The same one I asked him to give me.

So this was it.

Just like I predicted,it was for Lilian and that’s why I couldn’t have it first.

Scattered applause rose around the hall.

Because the gathering was intimate, Lilian spoke casually and naturally, making everyone feel close to her.

As the last of her words faded into the room, the final note of Alexander’s piano piece slowly came to an end.

When the final note faded, Alexander rose from the piano.

With measured steps, calm and composed as ever, he walked straight toward Lilian.

He extended his hand.

Lilian placed hers in his without hesitation, her smile radiant as he guided her to the center of the hall.

Then the dance began.

One of Alexander’s hands rested lightly on her waist, while Lilian’s hand settled gracefully on his shoulder. Their joined hands lifted between them as they moved into the first elegant turn of a ballroom waltz.

Music swelled through the room once more.

To its steady rhythm, they moved as one.

Every step was precise. Every turn effortless. Their bodies flowed together with seamless harmony, as though they had rehearsed this moment a thousand times before.

Even as nothing more than a spectator, I had to admit it—

They looked perfect together.

Lilian was clearly trained in dance. She glided across the polished floor like a butterfly skimming over water, light and graceful, spinning with each rise and fall of the melody before drifting back into Alexander’s embrace.

And Alexander matched her flawlessly.

He guided her with practiced ease, steady and attentive, never missing a beat.

With coordination like that, it was obvious they had danced together many times.

Unlike me.

A clueless country girl who had once stepped on Alexander’s shoes the first time I tried to dance with him.

Watching them now, I finally understood why Lilian always looked at me with that quiet sense of superiority.

Because she had been first.

The first to know Alexander’s gentleness.

He played the piano for her.

He danced with her.

He read stories to her.

He bought her cookies.

He cooked for her.

And no matter how hard I tried, I would always be one step behind Lilian.

My gaze slowly lowered, my thoughts drifting into silence.

At that moment, I finally understood the distance between Alexander and me.

I had once believed that I knew him ,that I knew things about him.

But that belief had been nothing more than arrogance.‎Alexander had never truly opened himself to me.

What I believed I knew about him was only what he had chosen to let me see.

Everything he wished to keep hidden had remained beyond my reach.

Just like now—after two years of marriage, I was only discovering that Alexander could play the piano so beautifully.

But when I thought about it carefully, it was hardly surprising.

Alexander was the heir of an elite family, raised with the finest education from childhood. Learning the piano would have been expected of someone like him.

Just as naturally, he spoke more than English, Chinese, and French—he also knew Japanese and German. He danced with polished grace, cooked skillfully, and lived with unwavering discipline. He exercised regularly, ran every morning to keep fit, drank only black coffee without sugar, never smoked, and consumed alcohol only in moderation.

When I compared myself to him, I felt painfully small.

I was nothing more than an ordinary woman who had been fortunate enough to be adopted into the Blackwood family.

Without that twist of fate, I probably would never have crossed paths with him.

Much less married him.

Perhaps... we had never been meant for each other at all.

Third-Person POV

In the middle of the dance, Alexander’s steps suddenly faltered.

For the briefest second, he nearly caused Lilian to stumble with him.

Fortunately, his reflexes were swift. He tightened his arm around her waist and pulled her firmly into his embrace, steadying them both before anyone could notice more than a slight disruption.

Lilian adjusted gracefully, and within moments they had slipped back into perfect rhythm, continuing as though nothing had happened.

Leaning closer, she murmured near his ear, "Alexander, what’s wrong?"

He lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable.

"It’s nothing."

But as they turned with the next step, his eyes drifted toward the far corner of the hall again.

He had not been mistaken.

It really was Alicia.

What was she doing here?

And how long had she been watching?

"Alexander, you’re holding my hand too tightly," Lilian said softly, forcing a smile.

Alexander gave no reply.

His gaze remained fixed on the far corner of the hall, cold and distant, as though the woman beside him no longer existed.

To the surrounding guests, however, their quiet exchange looked like nothing more than playful intimacy. Whispering to each other in the middle of a dance only added to the illusion of romance.

When the first song came to an end, applause rose through the room. Soon after, other guests began pairing off and stepping onto the floor for the next dance.

Alexander released Lilian’s hand almost immediately.

He looked distracted, as though his mind were elsewhere entirely.

But Lilian quickly caught hold of his sleeve before he could walk away.

"Alexander, aren’t we continuing?" she asked, her voice tinged with urgency.

He looked down at her hand, his expression unreadable.

"I’ve already done what I promised you."

His tone was flat, leaving no room for argument.

Lilian bit her lip, unwilling to let go.

Alexander’s eyes turned colder.

"There are too many people here. I’m giving you respect. Don’t be the one to ruin it."

His words struck like ice.

After a moment of hesitation, Lilian slowly loosened her grip and released his sleeve.

Then Alexander lowered his voice so only she could hear.

"Lilian, I’m still trying to keep my promises to you despite everything. But if this continues, whatever bond remains between us will eventually wear thin."

He paused, his gaze sharp.

"Think carefully."

Lilian’s eyes reddened at once.

"Alexander, I know I was wrong. I’m sorry." Her voice trembled. "I was just scared... scared you wouldn’t come that day. I missed you so much..."

She looked fragile and remorseful, but Alexander’s expression did not soften.

That day, he had already intended to see her.

Even if he only planned to give her the ring and return.

Whether Michael had gone to find him or not, he would still have shown up.

Yet Lilian, believing herself clever, had chosen to manipulate him with a pathetic scheme.

Instead of moving him, she had just ruined everything.

Alexander had heard those words countless times before.

It was not the first time Lilian had tried to sway him with tears, apologies, and claims of longing. Once, such words might have stirred something in him. Now, they only left him weary.

Before she could continue, he cut her off coldly.

"No need to say any more."

Lilian’s face turned pale in an instant.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

Without giving her another glance, Alexander turned away from her and strode toward the corner of the hall where Alicia had been sitting.

But after only two steps, he stopped abruptly.

The seat in the corner was empty.

His gaze sharpened at once.

He scanned the banquet hall, eyes sweeping through the crowd with growing impatience.

Then he saw her.

Across the room, beneath the glittering chandeliers and drifting music, Alicia was on the dance floor.

And she was dancing with Aiden.