Quinn''s lips pursed in a tight line as she gestured with her hands, her voice barely above a whisper, "Was it you?"Alexander watched her with a calmness that belied the tension in the air. He remained silent, his quietness speaking volumes to Quinn. She understood his silence as an admission. He knew exactly what she was asking.


    She stared at him, disbelief etching lines into her face, her fingers stiff and unyielding. With a Herculean effort, she managed to sign the word, "Why?"Her voice was filled with an undercurrent of anger as she fumed, "Didn''t you promise me?" Alexander reached out, his hand closing around her gesturing one, halting her signing mid-motion. His voice was soft, almost inviting, "Let''s go inside."


    Quinn jerked her hand away, her stubbornness shining through as she gestured again, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"


    His gaze turned stormy, his tone frosty as he repeated, "We''ll talk inside!"His indifferent look sliced through her, causing her to instinctively step back.


    Choking back a sob, Quinn managed to get out, "Why... What did I do wrong? Tell me, what did I do wrong?"


    Alexander reached out, his hand closing around hers as he pulled her toward the house.Quinn resisted fiercely, her fingers clinging to the door frame, refusing to enter. She even went as far as to bite down on his wrist.


    Alexander paused, then abruptly released Quinn. His hand shot out, seizing her chin as anger red in his eyes. "This is the second time," he hissed, his grip on her chin unyielding. The bite mark on his wrist was still wet, looking gruesome and terrifying under the light."This is the second time you''ve bitten me for an outsider, Quinn! Why do you think that is, hmm?"


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    Tears trailed down her cheeks, her jaw aching from his grasp. She red back at him, feeling as though his rage would consume her. ''He hurt me, and yet, he''s mad at me, as if I''m the one whomitted a heinous crime,'' she thought. With great difficulty, Quinn signed, "You were the one who hurt them first! I''ve cut ties with Abigail already. Why can''t you just let Juliet be?"


    "Why do you go back on your word?"Quinn pressed him, baffled by Alexander''s actions. His silence was her only answer as they stood locked in a wordless standoff.


    After a tense moment, Alexander finally spoke, "She''s just gone where she needs to be, Quinn. I''m your family. I''m all you need. No one else. Do you understand?" Quinn froze, staring in disbelief at the man before her. He''d never seemed so alien. Previously, she had thought his words were spoken in anger, believing he was merely worried she''d be led astray.


    ''But now, I see. What influence could Juliet possibly have on me? He wouldn''t even spare an elderlydy. His control over me borders on the pathological. What in the world does he want? Why won''t he let me go, even though he clearly doesn''t love me? What kind of family is this?'' she wondered.


    Alexander''s gaze lingered on her for what felt like an eternity before he finally released her jaw and took her by the hand to head back inside.Quinn''s gaze was hollow as she stood in the empty room. She turned to look at the couch, which was also empty. She tugged at Alexander''s sleeve. He nced back at her.


    She gestured, "Alexander, do you love me?"