“An explanation?” I asked, frowning slightly.
“About my past relationship issues,” Alexander said tightly, his jaw working as if the words tasted bitter.
“You mean the reason you were so distant for so long?” My voice was soft, careful not to push too hard.
I’d known there was something buried deep—a kind of romantic trauma that made him feel he couldn’t allow himself to love. But it had always been a sensitive topic, one I hadn’t dared to ask about until now.
His silence was heavy, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he met my gaze with something raw and vulnerable. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
“Okay,” I said quietly, ready to listen.
Alexander took a deep breath, his gaze locking with mine. “You remember telling me that in the original tim
