CHAPTER 4

Álex

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“How could this happen? Where did you get those pictures? Who put those pictures on that screen?” My voice rumbled, shaking the office as I slammed my fist on the desk, causing a few papers to flutter.

“I’m sorry, President.” The staff member continued to apologise, his hands behind his back and his gaze averted to the floor.

The more he apologised, the more it got on my nerves.

“How did this happen?” I raised a brow, demanding an explanation.

“It was your mother, Mrs. Dawson.” His voice staggered.

“And you didn’t see fit to check with me first?” I demanded. “You’ll be fired. Just leave my sight.”

I retrieved my phone from the desk and dialed my mother’s number. Every muscle in my face worked hard to express the anger I was feeling. I couldn’t believe she had arranged a wedding advertisement without my consent. My grip on my pen tightened as the dial tone echoed in the office.

My frustration grew as she didn’t pick up, causing a dull throb in my head. I dialed her number again.

“Mom, did you have to do something like this?” I questioned, trying to contain the fire burning in me.

Her voice came through the line, calm yet firm. “Alex, it is for your own good. Mia is a wonderful girl. She’s beautiful and smart, from the rich. And with the baby...”

I pinched my nasal bridge at the mention of ‘Mia.’

“I don’t want this baby, and I don’t love Mia,” I snapped.

For the past week, she has been ringing on about how Mia is the best woman for me.

“You can’t just decide my life for me, and my wife is Sophie,” I quickly added.

“Don’t mention that insolent and vulgar woman. She is not deserving…” my mother began.

Instantly cutting her off, “Stop. Don't ever say that again, Sophie is…”

“Listen to me, Alex,” her tone laced with annoyance. "This isn't just about you. It's about what's best for everyone involved. It is your responsibility to have an heir for our family. Mia is expecting your child and marriage is the right thing to do, Alex," my mother insisted, her voice unwavering. "Mia needs stability, and so will the child. "

I felt a surge of anger and A little snarl escaped my throat.

“Just stay out of this. I know what I should do.” I ended the call, as I can’t stand such nonsense any more.

“Alex, Are you okay?” Benjamin entered with concern boldly written on his face, his voice tentative. “The wedding advert has been taken down. What's going on?” He questioned.

He stood there holding a tablet, his eyes narrowed and fixed on me. Benjamin and I had known each other since we were kids. He knew me better than anyone else. But now, even his familiar presence felt like an intrusion.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the past few months pressing down on me. “It’s complicated, Ben. Sophie and I…”

“I can feel it. Tell me” Benjamin tilted his head, and collapsed into the sofa that settled in the middle of my office.

A frown creased my face as I noticed his legs crossed and propped on the table, but I was too preoccupied with the current situation to kick them off.

With a powerful exhale, I began to narrate, “Three months ago, my mother asked me to go home for dinner to celebrate Mia’s recent big win. But I didn’t see Sophie. Mother said that Sophie went out with her friends. I expressed my congratulations...” I took a pause, noticing Benjamin's attention fixed to the tablet. “Are you even listening?” My tone flipped.

“Of course.” He recounted what I had just said. Benjamin scratched his neat beard. “Continue.”

“So, I expressed my congratulations to Mia. The evening had progressed uneventfully until my mother began insisting that I drink with Mia. She was unusually persistent, and I obliged, not wanting to cause a scene. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in Mia’s bed, both of us naked.

Mia, looking equally shocked, had pleaded with me to keep the incident a secret. She insisted she didn’t want to ruin my marriage, and in my dazed state, I had agreed. But a month later, she told me she was pregnant, and my mother knew about it. They pressured me to divorce Sophie, but I refused. You know I love Sophie.

And then, to make matters worse, they took the liberty of telling Sophie about it.”

“Wait, you got drunk? Come on, I know you drink like a fish. You must be framed, ha” Benjamin taunted.

A sudden silence fell.

His face turned serious, “Do you think your mother and Mia planned this? After all, your mother always wants you to marry Mia.”

A thought of how persistent my mother was that night struck me, and I looked at Benjamin, eyes narrowing as suspicion crept in.

I leaned back on my chair, spreading firmly. “Whatever, Mia never agreed to have an abortion, and my mother is adamant. I'm caught between them.” My mind became a fiery battlefield, my morals clashing with what I wanted. I never want to end any life, especially an innocent baby from me.

My fingers flung, rubbing my temples in a circular motion, lessening the throbbing headache that always occurred when I think about the situation I am in.

I was searching for a perfect way out of this mess, without hurting anyone, especially Sophie. But it seemed I was being punished for betraying her in the first place. When she ran out that night, I knew things were irreversible and nothing would ever be the same.

"How about Sophie?" Benjamin asked, his concern deepening.

“It’s been a week I haven’t heard from her or been able to reach her. But, yesterday, I received the divorce agreement.” I looked at the crumpled set of divorce papers on the desk, eager to flung the them to the hell. Leaning back, I jerked my head backward, my hands sprawled lazily on my body as memories of the night she found out replayed in my mind.

“Sophie maybe saw your picture with Mia. She felt betrayed. Are you getting a divorce?” Benjamin asked, picking up those excruciating papers and skimming through them.

“No,” I replied, my voice firm and unwavering. “I don’t want a divorce. I can’t let Sophie go.” The thought of divorcing was like a dagger in my heart

“Well, I think you need to deal with this as soon as possible.” Benjamin suggested gently. "Maybe Sophie thought you didn't love her anymore and…” He paused and handed me the tablet, where a picture capturing my eyes. “There might be a rival in love.”

My heart sank as I saw the image on the screen. Sophie, my beloved wife, was being carried into a sleek sports car by a man. My temper flared instantly, with hot blood coursing through my veins, pressing my lips tight. He had no right to touch her, it was unacceptable.

A spasm of jealousy gripped me as I saw how her body pressed against his. Who does he think he is, holding my wife like that?

I loosened my tie, hoping to ease the tightness rising from my chest to my throat. The thought of another man was around her made my blood boil.

“Who is he?” I asked.

“It’s Luca from Brown family. He is the most valuable hotel designer, and probably gonna take over from old Brown. You never attend any designer party and always ask me to, so you didn’t know him.” Benjamin grumbled.

Gently pulling the tablet from my hands, he continued “but there’s a designer party in a few days. You are invited again. Maybe you should go.

The image of Sophie flashed in my mind—her smile, her laugh, her touch, the way she used to look at me. I knew I couldn’t let her go—not to Luca, not to anyone.

“I’ll be attending the party,” I stated, my voice resolute.