Alison was stunned by his response, her mind going blank. She stammered, "Why... why do you want to see him?"
Xavier looked at her with a knowing smile. "Why? Are you afraid of what I might do to him?"
Alison, feeling guilty about her lie, tried to change the subject. She urged him to look at the contract, "Xavier, stop wasting time! Just sign it! I told you, my time is valuable, and I’m not here to reminisce."
Xavier looked at her seriously, "But I’m here to reminisce. Let’s handle business first, then we can discuss us."
Xavier turned his attention to the contract, reading it carefully.
Alison silently watched the face she had longed for over the past five years. He was still as handsome as ever. Her heart was in turmoil. His attitude seemed different. It was almost as if he was confessing his love with every word. Was it real? Did he truly love her? She questioned herself again. But he was supposed to be in love with Livia!
Xavier, head down, signed his name on the contract, then suddenly smiled. "I can feel someone watching me."
Alison immediately retorted, "I wasn’t watching you!"
Xavier looked up, handing her the signed contract, teasing, "Alison, you’re giving yourself away." Despite the changes over the past five years, her simple, straightforward nature remained the same.
Alison, although wanting to spend more time with him, feared that the more time they spent together, the more likely he would discover many things, especially about Leo and the events from five years ago. Those matters were still unresolved. What if the people who pursued them came after Leo? And what if Xavier discovered that Leo was his son and tried to take him away from her?
Seeing her distressed expression, Xavier asked nervously, "Alison, what’s wrong?"
Alison, holding the signed contract, stood up and said, "The contract is signed, so I should go." She turned to leave.
Xavier suddenly called out, "Wait a minute!"
His call only heightened her panic. She turned back and asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Xavier also stood up, raised an eyebrow, and looked at her, "Alison, did you forget what I said? I told you that after we finished the business, we would talk about us."
Alison thought for a moment, then said, "Xavier, I haven’t forgotten. Ever since we met, you’ve spent a lot of time asking about my personal matters, but you haven’t asked about any business terms. What’s your real purpose?"
Xavier’s gaze remained fixed on her. He had only one purpose: to tell her that he loved her. Those words had been five years late. He thought he would never get the chance to say them, but now she was right in front of him. Just as he was about to speak, her phone rang.
Alison answered, "Lane, what’s up?"
Xavier listened intently. It was her half-brother Lane calling. She would surely flaunt this call as if it were from her boyfriend.
But suddenly, her voice turned panicked, "What? Leo is missing?" The fear she had dreaded had come true. They had just arrived in the US, and already this was happening. She regretted coming back.
Seeing her panic, Xavier immediately walked up to her, worriedly asking, "Alison, what’s wrong?"
Alison looked up at him, her hands trembling as she clutched his. "Leo is missing. What should I do?" She was on the verge of tears.
Xavier squeezed her hands, asking, "Alison, who is Leo?"
Through her tears, Alison’s voice trembled, "Leo is my son. He’s my son. I can’t lose him!"
"Your son..." The revelation hit him like a bolt of lightning. His grip on her hands tightened. "Alison, you said you weren’t married!"
Alison glared at him, anger and tears mingling. "Xavier, can’t I have a child without being married?"
Seeing her so distraught, Xavier took her hand without hesitation and said, "Let’s go. I’ll help you find your son."
Alison’s tearful eyes were filled with anxiety. In her heart, she wished she could tell him; Xavier, Leo is also your son.
