Chapter 48 Didn't even talk to him!

Alina didn't wake up until the afternoon. She wasn't sure when she started feeling on guard, but her senses immediately snapped to attention when she detected a different presence in the room. Her eyebrows furrowed as she noticed Caleb sitting on the aqua blue couch, fully engrossed in reading some papers.

"Why are you here?" Her voice was tense. Throughout their marriage, Caleb rarely spent time in the same room with her. He was responsible, punctual, and spent most of his time at Werland Villa, but he always slept in the guest room. She dared not dwell on those memories.

Caleb raised his eyes from the papers and looked at her. "Seems like you're feeling better."

Alina's complexion had improved, no longer as pale as before. She rolled out of bed, glanced at the clothes Lucy had changed for her, and then checked the alarm clock on the bedside table—it was already past 4:00 PM. Time seemed to have slipped away so quickly.

Caleb set aside the papers and gazed at her. The sharpness in his eyes had softened, replaced by deliberate tenderness, reminiscent of the sudden gentleness he showed three years ago, after she became pregnant.

Alina shivered, once again feeling his presence unsettling. "You can leave."

Clearly, she didn't want to be in his presence.

Caleb replied, "Let's forget about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything from three years ago, and everything from when you turned 18."

Those words pierced Alina's heart like two sharp knives. She stared blankly at Caleb.

He expects her to forget?

Once, she believed she had been happy before turning eighteen, and then God played a cruel joke on her, subjecting her to immense suffering. However, that doesn't excuse Caleb for the pain he caused.

"I don't want to see you right now."

"Alina..."

"Get out."

"You have a long journey ahead. It's been a while, you should try to forget," Caleb said calmly, as if he hadn't heard her words.

Forget?

"Don't dwell on the past. It only makes things difficult for everyone involved."

"Emma?" Alina couldn't help but laugh, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Emma was probably having the worst time right now. The entire internet was cursing her. If it weren't for Caleb, Alina wouldn't have been forced to participate in Oklens.

Caleb's expression darkened. "And don't make it harder for her. Three years ago, it was me..."

"You're right. I'll settle the score with you." Alina's cold voice interrupted Caleb's words before he could finish.

She didn't have time to engage in a back-and-forth with Caleb right now. If he had to say something at this moment, then she would respond with unkind words. Without looking at Caleb again, she put on her jacket and headed out.

"Oh, and tell Emma that I hope the house under her mother's name gets transferred to my name," she added. It wasn't a big house, and she didn't attach much value to it, but it was a three-room house her mother had given to her out of pity for Zoe. Zoe used to live there with the two sisters. But now, Alina wanted it back.

Caleb's face darkened. "You want the house?"

"It's not for filthy people like her to live in," Alina retorted.

Caleb's expression sank further. He had no knowledge of Emma's involvement with the Hughes family. He didn't realize that the Hughes family didn't consider them outsiders, especially considering the high prices of property in Ingford. The house had been given to them.

As Caleb had said, with time, even the most haunting nightmares become less hysterical when recalled. Alina took an hour to settle everything.

"Stella, is everything prepared?" she asked over the phone.

"Yes, it's all ready," Stella replied in a cheerful tone.

Alina chuckled softly. "You did it again, didn't you?"

Now, Emma was facing the wrath of public opinion. While Alina was able to secure her spot in Oklens, suspicion still lingered due to her association with Mrs. Collins. Rumors circulated that Mrs. Collins had intervened on her behalf to reclaim the spot.

"Just let her be," Stella said.

Alina laughed softly. "Get ready for Oklens and leave her alone for now. Time shouldn't be wasted on her."

Stella replied, "Yes, my dear Alina."

"When did you develop a sweet tongue?" Alina remarked before ending the call.

Shortly after, Alina received a call from her grandfather, Zane. "I've arranged a special flight for you to Oklens tomorrow."

"No, Grandpa," she protested, intending to book a regular plane ticket.

"Don't waste time, return straight after the game in Oklens. Penny misses you," Zane insisted.

Alina, who didn't want to refuse Penny's request, agreed immediately. "Got it."

Alina double-checked everything. Whenever there was an important event, Brandon's studio would handle the general direction, but she had to take care of the details. After all these years, she had become proficient in this.

The next morning, Alina, Stella, and Julia boarded the special plane arranged by the Lawson family. Stella marveled at the luxurious interior. "Alina, you're having a great time after leaving Caleb," she exclaimed.

In many divorces, men often assume that women will come back begging to reconcile. However, the reality is that many women struggle after leaving their former spouses and often long for the past. Alina, on the other hand, not only had a smooth transition but was even greeted with a special plane to pick her up.

At the airport, Caleb sat in the VIP room, glancing at his wristwatch as the flight to Oklens was announced. His brow furrowed with concern. Emma, sitting beside him, wanted to say something but decided to keep her thoughts to herself. The tension in Caleb's face deepened as the flight was re-announced, urging Caleb, Emma, and Alina to board as soon as possible.