Chapter 77
The room seemed to hold its breath as Alexander’s words hung in the air. Rain glanced between the two men, the intensity of the moment making her heart race. Clifford’s grip on her shoulders tightened, but his eyes were locked on Alexander, a mix of challenge and disbelief in his gaze.
“Because I care about her,” Clifford finally replied, his voice low but firm.
“And so do I,” Alexander countered, his tone unyielding.
Rain felt the weight of their words, the air thick with unspoken emotions. She had never seen Clifford so protective, and Alexander so possessive.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?!” Rain exclaimed, her frustration clear.
“Your hands,” Alexander said, his tone low as he gently removed Clifford’s hands from Rain’s shoulders. He grasped Rain’s wrist and added, “Where are your things? Let’s get them p>
Still in a daze, Rain let Alexander guide her. “Where’s your room?” he asked, and she pointed to her door. He pulled her inside and grabbed her luggage. “Is this all?” he asked, to which she nodded. Though Alexander’s actions were puzzling, Rain tried to avoid letting herself hope for more.
Holding her wrist, Alexander led her back to the living room. Clifford looked at Rain with concern. “Are you really alright p>
Rain gave him a reassuring smile. “Yes, I’m fine. There’s no need to worry.” Rain turned to Sanya with a playful grin. “Are you back to Earth now?” she jested.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Sanya answered, her voice faint. “I wasn’t feeling well and had just woken up p>
Rain smiled warmly and then introduced Sanya to Alexander. “Sanya, this is Alexander Lancaster. Alexander, this is my friend Sanya Reed p>
Alexander gave a polite nod, and Sanya’s eyes flickered with interest as she extended her hand for a handshake. “Nice to finally meet you, Alexander. Rain’s mentioned you p>
“Likewise,” Alexander replied, his expression as composed as ever. Then, with a slight smirk, he added, “I hope she said good things about me p>
Rain frowned at his playful remark, quickly shooting him a sideways glance. “Don’t get too comfortable,” she warned, a teasing edge in her voice. It was strange how Alexander was opening up more, but then again, maybe he was just getting comfortable around her, just as she was with him. After all, in such a short span of time, they had already been through so much together… even intimacy p>
Rain’s cheeks warmed at the thought, and she quickly pushed the memory away, feeling a mix of embarrassment and something she couldn’t quite define.
Sanya chuckled, sensing the dynamic between them. “Oh, don’t worry, Alexander,” she said with a grin. “Rain’s been very… selective about what she shares p>
Alexander raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening slightly. “Selective, huh? I’ll have to get her to fill in the gaps later p>
Rain rolled her eyes, trying to hide the slight blush creeping up her cheeks. “Alright, enough of that,” she said, brushing off the playful banter. “Let’s go p>
“How about lunch here? I’m already done cooking. Come and eat with us first,” Clifford offered, cutting into their conversation.
“No, thank you. We’ll just—” Alexander was interrupted by the loud rumble of Rain’s stomach.
“See, you’re starving! I made one of your favourite dishes,” Clifford coaxed, eyeing Rain with a grin.
“Really? What is it?” Rain asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Beef broccoli,” Clifford answered.
Rain’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Beef broccoli? Okay, I’ll join you!” she said with enthusiasm. Clifford’s cooking was always a treat, and she wasn’t about to miss out.
As Rain agreed to join Clifford, Alexander’s gaze hardened slightly, his eyes locking onto Clifford with a frown. Clifford, though maintaining a polite smile, didn’t also hide the underlying tension in his demeanour.
As they settled into lunch, the tension between Clifford and Alexander became more apparent. Rain tried to focus on the meal, but the undercurrent of hostility was hard to ignore.
“So, Alexander,” Clifford began, trying to sound casual but clearly probing, “since you’re Rain’s husband, you must be around her quite a bit. Would you mind if I dropped by sometime? I’d love to bring some of her favourite foods, maybe something she’s been craving p>
Alexander’s fork paused mid-air, and he shot Clifford a guarded look. “That’s very kind of you, but Rain’s preferences will be taken care of p>
Clifford’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes narrowed slightly. “I just thought it would be nice to catch up. It’s been a while since we all got together p>
Rain couldn’t believe what she was witnessing—the two grown men acting so petty in front of her. She decided to address the issue directly.
“Of course, you and Sanya can visit me anytime, Clifford. Why do you even need to ask Alexander?” Rain said with a raised brow. She then discreetly kicked Clifford’s feet under the table, giving him a pointed look. She could tell what Clifford was up to—he was clearly trying to rile up Alexander.
“It’s still Alexander’s house, and we all know that you two aren’t really husband and wife in the true sense of it. So, it’s only natural for me to ask permission to visit you there,” Clifford explained with a hint of mockery.
“Hmm, this is good as always!” Rain exclaimed, savouring the beef broccoli and trying to shift the focus away from the tension.
“Better than the ones I cooked for you before?” Alexander asked, his tone slightly challenging. Rain turned to him, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Seriously? What’s wrong with the two of you?!” Rain burst out, unable to hold back her frustration any longer.
Sanya chuckled, clearly relishing the awkwardness. “Obviously, they don’t like each other,” she remarked with a smirk. “I wonder why? But I guess you two both like Rain,” she added directly, making Rain turn beet red.
“Stop saying nonsense,” Rain mumbled, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Rain sighed deeply, trying to defuse the situation. “Can we just enjoy the meal and not turn this into a competition?” she suggested, glancing between Clifford and Alexander. “Let’s focus on the food and good company, okay p>