The next day Mr. Strasbourg called Alexander since he was facing some problems. Alexander reluctantly went over to help him out but was too disturbed to do anything much. After guiding Mr. Strasbourg’s PA, Marco, he drove over to his penthouse to pack himself a few essentials, eager to escape everything. With his mind in a state of unrest, he needed to be alone for a few days. However, as bad luck would have it, he met a furious Lucas and Marcus on his way out.
“How dare you injure Nick? You could have just threatened him instead of attempting to kill him. Thank your lucky stars that we didn’t report you to the cops because of the childhood friendship we once shared,” gritted out Lucas.
“He provoked me,” said Alexander, but Marcus wasn’t in any mood to listen. They immediately started attacking him while he fought back. Afterwards, they left, satisfied at having busted his lips, and injured him similarly to their brother.
Alexander slumped into his car and drove towards the east coast all the way to Hamptons, a two-hour drive away. He wasn’t in the frame of mind to stay here even a second longer. Unable to accept the news of Eva’s marriage, he needed some time to think of a course of action, not that there was much he could do when Eva was living with Maxwell. He needed to get her alone, but how? With Nicholas admitted to Bellevue, he was apprehensive about visiting Eva there. He didn’t want any lectures from his dad about his recklessness. It seemed his dad favored Alyssa and Nicholas more than him recently.
In the Meantime:
Eva felt better and insisted on going to work. Maxwell dropped her off at the hospital before leaving for work. “I’ll pick you up afterwards. Just call me if you feel unwell.”
“I’ll be fine, Maxwell. Don’t worry so much,” she said with a wave going inside the hospital. She met Nicholas in the orthopedic department when he sent his nurse to summon her.
“What in the name of God happened to you, Nicholas?” she gasped with horror at seeing his condition.
“I almost died last night. Thanks to my future brother-in-law!” He rolled his eyes while Eva gaped at him.
“Did he do this to you last night?” Nicholas nodded while Eva’s eyes widened with horror. What was wrong with Alexander? Why was he picking up fights with everyone? Had he lost his mind?
“Let me see your chart. I hope you don’t have any broken bones.” Eva picked up his chart and started going through it.
“Yes, a lot of broken bones. Eva, can you do me a favor? Can you inform Alyssa about my condition?” he pleaded with her.
“I’ll try Nicholas. She hasn’t been accepting my calls lately. I wanted to invite her to my wedding but couldn’t connect with her.”
“Wedding? With whom? Alexander?”
“No, with Maxwell. Hasn’t he informed you yet?” asked a surprised Eva.
“I just returned from Singapore last night and landed in the hospital. I haven’t spoken to him for the last three days. So, how are you marrying Maxwell when you like Alexander? No wonder he has lost his shit.”
“It’s a long story, Nicholas. I’ll tell you some other time. I need to get back to duty. In the meantime, I’ll try to contact Alyssa. Have you two fought again?” Nicholas nodded with a groan and Eva smiled knowingly and left his room.
Eva returned home in the afternoon since she had opted for a morning shift only until she felt better. She had just freshened up when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from her best friend, Alyssa. Her eyes widened with excitement, and she accepted the call immediately.
“So, you’re alive! I’ve called you like a million times. Why didn’t you take my calls?” demanded Eva.
“Sorry girl. I’m going through shit and I’m now homeless and at your apartment. Where are you?” she asked with concern.
“I’m at Maxwell’s parents’ house. You can ask the security for the keys and stay there for as long as you need to,” said Eva while Alyssa’s jaws dropped with shock.
“What are you doing at Maxwell’s house?” she demanded.
“They’ve fixed our wedding for next week. So, we’re planning everything. I’ll come down to update you. You will be my maid of honor,” she said in a dull tone devoid of any happiness. Shocked and curious, Alyssa fumbled for words. She didn’t have any idea that Eva was marrying Maxwell. Did Alexander know?
“Sure. I’ll be your maid of honor, even if you don’t invite me. So, does Alexander know that you’re marrying Maxwell?” she asked in a hoarse whisper, expecting the worst.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for a long time,” said Eva.
“Where are you staying?” Alyssa was at her wit’s end, thinking of what might have happened between them.
“At Maxwell’s parents’ house till the wedding. They’re very simple people and love me for what I am, more than my own parents ever did.”
“I’m happy that you’ve moved on, Eva. You deserve to be happy,” said Alyssa.
“I’m happy, Alyssa. Are you still working at Nicholas’s office?”
“No, I left. I’m job hunting now with no luck whatsoever,” sighed Alyssa.
“If you need a backend job at my hospital, I can talk to the admin department,” she offered her friend.
“Yes, I do. I’m willing to do any job,” she said.
“Fine, forward your resume to them.” They discussed the procedure of application, and finally, Eva disconnected the call after promising to see her soon. She couldn’t tell Alyssa about Nicholas after realizing how upset she was with him. For the next two days, Nicholas recovered while Eva visited him daily.
“They’re discharging me tomorrow. Please, can you bring Alyssa here somehow?” he pleaded.
“I’ll try.”
After her duty, she drove over to her old apartment. Memories of what she shared with Alexander came gushing back, and she felt tearful. Was Alexander staying here? Would she see him even once for the last time before she got married? She went up to her apartment but noticed the lock still on Alexander’s door. Maybe he hadn’t come here even once! Why would he? It was foolish of her to even expect him to. She rang the doorbell of her apartment, and Alyssa opened the door.
“What happened to your phone? I tried calling you for two days,” Eva complained entering the apartment.
“I didn’t want anyone to find me,” Alyssa mumbled.
“Anyone who? Nicholas?” she demanded, and Alyssa nodded.
“And my parents.”
“Nicholas can’t look for you. He’s at the hospital with ribcage injuries. Alexander beat him up three days ago when he returned from Singapore.” Alyssa slumped on the couch nearby, too shocked by the news. Now she realized why her brother had that determined look on his face that night.
“How do you know about it?”
“I just know. Okay, I have little time. I just came to inform you that you’ve been selected for an interview at Bellevue. Did you check your email?” she said. Alyssa switched on her mobile phone and checked the email from Bellevue, stating that her interview was the next day.
“Be there fifteen minutes early. I’ll see you tomorrow. Gotta go, bye,” said Eva, rushing out before Alyssa could ask her details about Nicholas.
The next day, the interview went well, and Alyssa was selected for the position. It helped improve her mood and went to see Eva in her department.
“Congratulations! I’m glad that you’re selected. We can meet for lunch whenever I’m free,” said Eva.
“Yeah, thanks, girl. I owe you a treat,” said Alyssa.
“Have you met Nicholas?” asked Eva, suddenly, and Alyssa shook her head.
“No, where is he admitted?”
“Here, in the orthopedic department. Come, I’ll take you to his room,” said Eva.
They stood outside his room while Alyssa watched him through the glass aperture on the door. “I’m feeling guilty for his condition. I can’t face him, Eva.”
“What nonsense! I’m sure Nicholas knows it isn’t your fault. This isn’t the first time Alexander has bullied him and sent him to the hospital. However, this time, Lucas and Marcus have taught Alexander a lesson he shouldn’t forget,” said Eva bitterly. She heard from Maxwell that Lucas and Marcus caught hold of Alexander the next day when he was escaping to the Hamptons. They had a fight and Alexander was wounded, yet he drove off on the two-hour road trip. It had made her heart constrict with concern for him, but she couldn’t voice her feelings in front of Maxwell.
“What lesson? How come I do not know of this?” Alyssa asked with wide eyes.
“They beat Alexander up and ever since he has disappeared, leaving his work with the manager, Marco.” With Mr. Strasbourg being very secretive about the change of CEO until everything settled down, Eva did not know that Alexander had stepped down.
“I’m now worried about him. He has never disappeared this way, leaving his work.” She wanted to say more but held her tongue since Eva knew more than she did.
“I know, and I’m worried as well. I’ve searched for him everywhere,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“I just hope that he doesn’t harm himself,” said Alyssa with a sigh. A sob escaped Eva, and she clamped her hand to her mouth and just walked away down the corridor towards the exit.
“I’m getting late for work. See you later,” she said over her shoulders as tears trickled down her cheeks. Alyssa sighed, knowing what she was going through. It wasn’t easy to forget the person she loved for nearly twelve long years. It wasn’t easy to marry someone else when she still loved him.