that silence—
It broke something inside her.
Her lips trembled.
Her vision blurred.
And before she could stop herself—
She broke down.
Tears streamed down her face as a sob escaped her chest.
"No one… no one is trying to understand me…"
Her voice cracked completely.
Raw.
Painful.
"I'm not lying… I really saw someone…"
Her shoulders shook as she cried, her hands covering her face.
Alex's expression changed instantly.
The neutral mask slipped.
Replaced by something much heavier.
Guilt.
Because she wasn't lying.
Not even a little.
And yet—
He was standing there.
Doing exactly what she feared.
Not telling the truth.
Not defending her.
Not helping her.
His jaw tightened slightly.
For a moment, he looked away.
As if he couldn't face her tears.
But then—
Slowly—
Awkwardly—
He stepped closer.
His hand lifted hesitantly before resting lightly on her head.
The gesture was unfamiliar.
Clumsy.
As if he had never comforted someone like this before.
But his touch—
It was gentle.
Careful.
Almost… protective, Like brotherly concern.
"Ma'am…"
His voice softened.
Not completely.
But enough.
"Please… stop crying."
He paused, searching for the right words.
"I will… inform the boss."
Even as he said it, he knew how meaningless it sounded.
But it was the only thing he could offer.
"Please eat your breakfast."
She sniffed softly, trying to control her tears.
Her breathing still uneven.
"…Okay, Mr. Alex."
She nodded weakly.
"Thank you… for acknowledging my request."
Her voice was fragile.
Broken.
But sincere.
Alex's gaze softened slightly at her words.
And for the first time—
He felt something unfamiliar.
Helplessness.
Because no matter what he did—
He couldn't protect her from the truth.
And worse—
He couldn't protect her from the man she feared.
Because that man—
Was the very person she was under.