The next day, Alexander brought Alyssa home from the airport, but she fought with him all the way.
“I told you I didn’t agree to the engagement. Mom and dad just dumped it on me.”
“Are you spineless? No one can dump something or someone on you, Alex,” seethed Alyssa.
“I could have protested if dad was well or uncle Desmond was alive. How would you know the circumstances I’m going through? You don’t care about anyone,” said Alexander bitterly.
“What’s wrong with dad to get you so worried? I’m sure a few antibiotics can heal him up,” said Alyssa with an eye roll. Alexander didn’t correct her, since he had promised his parents that he wouldn’t bother her with their dad’s illness. She didn’t care about them and never ever visited them to take an update on their health!
“Maybe, but I can’t be the cause of his deteriorating health.”
“No wonder they’re taking advantage of you,” scoffed Alyssa. She walked into her apartment and sighed at seeing Eva’s things still lying around. “I’ll get Eva from Hayley’s house. If you have any objections to it, you can stay away from us.” Alexander’s heart skipped a beat. This was what he’d been waiting to hear. Of course, he wouldn’t stay away ever!
“Do what you want to but be ready to face dad if he finds out,” he warned, turning to leave.
“I’m not afraid to face him. Good night, Alexander.”
“Settle down first. I need to talk to you tomorrow. Good night,” he said over his shoulder and left before she could ask him anything further.
The next morning, Alyssa went to Hayley’s house to catch hold of them both before they left for work. “When did you return, Alyssa?” squealed Hayley, grabbing hold of her and wrapping her into a bear hug.
“Last night! I wanted to surprise you guys!” said Alyssa, hugging her back. She released her and opened her arms out to Eva who quietly stood watching them with a smile on her face. She didn’t need to show just how happy she was to see her best friend. Alyssa knew! They both had tears of joy in their eyes at seeing one another after seven long months. Alyssa knew what her best friend had gone through in her absence. She swore to give Alexander a piece of her mind later.
“How is your grandpa now?” Eva asked, after releasing her.
“Better. He can walk with no support. They both can handle the business now with the manager’s help. So I just came home.”
“Good to have you back, Alyssa. Have you heard? Sienna is getting hitched,” said Hayley while the other two gaped at her. Eva had been so busy the last two days at work that she just came back late to sleep. She hadn’t been able to catch up with any of her friends.
“To Lucas Donnelly, or Roman Drexler?” asked Alyssa with wide eyes, while Eva waited impatiently for her reply.
“Obviously to Lucas. We can video call her tonight,” suggested Hayley excitedly.
“Umm, then make it late. I want Eva to move in with me tonight,” said Alyssa, while Eva opened her mouth to protest. She wouldn’t go back to Alexander’s building at all.
“No Alyssa. I can’t go back there. I’ll be moving back to the hospital accommodation,” she protested. Hayley was leaving on a work tour with her dad, and she didn’t wish to live here without her.
“No way. I know you’ll land up being sick again. Don’t deny it, Eva. I know exactly why you landed up at the hospital.”
“Exactly! You can fool the world, but not us,” and Hayley. She knew everything, but never prodded her friend for details.
“Please understand Alyssa. I can’t live with you. I can’t,” she begged, the panic clear on her face.
“You can’t hide from Alexander forever, Eva. Show him you aren’t at all affected. Try to move on. I’m sure you’ll find someone who will cherish you for what you are,” said Alyssa.
“I’ve moved on, but I don’t want to face him.”
“You need to learn to face him,” said Alyssa, stubborn as always.
“I don’t want to live a nomadic life, Alyssa. Your dad will object and again I would have to run. It’s better that I go to hospital accommodation. At least I’ll live a respectful life,” said Eva.
“Fine, but if you fall sick again, I won’t listen to you at all. I’ll just bring you home,” threatened Alyssa, angrily leaving without another word. Eva felt the tears prick in her eyes for hurting the person who cared for her the most. She knew she couldn’t face Alexander again. Seeing him every day with Beatrix would break her more.
“Don’t worry about Alyssa. She’ll come around. Why do you need to leave, Eva? I’ll come back in a week, before Alyssa’s birthday. You can stay here in my room. Mom, granny, and Elsa will be here if you need something,” coaxed Hayley and Eva sighed, giving in to her. Next week was Alyssa’s birthday, and she just hoped that her friend would take them to a restaurant instead of inviting them to her apartment. Hayley left for her trip, and Eva got ready for her duty. She had just emerged from the room when she overheard Hayley’s mom and granny talking.
“We need to introduce them, mom,” said Hayley’s mother, aunt Caroline.
“Yes, but how? Eva sticks to Hayley all the time. I want Jason and Hayley to spend time with one another before their engagement,” said her granny. Eva’s eyes widened at realizing what they were planning. They wanted to get Hayley engaged to Jason Lowells, owner of Lowells Wine Estates, one of the leading wine producers in the country. Hayley had mentioned it to her once, but they didn’t know that it would happen this soon.
“He wants to come home for dinner. How long will Eva stay here?” asked her mom. Eva paled, realizing that contrary to Hayley’s beliefs, her family didn’t want her to stay here. What a fool she was to believe that they did! She went back to the room, her decision made now. She wouldn’t stay here a minute longer and quickly packed up. In twenty minutes, she was done and carried her stuff towards her car. Hayley’s granny and mom looked at her with surprise. They hadn’t expected her to be home so late. She usually left for work at seven in the morning. They eyed each other, realizing that she might have overheard them.
“Eva? Didn’t you go to the hospital today?” asked her mom.
“I have my duty from 11 o’clock today. Thanks for everything, aunt Caroline, granny. I’m moving out,” she said with a small guilty smile. She had wanted to leave long ago, but it was Hayley who had stopped her every time.
“Why so suddenly? Is something wrong?” asked aunt Caroline, eyeing granny with guilt.
“It’s not sudden, aunt Caroline. I’ve already told Hayley that I will leave today. I would have left long ago, but she stopped me every time.”
“Oh, where will you go?” asked granny.
“I’ll go back to the hospital accommodation.” They didn’t prod further, relieved to see her go. Eva drove over to her hospital. In the evening after duty, she would go to the hospital staff quarters to check if there were any rooms available. However, when she went to the building in the evening, she was in for a shock. There were no rooms available! It was 10 o’clock at night and she needed a place to sleep.
Booking into a motel nearby, Eva felt thankful to have a bed to sleep in. The wish to go to Alyssa’s apartment was tremendous, but she didn’t give in to the desire. She had to stop depending on her friends. Two more days and it would be the weekend and she could go looking for a place to stay. For two days, she tried to cut down her food costs at the motel to scale down the overall expenses. She couldn’t afford to pay a huge amount after paying the room tariff per night. Finally, it was Saturday and Eva was free to go apartment hunting, but her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Ashton. She sighed, accepting his call.
“Where are you? I’ve been to your hospital accommodation but didn’t see you there. Hayley said you left her house three days ago,” he scolded her. Eva sighed, hearing the anger in his tone. She didn’t have any idea if Ashton always kept a tab on her out of his own free will or at Alexander’s insistence. Ashton never told her the truth.
“I’m fine, Ashton. Don’t worry about me.”
“That’s not the answer to my question, Eva. I want to know exactly where you are before I file a missing complaint with the cops.” Eva’s eyes widened, and she knew she would have to tell him the truth.
“I’m at Sunshine Plaza, room 102,” she said with a sigh, while she could feel Ashton’s shocked silence at the other end. His was a studio apartment and therefore she knew she couldn’t stay with him.
“Why the hell are you staying in a motel?” he growled angrily. “Be right there. I’m coming to get you.”
In fifteen minutes, Eva checked out and came over to the reception desk. Her jaws dropped at seeing Alexander and Ashton striding angrily into the motel.