Maxwell stared back at him with intense hatred in his eyes while everyone gaped at the ongoing drama.
“Why should I tell you? I want you to suffer for Eva the way I have for Teresa. It’s because of you she left me and married someone else. You injured me and sent me to the hospital. She met a rich guy there and left me for him. If I wouldn’t have been hospitalized, she would have been with me. I hate you, Alexander Van Every! You deserve this. I’ll snatch Eva and your baby away from you and you wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it,” yelled Maxwell, shoving a dazed Alexander towards the exit. Ashton grabbed hold of Alexander and glared back at Maxwell.
“You can’t bear a grudge against him for that, Maxwell. It was a high school fight. He thought you guys were harassing his sister,” Ashton spat out at him.
“I will take my revenge on him. The simple high school fight destroyed my life. This is between Alexander and me so, stay out of this Ashton,” Maxwell gritted out. Coming to his senses, Alexander caught hold of Maxwell’s collars in a fit of rage.
“You deserved what Teresa did to you. As for Eva, she loves me. She will never willingly marry you. I’m sure you’re forcing her to. You’ve updated me about everything but her pregnancy! You will have to face the consequences,” he seethed.
Maxwell laughed and leaned closer to him. “You’ll be surprised to know that she has agreed to have a normal marital relationship with me after marriage. We planned lots of children together,” he whispered, chuckling mirthlessly.
Unable to control himself, Alexander clenched his hand into a tight fist and punched Maxwell hard, busting his lips and making him stagger backward. Shrieks and gasps erupted all around the room.
“Someone call the cops!” said aunt Gloria in a state of panic.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll control my friend. There’ll be no more fights,” promised Jax grabbing hold of Alexander. They hadn’t come here to cause bloodshed and injuries.
Isaac and Maxwell’s uncles held him back from counter-attacking Alexander.
“No, let me go. He needs to be taught a lesson he will never forget,” yelled Maxwell.
“Wait, a minute, son. This is getting out of hand. What’s this got to do with your teenage crush, Maxwell? I never expected you to be this immature,” said his dad. Maxwell looked uncomfortable and realized what he had done. He had admitted the truth in front of his family.
“No dad. It’s not that simple,” he started but his mom intervened.
“You can’t blame Alexander for your failed love life. Teresa didn’t love you enough, maybe. She would nevertheless have found someone else, if not the man she met at the hospital you were in,” said his mom.
“Yes, bro. Mom is right. She wasn’t the one for you,” said Katie.
“Look, let’s not waste any more time. Maxwell, we’re terribly sorry for everything you went through but please step down and let Alexander unite with Eva and their unborn child. We don’t want to use force here,” said Mike, coming forward.
“I don’t believe this. How can you all support him? I thought at least my family would feel my pain,” said Maxwell, looking hurt.
“We all do feel your pain, son but force and revenge cannot win you love. You will end up unhappy,” said his uncle Tim.
“Why should I step down? Why can’t Alexander move on instead?” he continued relentlessly.
“Maxwell, you know why. They both love one another. Here an innocent baby is involved whose fate depends upon this. Don’t take your revenge too far, please,” said his mom.
“What about me, mom? I don’t want to live a lonely life. I’m willing to give Eva and her unborn baby the love and support they need. Why should I step down? Where was Alexander when she needed him? I was there with her in her time of need. It’s too late now. Eva has accepted me in her life and I am looking forward to a future with her,” said Maxwell stubbornly.
“Alexander was going through hell. Why else would he stay away from the woman he loved for the last twelve years? Please let go of your ego, Maxwell,” said Ashton.
“Twelve years? Please, Max, let them unite,” coaxed Katie.
“Yes, please let go of her, Maxwell. I’m sure you will find someone who will love you truly,” said Sienna.
“She’s suffering, bro. She can’t be happy with you. Let her go,” said Kendall, and Maxwell turned to look at her with disbelief.
“You too? How can you support her, Ken?”
“It is the truth. I have seen her suffer. She won’t survive for long if she marries you, bro. She will recover if you let her unite with the father of her baby.” Maxwell looked at the anxious looks on their faces, but he didn’t want to let Eva go. He, too, wanted to settle down! He, too, had the right to be happy. Maybe he would never find another woman as true and genuine as Eva. Why would he let her go?
“I want her in my life. How can I let go?” he added brokenly.
“Then there’s only one way out. Ask her what she wants,” asked aunt Gwen.
“But she has lost her consciousness after the way you both started to fight,” said Gabriella.
“Oh, my God! Where is she? I’ll talk to her,” said Alexander, shoving Maxwell aside and storming inside, looking for her.
“No, I’ll talk to her,” said Maxwell, grabbing hold of Alexander and pulling him backward. They all groaned and his dad intervened.
“None of you will talk to her. Your mom and I will first have a word with her in privacy. Is that understood?” said Maxwell’s dad while Isaac and Maxwell’s uncles pulled the boys back. With only half an hour left for the wedding to start, there was utter chaos all around. No one knew whether there would be a wedding at all today. Should they cancel the ceremony? They all stood anxiously, watching what was going on.
Maxwell’s parents went inside Eva’s bedroom and found aunt Claudia and Mrs. Duncan desperately trying to revive Eva, who sat slumped onto a chair.
“Lay her down comfortably on the bed and get me some water,” said Maxwell’s mom. They lay her down on the bed and Mrs. Duncan brought some water to sprinkle on her face to revive her.
“Eva, open your eyes, please. You don’t have to marry against your wishes,” said Maxwell’s mom soothingly, sprinkling a little water on her face. She stroked her head while aunt Claudia massaged her icy hands.
“Eva, wake up. Alexander’s waiting for you,” said aunt Claudia, bringing her face closer to hers. It worked like a magic potion and Eva stirred. They sprinkled a little more water, and she finally opened her eyes slowly to look at Maxwell’s parents.
“Alexander,” she croaked feebly. They gaped at her since she had caught Alexander’s name, even in her unconscious state.
“Yes, he is here. Do you want to see him? Should I call him inside?” urged Maxwell’s dad. Without replying, Eva slowly got up, lost in a world of her own.
“Alexander has come to get me, aunt Kristina. I must go to him,” she whispered with unshed tears pooling in her eyes. She couldn’t believe that while he was here fighting for her outside, she was lying inside unconscious. How could she lose consciousness? She had to support him, save him, and be there beside him. She had to tell him she was pregnant with his baby.
She staggered towards the door, oblivious to aunt Claudia calling her back. Maxwell’s mom felt tears prick in her eyes. How could she have been so blind to not see what the girl was going through? She got up and guided Eva outside while the others followed her. Everyone’s eyes popped out at seeing Eva emerge, looking haggard and dazed.
The moment she went out of her room, Eva’s eyes went to a disheveled and anxious Alexander who looked like he hadn’t rested for days.
“Alexander!” she whispered, the tears cascading down her cheeks.
“Eva!” he whispered back, opening his arms out to her.
Maxwell did the same, but she was oblivious to anyone else in the room, her eyes holding Alexander’s tortured gaze. Mustering up all the strength she possessed, she ran towards him. His arms were her home forever, and all she needed was to reach him. On seeing her look so ethereal and angelic in her bridal gown, Alexander’s eyes glistened with tears of happiness. This was the moment he had been waiting for since he saw her last. He had gone crazy for just a glimpse of her! Now that he found her again, he would never let her go.
No one uttered a single word, gaping at the two of them with astonishment. Eva snaked her arms around his neck and clung to him desperately while sobs racked her feeble body. She was so delicate that Alexander wrapped his arms around her and picked her up from the ground, supporting her totally.
“Eva! I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered, content to have her in the sanctity of his arms at last. She was worth fighting for. He had found her again and could now rest his case.