There were two options.
To leave without saying goodbye or do so and watch Nadia break from learning the truth.
Alex knew the latter would be more difficult but knew it to be the right thing to do.
He was determined to tie up all loose ends and so that was why despite the drama that could unfold, he still came.
Watching Nadia tear up from learning the truth, tugged at his heartstrings but the job had to be done and so even as he wanted so badly to not hurt her further, he did not intend to stop.
"I’m sorry." He said softly.
Natasha bit her lower lip as she met his gaze. "... I wanted to believe otherwise."
"You lied to yourself."
"... That maybe if I closed my eyes..." Nadia trailed off, unable to complete the sentence.
Alex pursed his lips. "...I’m sorry."
"..." She grieved silently, unwilling to speak as tears slid down her cheek.
"He died a good man and even in his dying embers... he hoped that his love would be felt by you."
"But it’s funny... considering you never truly loved him."
"What?" Nadia was taken aback as she stared at Alex in disbelief.
Alex revealed a wry smile. "Isn’t that the truth, Nadia Khan?... The reason you chose Alexander Regulus as your man, was it truly because you loved him or because you wanted to use him as a shield?"
"That..." Nadia trailed off as she knew he was telling the truth though she found it hard to accept.
It was all fun and games then.
Invitations to so many events lined her door each day, each one from a different bachelor from an influential family.
At first, it didn’t mean much but after a while, it began to get troublesome and Nadia hated trouble.
So to avoid all that, she decided to look for a shield and that shield came in the form of a newly recruited journalist that always acted like a dog around her.
It was easy to manipulate him considering he was already stuck in her web without knowing it.
She intended to use him as a way to distract the numerous bachelors bothering her.
Of course, the thought that Alex could be endangered due to attracting the ire of the crazy bachelors surfaced in her mind once or twice but she never expected them to go that far.
At least, that was until they did.
Alex was attacked, scorned, robbed, and much more, all because he was her so-called lover.
But despite all that, he never left.
Instead, he grew bolder in his love, using every possible opportunity to get Nadia to truly love him.
Unfortunately, she never saw him as someone worth mentioning.
Out of pity, she intended to break things off and look for another scapegoat.
That was the night Alex was invited to her chambers and also the night... he lost his life.
"I... I didn’t mean to do all that. I just..." Nadia trailed off as she realized just how much of a terrible person she was.
No, she knew that well enough.
It had been a long time ago since she realized that she was barely any different from her mother.
Just like her mother, she manipulated men and used them for her selfish desires.
By the time she realized it, it was too late and now here she was, filled with guilt at her actions.
"You don’t have to make up for what you did," Alex replied. "Alex is dead and I am him now... we share no relations so you may continue with your life."
"...No." Nadia shook her head.
Alex watched as she got to her feet.
Their eyes met and for a moment, no one said anything.
There it was... Nadia thought as she saw the emotion or more precisely, the lack of emotions in Alex’s eyes for her.
She had grown accustomed to the lewd gazes that when faced with such a gaze, she was left distraught.
When had she truly fallen in love with him?
She couldn’t tell but it was most likely after Alex’s death.
Maybe when she no longer felt his affection for her.
Or when he no longer looked at her the same.
It dawned on her that Alex’s love was unlike the others.
Sure he was an idiot with dirty thoughts but his feelings had always been genuine.
His problem was that he was never able to hide anything.
He wore his thoughts on his sleeve and so when that changed, Nadia realized she missed him.
But it was already too late and so she was left with no chance of redeeming herself... or at least that’s how it seemed.
Alex narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Nadia bit her lower lip as she fell to her knees. "Please... take me with you."
"... Give me a chance to atone for my sins."
"No need," Alex said with slight annoyance.
"Please," Nadia replied.
"This is my chance to chase after him... He may be gone but... I can feel he is still somewhere out there and I will find a way to bring him back."
"You wish to resurrect the dead?"
"... Please take me with you."
Realizing just how extreme Nadia’s thoughts were, Alex felt the need to speak up.
"Then I will gladly do so."
"... Are you willing to go so far?" Alex seemed slightly troubled by her stubbornness.
"You’d be abandoning everything by following me."
"... I don’t mind." Nadia calmly replied.
"You may never have a normal life."
"I’ve never had one, to begin with."
"You will never love again."
Nadia pursed her lips as a certain memory came to mind.
On a sunny day, just outside the Morning Weeklies, Alex stood at the entrance and in a loud voice, exclaimed joyfully. ’I love you, Nadia Khan!... I love you!’
The end of the memory brought a wry smile to the corner of her lips as Nadia softly replied. "I don’t deserve that privilege."
"Even if I take you... I’d end up being your babysitter, I see no reason to go through all that."
"I may not be strong enough now, but I will prove my worth to you. I promise you won’t regret taking me."
"Fine then," Alex remarked exasperatedly as he reached out with his palm. "Take it."
Swallowing saliva, Nadia got to her feet and slowly approached Alex.
Hesitation filled her mind but her heart was already made up.
Hadn’t she told Vessina?
If he tried to leave, she would bring him back.
This was how she would do it.
It was her turn to chase a love that would never be reciprocated but maybe one day... She’d get the chance to meet her beloved and at that time, Nadia would sincerely share her feelings with him.
So without wasting any more time, she reached out and grabbed Alex’s outstretched hand.