Chapter 76. Worst-Case Scenario

Alexander’s POV

I step into the house, the heavy silence greeting me like an unwelcome guest. The hallway stretches before me, dimly lit, shadows clinging to the edges of the walls. My steps slow as I steady myself, bracing for what comes next. I know she’s here. I can feel her presence, like static in the air before a storm.

And then I see her—Cynthia. Pacing the living room like a restless predator, her heels clicking against the floor in a rhythm that grates on my nerves. Her movements are sharp, deliberate, and when she spots me standing in the doorway, she freezes, her gaze locking onto mine.

I sigh, the weight of her impending tirade already pressing down on me. I don’t have the energy for this. Not tonight. Not ever. Without a word, I start moving, intent on passing her without acknowledging her presence.

Bu