Chapter 224

Alexander POV

Guilt gnawed at me all morning as I waited for Sabrina to arrive. It settled in my stomach like a weight, a constant reminder that I was keeping something from Ella.

I’d tried—tried to find the right moment, tried to work up the nerve to tell her—but every time I opened my mouth, the words died before they could form.

I wasn’t used to feeling this kind of indecision. I had to be clear headed and ready to act at all times, so now that I was doubting myself I felt lost.

I hid it the best I could. Hopefully, Ella was distracted enough that she didn’t notice I was acting strangely.

Ella was lost in thought over everything that had happened the day before. Her expression was tense, her mind clearly busy going over the news and what actions we should take next.

How could I pile more onto her already heavy burden? At least, that’s the excuse I kept telling myself.

But the truth was, I was afraid.

When the knock finally came at my office door, I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stand. I hadn’t seen Sabrina in the past five years. The most I had seen were a few photos, and even then I never sought them out— it always by accident.

But now, she was here. And I was about to face something I wasn’t sure I was ready for.

I opened the door, and she stood there staring at me for a moment like she was frozen, too.

Sabrina had changed. The confidence she once carried, the way she used to walk into a room like she belonged there—like she owned it—was gone. She stood hesitantly in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest.

Her blonde hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, and her blue eyes—once filled with mischief—were uncertain.

"Alexander," she said, her voice softer than I remembered.

"Sabrina," I replied, stepping aside to let her in.

She moved carefully, as if expecting me to lash out, to demand answers. And maybe, a part of me wanted to. But as I watched her, something else took over. She looked tired. She looked afraid.

And when I gestured for her to sit, she did so with some hesitation. She was perched on the very edge of the chair, like she might bolt at any second.

I sat across from her, folding my hands together to keep them steady. There was no sense in dancing around it. "Is she mine?" I asked.

Sabrina flinched at the directness of my words, her fingers gripping the edge of the chair. For a long moment, she didn’t answer, and my heart pounded with impatience, with dread. Then, finally, she nodded.

"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my chest tightening.

"Her name is Alexis," she continued, glancing down at her hands. "But she likes to be called Lexie."

Lexie.

I swallowed hard, trying to process it all. My daughter. A child I had never known existed. A child who had lived five years of life without me.

"You didn’t tell me," I said, my voice quiet but filled with something raw. "You never told me, Sabrina."

She looked up then, pain flashing in her eyes. "I know. And I’m sorry."

"Sorry?" I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You hid my daughter from me. I’ve missed everything—her first words, her first steps. I never even had a chance to—" I cut myself off, unable to say it aloud.

Sabrina’s eyes filled with tears. "I thought it was the right thing to do. I thought…" She took a deep breath, as if bracing herself. "Diana told me that you would be furious. That you would hate me for it."

"Diana," I spat, the name like poison Of course, she was behind this. Of course, she had manipulated everything, twisted the truth into something that suited her agenda.

Sabrina nodded, looking away. "She made me believe that if I told you, you’d turn on me. That you’d try to take Lexie away or—" She shook her head. "I was young, scared, and I had no one. She was the only person who offered to help me."

I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my emotions in check. "And now? Why are you here in the capital?"

She hesitated, her fingers twisting in her lap. "Diana brought me here," she admitted. "She wants me to go to the press, to tell everyone about Lexie and turn it into a scandal that will destroy you."

My jaw clenched. "And do you want that?"

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I never wanted any of this. I don’t want to treat Lexie like she’s some dark secret. I love her more than anything."

"Then why are you even considering it?" I asked, my frustration slipping through.

"Because I don’t have a choice!" Her voice cracked as she looked up at me, desperation in her eyes. "I can’t afford to take care of myself, let alone Lexie. I have nothing. No money, no job, no home of my own. Diana is the only one keeping me from losing everything. And if I refuse her…" She trailed off, her meaning clear.

She was trapped.

I closed my eyes for a moment, steadying myself. This wasn’t just about me. This was about my daughter. A little girl who had no idea she was being used as a pawn in a political war.

When I opened my eyes again, my decision was made. "I’ll take care of you both," I said firmly.

Sabrina’s eyes widened. "What?"

"You won’t have to rely on Diana anymore," I said. "You and Lexie—you’ll have what you need. I won’t let either of you suffer because of this."

Her lips parted in shock, as if she hadn’t even considered that possibility. "You would really do that?"

"She’s my daughter," I said simply. "Of course, I would."

Sabrina swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "I… I don’t know what to say."

"Just think about it," I told her. "You don’t have to decide right now."

She nodded again, exhaling shakily.

I hesitated before speaking again, my heart pounding. "Can I meet her?"

She looked up at me, searching my face as if trying to gauge whether she could trust me. Then, after a long pause, she nodded.

"Yes," she said softly. "You can meet her."

Relief crashed over me like a wave, but it was tangled with something else—something deeper. This was only the beginning. There was still so much to figure out, so much damage to undo.

But I would do whatever it took.

Because now, I knew the truth.

And I would never let my daughter go through the pain I went through when I was young. I would never allow her to feel that she was unwanted or a burden.

“Leave the address of where you’re staying at the front desk,” I instructed, getting to my feet. “I’ll have August come by first thing in the morning to pick you back up and move you into a decent hotel for the time being. We’ll find you a house soon, one that will suit your needs.”

“I can’t thank you enough for this,” Sabrina said sadly. “I know that I don’t deserve it. Not after–”

“We were kids,” I said firmly. “What matters now is that Lexie is safe and happy.”

She nodded, but couldn’t seem to find her words.

I watched her leave and the weight in my chest seemed to shift. This didn’t uncomplicate matters at all, but at least I knew for certain that the girl was mine.

Now, I just had to figure out how I was giong to tell Ella.