Chapter 4
Alexander let Sarah stay at the estate that night.
But sometime after midnight, he quietly returned to the master bedroom.
Allison stirred as the bed dipped under his weight. Before she could react, his arms wrapped around her from behind.
She instinctively tried to move away, inching toward the edge of the bed, when his deep voice murmured in her ear.
“Sorry, Allison. You’ve been through so much… just to help me fulfill my dying wish. I know it hasn’t been easy.”
Her body froze.
She slowly opened her eyes, stunned by what he was saying.
Was he… feeling guilty?
“I know I’m marrying Sarah,” he said gently. “But no matter what, you’ll always be Mrs. Rockwood. No one’s replacing you.”
His voice softened even more. “Everything I promised you–you’ll still get.”
Allison didn’t speak
Then came the real reason for this late–night visit.
“So, about your “Infinity‘ program. Let’s give that to Sarah. I can’t leave her any part of my estate directly, but she needs something to fall back on when I’m gone.”
Her heart clenched so hard she could barely breathe.
This wasn’t about love.
It wasn’t about gratitude.
He had come here… to take from her. For Sarah.
Infinity wasn’t just a project–it was her life’s work. A breakthrough energy algorithm with massive implications for renewable development.
The model had passed every review. It was ready to be patented and licensed.
Infinity would make her wealthy beyond imagination. And more than that—it would give her real standing in a male–dominated industry. She’d finally earned her own place.
And Alexander knew all of that.
“Absolutely not,” Allison said, shaking her head.
She pushed his arms away and sat up, her voice firm. “Infinity is
anyone.”
“Infinity is mine. I built it from scratch. It’s like my child–I won’t hand it over to
Alexander straightened beside her, his gaze lingering on Allison longer than usual. Something in her eyes–sharp, unyielding–made his breath catch for a second. She wasn’t the girl who used to worship him anymore, and for the first time, he didn’t know how to read
her
“Alexander,” she whispered, her voice catching as she looked him in the eye, “I’m begging you… don’t take this from me.”
“You can give Sarah everything else. I’ll walk away with the Winters Group shares–that’s all I ask ”
Something in that plea must’ve struck a nerve, because his face twisted with anger.
“You really think my money means nothing to you, huh?”
She shook her head quickly. “That’s not what I meant—”
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But he pulled his arm away, face like stone now,
“I’m not asking,” he said coldly. “Everything you’ve done–all your research, all your funding–it was backed by the Rockwood family.
You don’t get to say no.
Then he got up and stormed out, slamming the door so hard it rattled the walls.
Less than half an hour later, headlines began to appear.
Sarah had just done a live–streamed interview, proudly announcing she was the lead designer and developer of the Infinity algorithm.
She claimed the official patent documents would be filed by sunrise.
Allison stood there, staring at her phone in disbelief.
Without hesitation, she rushed and threw open Sarah’s bedroom door–only to be grabbed by the security guards Alexander had stationed nearby.
“I know it’s late, but I just couldn’t wait to share this with you guys,” Sarah beamed into the camera. “This is the heart of Infinity, the design I’ve been pouring my soul into. Hope you love it as much as I do. Sweet dreams!”
She blew a kiss.to the screen like she was some rising tech star instead of a fraud.
“Don’t believe her! It’s not hers!” Allison shouted, struggling against the grip on her arms.
One of the guards immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. They only let her go after the live stream ended.
Panting, she stumbled down the hall and found Alexander.
Her eyes burned red with fury as she confronted him.
“Why, Alexander? Why would you let her steal this from me?”
“I told you,” he said, refusing to meet her gaze. “She needs something to rely on after I’m gone.”
*I’ve let so much go. But not this. I’ll fight to take Infinity back,” she snapped, wiping the tears from her face.
She turned to leave.
Something about the way she walked away–so decisive, so done unsettled him.
For the first time, he didn’t want her to go.
But just as that flicker of doubt crossed his mind, Sarah burst in sobbing.
“Alex… she designed it, didn’t she?” she cried, clinging to his arm. “What if she exposes me tomorrow? Everyone will call me a liar! I never should’ve done the interview. I don’t want to be ruined!”
Her voice cracked as she dissolved into tears.
Alexander flinched, torn for a second–then reached out and stroked her hair.
His voice dropped to a cold command. “Take Mrs. Rockwood to the basement. She’s not to leave without my permission.”
“What?! Let me go! You can’t do this!” Allison screamed as the guards grabbed her again.
“Alex! Don’t do this! Please!”
But he didn’t turn back.
Not once
The steel door slammed shut behind her, and she was swallowed whole by darkness.
The walls were cold. The air stale.
