The island was beautiful, and the luxurious mansion located inside a gated compound took everyone’s breath away, especially Alyssa’s. She started dreaming of buying such a place for herself in the future. Eva, however, was more worried about Alexander’s reaction since they weren’t sure when he would be back from his trip.
The main house was a three-story structure handcrafted out of native stone. The interiors were lavishly decorated with an open stairway and a glass cubicle elevator that provided easy access to all the floors. There was a spacious great room with a professional-grade kitchen and an open terrace attached to a wet bar. The huge dining area could accommodate nearly thirty people with ease, with provisions for alfresco dining as well. The whole place opened up to the staircase and elevator with the master bedroom and six bedrooms located upstairs. There were bedrooms on the ground floor as well, and Lucas’s granny occupied one of them. Eva sat with her, gently massaging her legs that had been aching from all the traveling around.
“You have magic in your hands, dear. Thank you. I’m feeling much better now,” said granny with a warm smile on her face.
“Thank you, Eva. I was so worried. It would have been difficult to get mom’s therapist here to the island at such short notice,” said Lucas’s mom. Eva smiled at the two of them. They were so kind, unlike Alyssa’s parents.
“I’m used to doing this for my patients, aunt Claudia. You can call me anytime. I’ll be glad to help,” said Eva.
“Isn’t she sweet, mom? I wish she was my daughter,” said Claudia Donnelly, and Eva’s eyes filled up with tears. This was the best thing anyone had ever said to her. When her own parents didn’t want her, there was a stranger who wanted to cherish her.
“I’m honored, aunt Claudia. No one has ever said that to me,” she said, trying to smile through her tears.
“I’m sure your parents would be proud of you,” said aunt Claudia.
“They separated when I was ten. I took turns staying with them, but they remarried and left NYC forever when I turned eighteen. I have had no news of them ever since. They never kept in touch with me and I don’t disturb them,” said Eva with a smile.
“Oh, how did you support yourself financially at such a tender age? Did they provide for you?” asked granny.
“Yes, until I turned eighteen. After that, I survived on my grandfather’s inheritance money. Now I’m fine with my job. In fact, I like this free life better.”
“Yes, Sienna told us how you both landed a job at Bellevue Hospital,” said aunt Claudia.
They chatted more and Eva felt glad that she came here and met the Donnellys. They weren’t as bad as Alexander portrayed them to be. The next day, Alexander started calling Alyssa since morning, but she didn’t accept his call. A sense of dread gripped Eva’s heart, knowing that he was back and might have realized that they had left despite his warnings. She knew that when he couldn’t connect with Alyssa, he would definitely call her. What would she tell him?
“Alyssa, take his call and talk to him at least,” she tried coaxing her friend, but Alyssa was adamant.
“No, I’m not a kid that I’ll need his permission to attend a friend’s wedding. If he has a problem, he can stay away from me,” said Alyssa, stubborn as ever. Eva knew she was right in her own way and didn’t prod her further.
The whole day went by, yet Alyssa didn’t once talk to Alexander, and he started calling Eva instead.
“I’ll talk to him,” said Eva with a sigh. Maybe if she spoke to him, he would stop disturbing them! Everyone was engrossed in a movie and Eva walked out to her room to talk to Alexander.
“Hello, Alexander. Did you call me?” she said nervously, waiting for the blasting.
“Where the f*ck are you? I’ve been calling the whole day. Why isn’t Lisa taking my calls? Have you two gone to Preston to attend Sienna’s wedding?” growled Alexander under one breath.
“I’m not sure why Alyssa isn’t taking your call. Yes, we’re at Preston Island right now.”
Her answer infuriated him all the more. “Don’t lie, Eva. Of course, you know why Lisa isn’t taking my call. Don’t cover up for her.”
“Why should I cover up for her? She’ll call you when she feels like it. Do you have anything else to say?” she prompted him, eager to end the conversation when Alexander was too furious to realize what he was uttering.
“Aren’t you eager to disconnect the call? I wonder why! Maybe you find the Donnelly brothers more charming! Have you kissed them yet?” he growled angrily, making Eva gasp at his insinuations. Was he crazy?
“I’ve come here to attend my friend’s wedding and nothing else.” She was about to disconnect the call when Alexander scoffed at her words with disbelief.
“Really? Why can’t I believe that?” he growled.
“I don’t care whether you believe it or not. I don’t owe you any explanations.”
“Definitely you do. Dad was right about you all along. You’re the one who instigates Lisa to go against me. When you weren’t there with her, she listened to me. You’re the one who supports her in every wrong decision of hers. I’m really disappointed in you, Eva,” he gritted out angrily, making Eva freeze with shock. Did he really think that low of her?
“Are you telling me that I’m a bad influence on Alyssa?” she asked as calmly as she could, although her heart shattered into a million pieces.
“Yes, you are,” growled Alexander, disconnecting the call and leaving Eva stunned and hurt. How could he say such things to her? She returned to the entertainment room in a state of daze, but Alexander’s words echoed in her head all the time. With everyone busy watching in the dimly lit-up room, she didn’t have to face anyone, thankfully. Even after the movie, she didn’t get an opportunity to connect with Alyssa, who was more involved in warding off Nicholas Donnelly, the enemy. Eva knew he was bothering her, but she was too preoccupied to ask her friend for details.
Later, Eva and Alyssa came into the room and fell onto the bed with exhaustion. “I don’t have the energy to even change for bed! This place has made me so lazy!” she complained.
“I know, right? So did you talk to Alex? Could you convince him? What did he tell say?” Eva sighed and turned to look at her, her eyes reflecting pain and sadness.
“He told me I am a bad influence upon you and I shouldn’t support you in every wrong decision of yours. I instigate you to go against his wishes. I should leave you alone and get a place of my own instead of living off you, Alyssa.” Tears rolled down Eva’s cheeks, her heartbreaking remembering Alexander’s cruel words again. She had tried to hide her pain all evening, but now, within the closed confines of their bedroom, she just couldn’t stop the ache in her heart. Alyssa sat up, her face livid with anger as she stared at her friend in disbelief.
“Seriously? How could he say all that to you?” She was at her wit’s end, and if she could, she would have given her brother a piece of her mind.
“He hates me. That’s why he says these things to me. After the wedding, I’ll apply for a room in the staff quarters of my hospital, this time permanently. I’m tired of hearing the same things again and again.”
“No, you won’t live there in a matchbox. You will stay with me and that’s final. Who the hell is Alex to decide who I should stay with?” Eva shook her head, determined this time. Wiping her eyes, she picked up her clothes and went to the washroom to change. It was time to change her surroundings and live amongst strangers.
Alyssa sighed at his brother’s insensitivity and decided to fight him tooth and nail over this. She picked up her mobile phone and to her surprise, there were no calls from him since he called Eva. It was strange since Alexander never let go of something so easily. If he wanted her to listen to him, he wouldn’t leave any stone unturned to have his way.
“I wonder why he didn’t call me even once after talking to you.”
“He feels we both are romancing Lucas’s brothers,” said Eva with an eye roll while Alyssa’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Is he crazy? Wait a minute! Did he mean you or me as well?”
“He meant me. He thinks I’m going around kissing them. Eww,” said Eva, while Alyssa looked amused.
“Oh, now I get it. He’s jealous!” said Alyssa with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he landed here to check for himself.” Eva’s eyes widened, and she sat there gaping at her friend. “Only because of you.”