Love Unspoken

Quinn was about to say something but remembered the bug and shut her mouth.

She walked over with Sprout in her arms, giving Alexander a look that said, "Why are you here?"

Alexander suddenly stood up, staring her down. "Didn't I tell you to go back? Why are you still messing with the Vitex Group?"

Quinn's eyes went wide, and she froze for a couple of seconds. Sprout squirmed in her arms, almost slipping out.

"What are you doing?" she asked, confused.

Had Alexander lost it?

He raised his hand, holding a small square device that looked like a walkie-talkie.

"What's that?" Quinn asked.

"A signal jammer," Alexander replied.

Quinn let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Won't they notice?" she asked, worried.

Alexander sighed. "It's fine for a short while. They won't check too closely at night."

Quinn nodded, carried Sprout to the sofa, and put him in the stroller.

Then she turned back to Alexander. "Did you come here just to talk about this?"

"What else?" Alexander shot back.

"Then tell me, what else are you hiding from me?" Quinn retorted.

She didn't break eye contact. They stared at each other, like they were having a silent showdown.

After a moment, Alexander closed his eyes, looking a bit defeated.

He looked away and sat down on the sofa. "Don't ask. There's nothing else."

Quinn didn't know if she should believe him. Whether he told her or not, pushing him wouldn't help. She asked again, "Then what happened to you this past year? Can you at least tell me that?" "It's a long story. I'll tell you when I can," Alexander said, placing the jammer beside him and looking up at her. "Go back and wait for me, okay?"

Hearing "wait for me," Quinn was taken aback.

So, Alexander didn't plan to come back to the family?

"What about your family?" Quinn asked.

Alexander looked at her with intense eyes and said, "My family is only you."

But then he glanced at Sprout in the stroller. His expression said it all, even though he didn't speak.

Quinn's expression softened for a moment. His words showed he hadn't changed; he was still the same Alexander.

Sprout grabbed the stroller and smiled up at Alexander, his eyes squinting with joy.

Alexander watched for a bit before getting back to the main point. "So, take Leopold back, okay?"

Quinn bit her lip. She couldn't say no, but she couldn't say yes either.

"How long do I have to wait?" Quinn asked.

It was a question Alexander couldn't answer. He stayed silent for a long time.

The longer he stayed quiet, the heavier Quinn's heart felt.

Alexander reached out and touched Sprout's cheek. Sprout kept laughing, grabbing his finger and putting it in his mouth.

But Alexander bent his finger, using his knuckle to wipe the drool from Sprout's mouth.

Sprout pouted and made little protesting noises.

Alexander pulled his hand back and stood up. Quinn stared at him, still waiting for an answer.

"I can't give you an answer right now. Go back as soon as you can," he said.

Then he took the jammer and left the villa. The whole time, he didn't touch Quinn once.

Quinn thought they should've at least hugged when they met properly.

Though it was a subtle change, Quinn sensed something was off.

Alexander wasn't being straight with her; he was hiding something that made him unsure if he could come back to her. So, he kept his distance.

What was it?

Quinn turned to look at Alexander at the door, his silhouette fading into the darkness.

She suddenly ran out, but he was already gone.

Sprout called out from behind, like he was urging Quinn to come back and hold him.

Quinn looked away, went back inside, and picked up Sprout.

Staring at his innocent face, she asked, "Should we go back or stay?"

Of course, Sprout didn't understand. Quinn was just talking to herself.

But she still wouldn't give up. "Call out once if you want to go back, twice if you want to stay."

Then Sprout called out three times.

"Try again," Quinn muttered.

Sprout grabbed her hair.

Quinn couldn't make sense of his babbling. He used to call softly, but now he often called loudly. If she didn't listen carefully, she'd think Sprout was calling for his dad. "Are we going back or not?" Quinn asked.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Alright, we'll stay for now, as you wish."

Sprout tilted his head, looking confused.

Quinn put him back in the stroller, propped her chin on her hand, and looked out at the dark night, letting out a long sigh.

She wondered, 'If I go back, will I see you again?'

So, she chose to stay.

The next couple of weeks were peaceful. The Vitex Group had no big news, and their stock stabilized, only occasionally dipping.

Abigail called Quinn, and she almost forgot Abigail was still around.

Quinn put down the clothes she was holding and picked up the phone.

"How's it going, Quinn? Any progress?" Abigail asked.

"No, did you go back?" Quinn asked.

Abigail said with a grin, "No, I'm still having fun. It's a shame you didn't come with me. You've been there so long, just staying in that place, doing laundry and cooking, and still no progress. You might as well come have fun with me. It's almost New Year's. Consider it a break."

"New Year's? Christmas already passed," Quinn murmured.

"I'm talking about January. They say it's even more lively here in January than Christmas," Abigail clarified.

Quinn wasn't in the mood for fun. She declined, "No, take care of yourself out there. If you get bored, you can come to Iris Estates. I bought the house next door."

Abigail was silent for a while, then said, "Impressive."

Then she asked, "So, any progress? Have you reconciled with Alexander? When are you planning for a second child?"

Quinn tugged at the corner of her mouth and fell silent.

"I told you, no progress. Stop making things up. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up," Quinn said.

"I'll come find you in a couple of days. Make sure to come out and meet me," Abigail demanded.

"Okay."Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Quinn hung up and continued sorting Sprout's clothes. He grew fast; clothes from two months ago no longer fit him.

She hadn't folded two pieces when her phone rang again.

Thinking it was Abigail, she was surprised to see an unknown number.

Quinn picked up the phone. "Hello."

"Quinn? This is Luke. We'd like to invite you to the Lynch mansion for Christmas. Would you do us the honor?" Luke said.