Alexander rushed outside the wrought-iron gates but strangely Eva had disappeared from view. “Are you sure you left her here?” asked Sienna, catching up.
“Yes. I told her not to go anywhere without me,” said Alexander worriedly, taking out his phone to call Eva. Just then, the security guard came out of their booth near the far end of the gate.
“Are you looking for Ms. Eva?” he asked them.
“Yes, she’s my wife. Have you seen her?” asked Alexander hopefully.
“Yes, she went to the departmental store to buy water. Should be here any minute.” They breathed a sigh of relief and waited for two minutes when Eva came towards them carrying a bottle of water.
“Sorry, I needed water.” She smiled, looking a little guilty at seeing them waiting for her.
“You could have called me, Eva. Dad’s calling you inside to attend the wedding.” Eva gaped at him but slowly shook her head disappointedly.
“Did you fight?” Sienna shook her head and caught her arm to steer her inside the mansion.
“No, we didn’t. Alyssa requested her dad to allow you today, and he accepted. Now let’s go in,” she said, leading her inside with Alexander hot on their heels. They approached the arch where Alyssa was waiting with the rest of their friends.
Eva nervously glanced at Alexander’s mom, who glared at her as she walked in. Her glance fell upon Alexander’s dad, who caught his wife’s hand to prevent her from leaving his side. Eva realized immediately that they had been forced to agree to allow her inside. Would they insult her in front of everyone? A feeling of dread crept into her heart, refusing to go away.
“Relax and smile, Eva. I don’t want you falling sick, today,” said Alexander, and Sienna looked at him quizzically.
“She falls sick and lands up at the hospital when stressed,” he explained.
“There’s nothing to feel stressed about, Eva. We’re here with you.” She comforted her friend. Eva smiled and nodded, going towards Alyssa to surprise her.
“Alyssa, you’re looking so lovely,” said Eva from behind her. Alyssa gasped and turned to see her best friend and opened her arms out to her.
“At last, you remembered me, Eva,” she said, trying to control the tears that threatened to pool in her eyes.
“I always did, Alyssa. Congrats on finally making this happen,” she said.
Alexander came forward and stood with them silently. “Shouldn’t you talk to Nicholas and patch up with him?” asked Eva.
“Later!” said Alexander gruffly, and both girls rolled their eyes at him.
“Can you leave us alone a bit? I need to talk to my best friend,” said Alyssa, dying of curiosity to know about everything that happened after Nicholas abducted her.
“Later.” They again rolled their eyes, unable to catch up with each other, although they were dying of curiosity. The other girls came rushing to bombard Eva with questions, but with Alexander sticking to her like a leech, it seemed like an impossible feat.
“Why can’t he catch up with the guys?” whispered Skylar into Alyssa’s ears.
“Maybe he’s protecting Eva,” said Sienna.
“From what?” asked a clueless Hayley.
“From being insulted,” said Alyssa.
It made sense, and they watched a new side to Alexander’s nature as he hovered around their friend all the time.
It was time for the wedding ceremony and Ashton pulled Eva along with them while Alexander stayed back with Alyssa to walk her down the aisle.
Alexander watched Maxwell standing beside Nicholas, trying to evade his gaze. In fact, he noted Maxwell evaded Eva as well, not even looking in her direction. Maybe he wasn’t a threat to them any longer. He might have forgotten his grudge and moved on!
After giving his permission, his parents avoided all interactions with Alexander to show their displeasure. Alexander knew a confrontation was brewing up in their minds, but he wasn’t interested in fighting them. He would stay away till they changed their mind about Eva. He watched Eva walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids and smiled with satisfaction. This was what she had always wanted!
It was time to walk Alyssa down the aisle.
“Are you ready? Take a deep breath, Lisa,” said Daniel Van Every, smiling at his daughter.
“Yes, dad.”
They led Alyssa down the rose-petal-strewn aisle towards a beaming Nicholas.
“Why is he grinning at me like a fool?” muttered Alexander under his breath.
“He’s happy to see you,” replied Alyssa. Alexander groaned at seeing Nicholas’s happy face but thankfully didn’t say another word till they reached the altar. Nicholas came forward to escort her to the altar and her dad placed her hand in his, giving him a warm smile.
“I know you’ll take care of her, my boy. God bless you both.”
“You better not betray her or I’ll hunt you down and finish you,” threatened Alexander, but the smile on his face gave him away. Nicholas grinned and nodded.
“I won’t, bro. Thanks for the approval,” he added.
“I didn’t give it yet,” shrugged Alexander with a laugh, walking away with his dad towards the chairs. Nicholas chuckled, knowing that Alexander was just pulling his legs.
They watched the wedding while Alexander watched his beautiful wife. She looked so happy today! He just crossed his fingers that everything went well as per plan and they could go back home on a cheerful note.
After the wedding, everyone gathered around the newlyweds to congratulate them, and Eva stayed back to watch them. With her condition, she felt claustrophobic in crowded places, and the nausea always returned.
A throat cleared behind her and she turned to find Alexander’s dad standing behind her with a grim look on his face. Eva paled and stammered, not knowing what to say to him.
“I need to talk to you, Eva. Come to my study.” He marched inside the house without waiting for her reply. Eva looked around desperately for Alexander, but he was nowhere to be seen. Sighing, she followed his dad inside the house as the familiar feeling of dread washed over her mind. What would he say to her in privacy?
He led her to a polished study room with an enormous mahogany desk occupying the major portion of the room. He closed the door after them and Eva’s heart started beating faster with fear. Going over to his desk, he sat down and gestured at a chair opposite to him.
“Sit.”
Eva sat down nervously, but not a word came out of her throat as she waited for him to talk.
“Why are you after my son? Do you realize that it’s because of you his life is finished? He has completely ruined himself, his career, and surviving on his savings? It is because of you he is living in the slums. If you had loved him even a little, you would have left him alone to chase his dreams, to grow in life. His personal savings in his bank might look a lot to you, but it’s peanuts compared to what he actually has.” Eva trembled at the cruel words, but not a word came out of her panic-stricken mind.
“But as long as I’m alive, I won’t let the likes of you destroy my only son. He’s headstrong and might have married you on the spur of the moment, but I don’t accept your wedding at all. Maxwell told me how you used your pregnancy to trap him into marriage.”
Eva gaped at the furious man in front of him, realizing that Maxwell too had betrayed her with his lies. There was no point in wasting her energy in arguing with someone who hated her so much. She waited for him to take all his venom out on her.
“I want to end this once and for all. Name a price for leaving my son and I will pay you the money. I have prepared an agreement which you need to sign after accepting the money and disappearing from my son’s life. So quote your price,” said Daniel Van Every, pinning her with a look of pure hatred.
Eva opened her mouth to speak, but no word came out of her parched lips. Tears filled up her eyes instead, choking up her throat.
“Speak, girl. I don’t have all day!” said Alexander’s dad, banging the table with his fist.
Eva blinked with fear and looked into his spiteful eyes helplessly.
“My feelings for my husband are priceless. My love isn’t up for sale, Mr. Van Every. I’m sorry to decline your offer.”
“Cut that crap, Eva. I can see through you. I’ll pay you fifty million dollars to leave my son,” he said, picking up his chequebook and glancing at her. “Okay, one hundred million dollars?” he prodded when she didn’t respond.
Eva shook her head as the tears fell from her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks.
“My decision will always remain unchanged, even if you offer me everything you possess. Thank you for allowing me to attend my best friend’s wedding, Mr. Van Every. Stay healthy and happy always!”
She didn’t stay a second longer and rushed out of the study room, leaving a stunned Daniel Van Every gaping after her with a blank cheque in his hands.