Alexander dragged his tired body to the hotel room he had been staying in for the last few days. He had completed his work in London but somehow didn’t have the wish to return home and face Beatrix again. The entire afternoon Ashton had been calling him but he had been too busy in a meeting to accept his call.
He unlocked his phone to check the messages Ashton had sent wondering what the urgency was all about. There wasn’t a thing that Ashton didn’t know about him. They were more like brothers than best friends. He frowned at the message, wondering what was up now.
Bro, did you announce your wedding and Beatrix’s pregnancy officially today? It has gone viral! Here’s the link, check. Call me immediately, it’s important.Ashton.
Shocked, Alexander clicked on the link, which took him to Beatrix’s social media post. Alexander gaped at the photograph of them together. It was an old photograph taken by uncle Desmond when he was alive. He had forced them to pose with one another for the photograph. However, it was the heading and write-up that had him seething with fury.
Heiress to the Rotterdams empire is all set to marry the father of her baby!
He wanted to announce to the world that it wasn’t his baby! His immediate concern was if Eva had seen the article. She would be devastated! He immediately called her but even after ten rings, she didn’t accept his call. What was going on? It looked like she had read the article that Beatrix had shared in a post. Agitated, Alexander called Ashton to know what was going on.
“At last, you got time, bro. Did you see the article I sent you?” asked Ashton worriedly.
“Yes, what the fu*k is she up to? Couldn’t she wait for my return before making a public announcement?” he muttered angrily.
“Just as I thought. What about the picture she used? It looks quite old,” pointed out Ashton.
“It is old. Uncle Desmond forced us to click it when he was alive. Never mind the picture. What’s the scene at home? Are my parents alright?”
“I went there at lunchtime. Uncle Daniel and aunt Jodie are fine but when I went to your room to check up on Beatrix, I heard her arguing with Fairfield over the phone. I think he is upset that she is marrying you and claiming his baby as yours.” Alexander’s eyes widened at the information and his heart filled with hope.
“Then why doesn’t he take responsibility for his own child?” he demanded.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I felt Beatrix was quite upset with him. She didn’t even notice my presence in the house. She was in tears and I couldn’t make out much of what she spoke. I think he was begging her for an opportunity.”
“Thanks for the news, dude! You made my day! I had completely lost the will to live after her last stunt,” said Alexander, smiling for the first time in days. He just wished Fairfield would accept Beatrix and their baby and free him forever!
“Have you completed your work there? When will you be back? You’ll be shocked to know that Eva and Alyssa have left home. Eva bought a tiny apartment in Bronx and they moved in there,” informed Ashton, making Alexander gape with shock. What? Why would Eva need to use her inheritance money to buy herself an apartment? It was her only savings, and she had saved it for emergencies.
“How did you know? Did Hayley tell you?”
“Yes. I met her after work.”
“But why did Eva have to buy an apartment of her own? Find out everything you can about her new home. I want the exact location, address, and everything. Check if there are other apartments available for sale in the building. I’m coming home tomorrow,” said Alexander, a newfound energy bubbling inside him.
“Sure, bro.” After Ashton disconnected the call, Alexander packed up and booked a flight back home for the next day. He ordered his dinner and was about to hit the bed when his phone buzzed with two messages. Thinking it to be Ashton’s message about Eva’s new home, he quickly checked them but to his utmost surprise, the messages were from Maxwell. He sat up with interest and downloaded the two pictures he sent her.
His blood boiled realizing that the pictures were of Maxwell and Eva’s second date!
So she had forgotten him already and moved on with Maxwell. He couldn’t believe that while he was losing his sleep over her, she was enjoying herself with Maxwell, his arch-enemy. At this rate, they would be married by the time he returned to New York. He couldn’t wait to return and drill some sense into her head. As for Maxwell, it was time to teach him a lesson.
Ashton sent him the details the next morning before he boarded his flight.
The apartment next to hers is up for sale, dude! Do you want me to talk to the owner?Ashton.
Alexander grinned at his friend’s message. He could always trust his best friend to come up with the best possible solutions to his problems.
He called Ashton, and they discussed the apartment in question. He transferred the funds to Ashton, who promised to buy the apartment on his behalf. Relieved, he boarded his flight back, all thoughts of Beatrix having escaped his mind. All he could think of was moving in as Eva’s neighbor and threatening her to stay away from Maxwell.
Eva made a quick brunch and waited for Alyssa to come home. She had gone to Maxwell’s office for the new job interview he had mentioned last night. With her duty starting late, Eva wasn’t in any hurry to get to the hospital. After a relaxing shower, she hummed a tune as she cleaned the place up. The morning light bathed the apartment, and she felt quite proud of her new home.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and she rushed to open it, expecting Alyssa. As she opened the door, her jaws dropped to the floor at seeing Alexander instead. Angry and disturbed to see him suddenly in front of her, she tried to close the door in his face, refusing to talk to him. At that point, all she could think of was his betrayal, his fake concern, and promises. She wouldn’t give in to him this time. He could go away and spend his life with his pregnant fiancee.
“Eva, what the hell!” he swore, grabbing the door and pushing it open.
“Go away! This is my house, and you aren’t welcome here. Go back to your pregnant fiancee and have a million children with her, for all I care!” she yelled hysterically. Alexander stared at her with a grim expression on his face, realizing that she knew.
“It’s not mine.” He entered the apartment with a pleading look on his face, pushing the door shut after him.
“Don’t give me that crap, Alexander! You and Beatrix have announced it to the world.” She turned around to leave, not willing to listen to his useless explanations. He grabbed her wrist to stop her, whirling her around to face him.
“I didn’t. I just returned from London. Don’t tell me you’ve believed Beatrix again?” Eva scoffed and looked away.
“I can’t ignore her pregnancy. She’s carrying your baby and you can’t deny that you’ve lied to me all along,” she accused angrily. “You’ve slept with Beatrix despite your false confessions of love for me. I hate you, Alexander. Go away,” she said as tears of helplessness stung her eyes. She wiped them away angrily, refusing to break down in front of him.
“I didn’t sleep with her. I love only you, dammit. How can you be so sure that she’s carrying my baby? Don’t you trust me at all?” asked Alexander, tightening his hold on her hand and pulling her towards him. Eva pushed at his chest, extricating herself from his hold.
“No, I don’t trust you anymore. Go away!” she yelled. Alexander released her, but his face was flushed with anger and jealousy.
“I know that. You’ve moved on pretty fast with Maxwell! Two dates in two weeks is really impressive. So have you slept with him yet?” he gritted out, making her glare at him with disbelief. Had he been keeping tabs on her? How did he know she went out twice with Maxwell?
“How can you ever think I’d stoop so low? He’s just a friend, that’s all!” she gritted out.
“Then how can you think I’d stoop so low and have physical intimacy with Beatrix?” he demanded, punching the wall nearby with a mad fury blazing in his eyes.
“Then whose baby is Beatrix carrying if it isn’t yours? How did you make a public announcement if it wasn’t true?”
“She’s carrying Sean Fairfield’s illegitimate child, dammit. She staged a suicide attempt to get me behind bars if I didn’t agree to marry her and father her illegitimate child. What choice did I have?” Eva gaped at him, shocked to the core, when the doorbell rang to bring them back to reality.