All Chapters of Watch Me Destroy You, My Ex-husband. : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Anastasia's POV My heart skips a beat in my chest, and I narrow my gaze towards him. "Do we need to kiss?""Not tonight, probably. But eventually, people will expect it. A kiss on the cheek for photos, maybe a brief kiss for a particularly romantic moment." His grey eyes search mine. "But only if you're comfortable."I think about the last time I was kissed. Seven years ago, in a hotel room, by a man whose face I can't fully remember through the drug-induced haze. The thought sends a shiver through me that has nothing to do with the temperature."We can cross that bridge when we come to it," I say. "For tonight, let's keep it to hand-holding and proximity.""Agreed."The rest of the drive passes in relative silence as we both review the story we're about to tell. When the car finally pulls up to the Grand Hotel where the gala is being held, I see the red carpet, the photographers, the crowd of elegantly dressed people streaming inside.This is it. My first public appearance as Anna B

Alexander's POV The drive from Anna's apartment to my home feels like the longest thirty minutes of my life. My driver knows better than to speak when I'm on the phone, and right now, I'm barely holding myself together."Tell me again," I say into the phone, my voice strained. "Exactly what happened.""He was fine during dinner," Ellie, Sam's nanny, says, her voice shaky. "We were reading his bedtime story when he just... collapsed. I called 911 immediately, but by the time the paramedics arrived, he'd regained consciousness. They're saying it was some kind of seizure, but Mr. Grayson, it looked much worse than the other episodes."My hands clench into fists. "Where is he now?""Still at the house. The paramedics wanted to take him to the hospital, but he was crying, begging not to go. You know how he gets about hospitals after... after everything with his mother."I do know. Evelyn used to threaten Sam with hospital stays whenever he displeased her. Now he's terrified of them, which

Alexander's POV Anna reads them with an unreadable expression. "Strategic move. They think this is calculated.""Isn't it?""Yes. But it's interesting that they assume you're the one doing the calculating, not me."She has a point. The articles all frame her as the fortunate woman who landed a billionaire, not as a successful professional in her own right."Does that bother you?" I ask."Should it? We both know what this really is." She sets down my phone. "How did your emergency go last night? Is everything alright?"There it is again, genuine concern in her voice."It's handled," I say, not wanting to explain about Sam. "Thank you for asking."She studies me for a moment, and I have the uncomfortable feeling that she sees more than I want her to."You look tired," she observes."Long night. I'm fine.""You don't have to be fine with me, you know. This is a business arrangement, but that doesn't mean we can't be... civil. Even friendly."Friendly. Is that what we're becoming?"Frien

Anastasia's POV Three days later, I'm getting ready for the meeting with Liam. Alexander's assistant sent over the details— lunch at an upscale restaurant, private dining room, just the four of us. Alexander, me, Liam, and Marian.I've changed outfits three times already. Too formal makes me look like I'm trying too hard. Too casual makes me look unprofessional. Finally, I settle on a cream-colored blouse and tailored black pants— professional but approachable.My phone vibrates with a text from Alexander.“Car will pick you up at 11:30. Are you ready for this?”I stare at the message for a moment. Is he asking if I'm ready for a business lunch? Or does he sense that there's something more going on?“I'm ready,” I text back. “See you soon.”The car arrives exactly on time. When I slide into the back seat, Alexander is already there, and the sight of him makes my breath catch in my throat. He's in a dark blue suit that brings out his grey eyes, his hair styled perfectly, looking every

Liam's POV I can't stop staring at the photo. It's from yesterday's lunch— a shot the restaurant's security camera caught as we were leaving. Alexander and Anna walking out together, his hand on her back, her head tilted slightly toward him in conversation.But it's her face that holds my attention. Those blue eyes. The curve of her jaw. Something about the way she holds herself."You're doing it again," Marian says from the doorway of my home office. She's holding a glass of wine, watching me with barely concealed irritation."Doing what?""Obsessing over Alexander's fiancée." She walks into the room, setting her wine down on my desk with more force than necessary. "You've been staring at that photo for an hour.""There's something about her," I mutter, zooming in on Anna's face. "Something familiar.""She's a nobody consultant who got lucky landing a billionaire. That's all." Marian leans over my shoulder, studying the screen. "Though I'll admit, she's more polished than I expected