Eva smiled, not uttering a word of encouragement to him. He had done what Alexander hadn’t, and she was indebted to him, but all she could offer him was her genuine friendship. After Maxwell left, she closed the door and turned around to check out the room she was in. It was a spacious room decorated in white with a peach accent wall, white furniture, and furnishings that gave the room a warm glow. However, her attention was drawn towards the luxe bedding that invited her over to rest her tired body. Quickly freshening up, she sat down on the bed and switched on her mobile phone. Being busy with two surgeries and a month-end meeting with nurse Solomon, she had to keep her phone switched off and leave it at the nursing station the entire day. Not that there was anyone to call her with her friends being busy with their lives.
However, her eyes widened with disbelief, noticing two messages from Alexander’s number. Her heart skipped a beat and a giddy smile lit up her face. After waiting impatiently for his call, she had almost given up hope. Quickly opening the chat app, she checked the messages.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Eva. I’m happy to have met someone like you in my life, but now the time has arrived for us to part. I wish you good luck and happiness in your life.Alexander.
Shocked, Eva re-read the message as a feeling of dread clutched at her heart. Was this the last goodbye before his marriage to Beatrix? She frowned at the message with disbelief. How could Alexander write such a message to her after everything they shared? What about the promises he had made to her? Her glance fell upon the next message.
Take this as the last goodbye, Eva. Don’t contact me after this. I wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with you after my marriage. It would be better for both of us if you try to move on.Alexander.
She frowned at the contradictory messages. They were opposite to what he had promised her. He had always asked her to wait for him because he was sure that he could give her what she wanted, a happily ever after with him!
“No, Alexander! You can’t just break off with me after everything we shared!” she whispered while tears blinded her. “Why did you give me hope?” She wiped her eyes, feeling desperate to find out what was going on. Was he in some sort of trouble? Did Beatrix force him to break up with her? Confused, she called him up. After three rings, a male voice answered her call, but it wasn’t Alexander’s.
“Hello, this phone is in the custody of the NYPD right now. Please call later.”
Eva gaped at the phone after the person disconnected the call. Why was Alexander’s phone with the cops? She called Ashton, but he did not know what was going on.
A knock on her door brought her back to reality, and she took a deep breath and opened the door, pasting a fake smile on her face. She couldn’t afford to show everyone what she was going through. Maxwell entered, followed by his sisters, Kendall and Katie, who looked quite interested to know everything about her.
“Are you two together, bro?” Kendall asked her brother in a whisper.
“No, we’re just friends,” said Eva, while Maxwell rolled his eyes.
“That’s what she says,” whispered Maxwell, leaning towards his sisters.
“You two like one another. Don’t you, bro?” asked an excited Kendall while Eva protested.
“It’s your responsibility to get her to agree to marry me,” said Maxwell as if it was a secret. Eva groaned while Kendall and Katie cheered excitedly, ready to take up such an important responsibility.
“I can’t marry you, Maxwell. You know I can’t.” Maxwell didn’t let her complete her sentence, and they abducted her to the dining room, where everyone was waiting for them. Their infectious mood brought a smile to Eva’s lips, and she soon forgot her woes. The food was too good not to take another helping and Maxwell’s family soon made her feel at home. For the first time, she became a part of a family, laughing and eating with them as if she belonged there. Apart from at Skylar’s house, she had never had the privilege of dining together with a family before.
“Eva, why aren’t you eating dear?” asked Maxwell’s aunt, Gloria Clyborne.
“Are you dieting?” asked Aunt Gloria’s eighteen-year-old daughter, Gabriella.
“No, I can’t eat much in one go.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll pick up. Mom makes the most delicious food on earth and you wouldn’t be able to stop at small potions.” They all agreed and Eva too had to agree with her. The food was so good that she too overate for the first time in her life.
She retired to bed early but lay awake thinking about Alexander’s messages to her. What should she conclude with them? They didn’t feel real. She could hear the family outside, laughing and enjoying themselves, and wished this was Alexander’s family instead. Her life would have been so much easier if Alexander was as easy-going and uncomplicated as Maxwell.
The next morning, just as promised, Maxwell drove her to the police station to lodge a complaint against the car trailing them. With all the evidence recorded in his car’s dash cam, the cops could retrieve the Honda Accord’s number and start the investigation immediately.
“We will update you as soon as we nab the man. In the meantime, do not venture out alone anywhere, Ms. Rayner.” They thanked the officer and left the police station when Maxwell turned towards Eva.
“Did you hear him? Wait for me after your duty. I’ll come over to pick you up.”
“Thanks, Maxwell, for everything you’re doing for me. I won’t be a burden on you for long,” she said, feeling guilty.
“I have my reasons for helping you, Eva. Please don’t thank me repeatedly.”
“What reasons?” she asked, following him to his car.
“I told you I want to marry you. I want you to live a happy married life with me,” he said, staring at her expectantly as he opened his car door for her. Eva stopped and looked at him, her eyes sad and melancholy.
“That isn’t possible, Maxwell. You know I love Alexander.”
“Fine. After ten years, if he is still married to Beatrix, will you think about my proposal?” he asked with a smile. Eva sighed and sat down inside the car, strapping the seat belt absent-mindedly. Maxwell’s words touched her deeply. What would she do if it came true? How long could she wait for Alexander?
Maxwell closed the door and climbed into the driver’s seat, and started the car. Eva sat in silence, deep in thought. She wanted to confront Alexander directly. He couldn’t break off with her through a few chat messages. He had to speak his mind outright to her face.
“There’s a Chevy Equinox following us this time instead of the Honda Accord. The man must have realized that we have reported him to the cops. He has changed his vehicle.”
Eva forgot her line of thought and turned to check. “What will we do now?”
“I’ll drop you off and call the officer to inform him.” Eva nodded and got down at her hospital, while Maxwell drove off with a salute.
Eva forgot about her stalker the whole day, being busy with her work. In the evening, she found Maxwell waiting for her in the reception room. “At your service, Mademoiselle!” he said, leading her towards his car.
“Any news about the stalker?” she asked hopefully.
“No, he’s quite a player! He changed his car again after I complained about the Chevy. I saw him using an old Ford car this time, but when I picked up my mobile phone to take a picture, he drove away.”
“I wonder what he wants from me!” said Eva, as they climbed into his car.
“Maybe Alexander has employed him to stalk you,” said Maxwell with a shrug, but Eva didn’t agree.
“Why would he? He has broken off with me,” she said bitterly while Maxwell gaped at her.
“Did he call to break off?” he asked, watching her broodingly. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she slowly shook her head.
“He messaged me. He didn’t think it necessary to say it in person. I have loved him for the last twelve years, Maxwell. How could he sever all ties with me in just two messages?” The tears spilled from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. Maxwell sighed and caught her hand in his.
“I’m sorry for everything you’re going through, Eva. I don’t have words to console you, but I wish God would grant you the happiness you truly deserve.”
The next ten days were crucial for Eva as she battled with depression and a crazy stalker whom even the cops failed to track down. To top it all, her health started deteriorating till one morning, she could not get up from bed to go to work.
“Why don’t you take some rest today, dear? You don’t look very well,” said Maxwell’s mom.
“I think she needs to eat well. Last night, she skipped dinner,” suggested Aunt Gwen.
“I’ll get you some toast, bacon, and eggs,” offered Kendall, but Eva felt nauseated even at the mention of food and ran to the washroom to throw up.