After helping granny to her room, Eva went towards the banquet hall to help herself to the delicious hors d’oeuvres before Alexander arrived to disrupt her peace. However, before she even reached the living area, she froze seeing Alexander in the corridor, approaching her.
“There you are! I’ve been looking for you and Lisa everywhere.” He stopped in front of her with an angry scowl on his face, his gaze briefly sweeping over her.
“I was in granny’s room.” Eva looked up at him and, for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw his eyes glitter with lust for her. He soon shuttered his emotions, replacing them with his signature scowl.
“We’re leaving in ten minutes. Collect your stuff and come down. Tell Lisa that I’m looking for her.”
“I’m not going with you,” she stated, not wanting to leave without attending her close friend’s reception. What would she do back at Alyssa’s apartment? Cook a simple one-pot dish for dinner and sleep?
“I’m not giving you a choice, Eva. You’re coming with me.” He took a step towards her, his eyes flashing furiously. Eva glared at him, ready to fight him. She wouldn’t be bullied by him all the time. He had a right over Alyssa, but not over her!
“Why do you always have to bully me? You can leave with Alyssa but I won’t go without attending Sienna’s reception. I’m tired of cooking all my life. I want to taste her wedding food!” she pushed him aside and stomped away upstairs to tell Alyssa that her brother was looking for her. However, she found the door locked, and despite knocking a few times, Alyssa didn’t open it. What was she up to? Eva could hear strange noises from inside, as if someone was with her. Shrugging, she walked away down the stairs towards the banquet hall to grab whatever food she could.
Alexander gaped at her outburst. So food was the reason she wanted to stay back here? He felt a little guilty for bullying her all the time. Born with a golden spoon, he never realized the hardships Eva was going through. These simple things that he took for granted meant the world to her.
Alexander went after her to ask Sienna to pack up something for the girls. He had to return tonight for an important board meeting tomorrow where Beatrix would be given more powers over the business. He was afraid they would ask him to hasten the wedding or step down as CEO.
He saw Eva enjoying the appetizers with Hayley and his heart ached for her. What difference would it make if they left after the party got over? Couldn’t he let her have her fill before she left? Seeing her stressed, he went towards her to announce their change of plan but froze immediately on hearing their topic of discussion.
“The food will disappear in minutes if Alyssa doesn’t come now. Where is she? I didn’t find her in her room,” said Skylar.
“She’s in Nicholas’s room. I saw her going inside,” said Hayley with an eye roll.
“Are they dating, now?” asked Skylar, but Hayley shrugged.
“No, they aren’t. They’re just attracted to one another, but don’t tell Ashton. He will definitely tell Alexander,” said Eva, while Alexander’s blood boiled with fury. Here he was thinking of her welfare while she was supporting Alyssa in her secret affair with his enemy? Was she a friend of Alyssa’s or a foe? Instead of encouraging her to manage VE Global Finance, here she was pushing her towards a relationship with the worst man alive!
He stormed out of the banquet hall, thinking about going to his room to catch Nicholas red-handed with his traitorous sister, when Nicholas collided with him in a hurry. A silly grin broke out on Nicholas’s face knowing that Alyssa still hadn’t left the island.
“I’ll wipe that grin off your face if I find you anywhere near Alyssa,” muttered Alexander leaning towards Nicholas, but strangely, his threat had the opposite effect on him. His grin widened, and he leaned in too.
“Let’s see you do that, Alexander. I’ll sweep her off her feet and you won’t be able to do a thing,” he laughed, walking away while Alexander grabbed him by his collar and pinned him to the wall nearby away from prying eyes.
“Don’t fuc*ing challenge me. I’ll kill you with my bare hands,” he growled in a low and menacing tone but instead of buckling down, Nicholas caught at his neck instead, applying the same amount of pressure as he was.
“Your threats won’t work on me, Alexander. I can kill you with my bare hands too,” he stated, his eyes holding his angry glare, not flinching even once. It angered Alexander all the more, remembering the conversation he had overheard earlier.
“What the hell is going on here? What are you two doing?” scolded Alyssa, walking up to them and staring at what was going on with a fury. Nicholas grinned at her and released her brother’s throat. Eva too came out and stood beside her friend while Alexander looked ill at ease, his eyes stuck on her face, which looked at him with disappointment.
“He started killing me so I tried to defend myself,” Nicholas complained, making Alexander immediately release him. Alyssa glared at her brother while Eva shook her head with displeasure. Strangely, her reaction mattered to Alexander a lot. Would she refuse to go with him now? He also wanted to know more about his sister’s relationship with Nicholas and he couldn’t anger her now.
“I wasn’t killing him, I was just warning him off you, Alyssa,” protested Alexander, but his eyes were upon Eva who looked everywhere but at him. Nicholas went into a bout of coughing the moment Alexander released him, and Alyssa looked at him with concern.
“Are you alright?” she asked with concern. Nicholas shook his head vehemently, making Alexander groan.
“I’m sure he’s putting up an act,” he stated, but Eva walked away and he groaned all the more, rushing after her.
“You can stay till the party’s over, Eva. That way you won’t miss out on the food,” said Alexander, catching up with her.
“So kind of you. Thank you,” she said with a fake smile pasted on her lips, walking away to freshen up.
“Wait, I need to talk to you.”
“Tell me, I’m listening,” she said, waiting for a minute for him to speak.
“What’s going on between Alyssa and Nicholas? I’m sure she has told you,” said Alexander. Surprised, Eva turned to look at him with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to ask her directly instead of asking his own sister.
“I can’t tell you anything, Alexander. If you want to know, ask Alyssa,” she said, but it angered him instead.
“You shouldn’t support her when she’s wrong. If you’re a genuine friend, shouldn’t you point out her mistakes rather than ignore them?” he demanded angrily.
“What mistake are you talking about? Who she likes is her personal matter! How can I interfere? I’m her best friend, but I have my limitations,” said Eva, feeling a little hurt at Alexander’s questioning.
“At least you can put some sense in her head to do something with her career. Dad wants her to take over the business. Can’t you convince her to do that instead of running after the worthless Nicholas Donnelly?” asked Alexander, still feeling frustrated to see Eva being so secretive about Alyssa and Nicholas’s relationship.
“I’ve tried Alexander. Give her time. I’m sure she will be interested when she’s ready,” said Eva with a sigh, but Alexander wasn’t convinced.
“I’m sure you’ve tried half-heartedly. She has always done so much for you, Eva. Don’t you think you should guide her on the right track now when she needs it the most?” he said, looking upset and walking away. Eva stood frozen, her heart snubbed by his taunting words. His apology didn’t mean a thing then. He really felt that he was taking advantage of Alyssa and not carrying out the duty of a best friend.
Tears stung in her eyes, and she just wanted to stop living with Alyssa. Alexander was no better than his dad who too hated her. She freshened up and returned to the banquet hall, but all her enthusiasm left her totally. With a fake smile plastered on her face, she tried her best to enjoy the reception party. Everyone gathered at the dining table for the toasts and speeches. Eva avoided Alexander and picked at her food later. Why did she allow Alexander to hurt her always? Why did he possess so much power to make or spoil her day?
After the late lunch, they all geared up to watch the first dance. Eva wasn’t interested in dancing and sat with granny and Hayley while Alyssa danced with Nicholas and Skylar with Christian. It was more of a battle with the two of them as they danced against their will. However, Alexander arrived from nowhere and a fight broke out between Nicholas and him. He announced they would leave in minutes and Eva met everyone before going up to her room to pack.
After fifteen minutes, Alexander led her towards the front door. With Alyssa having gone inside to talk to Sienna and Hayley and Ashton fighting in one corner, Eva was stuck to Alexander. “Why didn’t you eat?” he asked her impatiently.
“My wish. Why are you so bothered?”
“I don’t want you landing up at the hospital,” he said, sucking a deep breath to control his temper.
“Even if I do, you’ll be the last person to know.”
“Then who will take care of you? I’m the only one who does,” hissed Alexander, losing his patience.
“I don’t need you, Alexander. Dr. Garrett takes better care of me. You can take care of your fiancee instead,” she said grimly.
“You have no reason to feel jealous and lie to me. I know you don’t like Garrett.”
“You know wrong. I’m not jealous of anyone, least of all Beatrix.”
“You are. I know you can’t see me with another woman,” he challenged her.