As Alexander hurried back into the hospital, a commotion reached his ears, coming from the direction of his grandmother’s ward. He quickened his pace, his steps echoing in the sterile hallway, while Aria struggled to keep up, her breath quickening with worry.
"All of you, get out!" Grandma’s voice echoed loudly from the ward, filled with frustration and anger. The door to her room stood slightly ajar, and Alexander could see objects flying past the entrance as if someone had completely lost control. Nurses ducked out of the way, retreating into the hallway to avoid the barrage. "What’s going on here?" Alexander demanded as he stepped into the chaotic scene. The room was a mess—pillows, blankets, even a small lamp had been hurled across the room. His grandmother sat upright in bed, her face flushed with anger, glaring at anyone who dared come near. Jessica, standing to the side with her arms crossed, quickly turned toward him, her face a picture of innocence mixed with desperation. "Alexander, I was just telling Grandma the truth," she said, her voice trembling as though she were the victim. "She deserves to know why she ended up in the hospital. It’s Aria’s fault—she’s trying to poison her! I don’t know what she’s done to charm Grandma, but Grandma won’t believe us. She threw us out instead!" Alexander’s gaze shifted to Aria, standing quietly by the doorway, shaking her head subtly in denial. He turned back to Jessica, his voice icy. "These things have not been fully investigated. Don’t jump to conclusions or spread nonsense in front of Grandma." Jessica’s eyes widened in outrage, her voice rising in frustration. "Isn’t it obvious? She put nut powder in Grandma’s soup, knowing Grandma is allergic! Who else could do it if not her?" She pointed an accusatory finger at Aria, her face flushed with anger. Aria stepped forward, her voice steady though her heart pounded in her chest. "I didn’t put anything in Grandma’s soup. I would never hurt her." "The evidence is right in front of us!" Jessica snapped, her temper flaring. "How dare you argue?" Alexander felt the weight of Lucas’ earlier words pressing down on him. 'The security system is broken,' Lucas had told him, 'so we can’t confirm who did it right now.' Before he could respond, Grandma’s voice cut through the tension in the room, firm and unwavering. "If Aria wanted to harm me, why would she mess with the soup in such an obvious way?" Grandma asked, her sharp eyes narrowing at the others. "This is clearly the work of someone trying to frame her. And I’m sure it’s someone in this room who’s pointing fingers at my granddaughter-in-law!" Jessica clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together as she tried to hide her growing frustration. 'Why is this old woman ruining my plans? Why would she suspect me for no reason?' she thought bitterly, fighting to maintain her composed exterior. Forcing fake tears to well up in her eyes, she faced Grandma again, her voice trembling with practiced innocence. "Grandma, I didn’t do it. I swear." She turned to Alexander, her expression one of wounded loyalty. "Alexander, you know me. I’ve known you and your family for so long. I would never hurt Grandma. You have to believe me!" Her tears glistened as she tried to garner his sympathy. But Grandma was far from fooled. She rolled her eyes in irritation, her voice filled with disdain. "Stop shedding those fake tears in front of me, Jessica! I don’t want to see your face. Get out of my sight, and don’t ever step foot in my house again!" Jessica’s tear-streaked face twisted into a mask of shock and hurt as she looked to Alexander for support, desperate for him to defend her. "Alexander, please…" But Alexander’s patience had worn thin. His eyes were cold as he glanced her way, cutting her off sharply. "Grandma isn’t feeling well right now. You should leave first," he said, his voice firm. "Before this matter is investigated properly, don’t agitate her further." Jessica’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in disbelief. She stood frozen as Alexander turned his back on her, walking directly to his grandmother’s side, dismissing her entirely. Aria, who had watched the entire exchange silently, met Jessica’s furious gaze briefly before following Alexander to Grandma’s bedside. Jessica’s face contorted with rage as she clenched her fists, the fury bubbling beneath her surface. "Bitch!," Jessica muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing with malice. "Just you wait." Aria could feel Jessica’s venomous stare burning into her back, but she remained focused on Grandma, who smiled warmly at her as if Jessica’s outburst hadn’t rattled her in the slightest. Alexander gently took his grandmother’s hand, his voice softening. "How are you feeling now, Grandma?" "I’m better now that those people are gone," she muttered, shooting a pointed glance toward the door where Jessica had stood moments before. "That girl has always been trouble." "I’ll make sure she doesn’t bother you again," Alexander assured her, his grip tightening on her hand. "You better," Grandma said with a huff, but her voice softened as she turned to Aria. "You, my dear, have been nothing but kind to me. Don’t worry about those snakes trying to bite at your heels." Aria smiled softly, her heart warming despite the tension in the room. "Thank you, Grandma. I promise I’ll take good care of you." "You’re already doing more than enough," Grandma replied, giving her a gentle pat on the hand. "Let them squabble all they want. The truth will come out eventually." But as much as Aria wanted to believe those words, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jessica wouldn’t give up so easily. The fight was far from over."Grandma, the people from the law firm are at home. They want to confirm the change of your will," Alexander said as he stepped closer to the bed."Oh, they are at home now? Tell them I will be there shortly," Grandma responded, her tone firm yet calm. She then turned her gaze to Aria, her expression softening. "My granddaughter-in-law, please come help me," she said, reaching out to Aria with a gentle smile.Aria quickly rushed to her side, instinctively offering her arm to support Grandma. The warmth in Grandma's voice made her heart feel lighter, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy about the ongoing tension surrounding the will.Alexander observed quietly from the side, his sharp eyes fixed on Aria’s movements. Inwardly, he mused, It seems she doesn’t know that Grandma is going to change her will... but how did Ethan find out about this? His mind raced with questions, but he kept them to himself for the moment.After a brief silence, Alexander spoke again, this time directin
As I left grandma's ward, a strange, uneasy feeling gnawed at me. Something wasn’t right. I couldn’t shake it off, like a weight pressing on my chest as I recalled grandma's words–’She once saved your life’.I was just about to call Aria when a nurse suddenly bump into me, her face pale.“Mr. Sinclair!” Her voice trembled. “Your wife… she’s been in an accident!”My heart stopped. “What? What happened?”“She fell down the stairs. There’s a lot of blood…”I didn’t wait to hear more. My legs moved on instinct, pushing past the nurse and racing towards the stairs.No, no, no…When I reached the stairwell, I froze at the sight before me.Aria lay at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious, her body motionless in a pool of blood. Her hair was matted with blood, staining the floor around her head. For a second, my vision blurred with panic.I rushed to her side, my hands trembling as I gently cradled her head, lifting it slightly off the ground. “Aria… Aria, wake up!” My voice was shaking, fil
Dr. Hensley walked in alongside his medical assistant, the air around them filled with the sterile scent of antiseptic and the faint hum of machines. He approached Aria’s bed; his demeanor was professional yet warm. “Good morning, Mr. Sinclair,” he greeted Alexander, his eyes flickering with a hint of optimism.How's she doing, Doctor?" Alexander asked, his voice tense but controlled, not betraying the storm of emotions brewing beneath the surface.Dr. Hensley checked Aria’s vitals, taking careful notes as he observed her steady but shallow breathing. A smile crept onto his face as he looked up. “She’s recovering fast, Mr. Sinclair. She should be awake any minute now.”Alexander gave a curt nod, his eyes never leaving Aria's face, a wave of relief washed over Alexander, but it was tempered by the gnawing worry that had haunted him since the incident. He had been waiting anxiously for news about her condition, and hearing that she was improving filled him with cautious hope.The doctor
Aria felt her limbs grow heavier as a strange fog clouded her mind. She blinked slowly, her vision swimming, and tried to focus on the man who had just entered the dimly lit hotel room. Her supposed boyfriend, Ethan, leaned casually against the doorframe, an unsettling smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The sight of him sent a chill down her spine, and despite the haze overtaking her thoughts, the primal urge to escape surged through her.She struggled to move, every fiber of her being fighting against the numbing sensation creeping through her veins. Ethan approached her slowly, his eyes gleaming with dark intent. He had drugged her. It was the only explanation for the dizziness, the way her muscles refused to obey her commands. "Don't fight it, Aria," Ethan murmured in a low voice, his fingers tracing her cheek in a way that made her skin crawl. "You'll be fine. Just relax."Panic surged through Aria's chest, She could barely lift her arms, but she clawed at the bedsheets, us
Aria's eyes fluttered open, the faint light streaming in through unfamiliar curtains making her blink in confusion. She groaned, her head still spinning from the events of the previous night. She slowly sat up, panic filling her as the memory of being drugged and chased by her ex-boyfriend Ethan flooded her mind. With shaky hands, she quickly checked her body for any signs of abuse. A sigh of relief escaped her when she realized her clothes were still intact, and there were no obvious signs that anyone had taken advantage of her while she was unconscious."Where am I?" she muttered, taking in her surroundings. The luxurious room she found herself in was nothing like the dingy hotel where she had struggled against Ethan. The bed was plush, the furniture modern and sleek.She glanced around the room, taking in the lavish decor—the silk curtains, the expensive art on the walls, and the faint scent of fresh flowers that filled the air. This was no ordinary hotel room; it was a suite fit f
Aria's heart pounded as she stood frozen in place, expecting the worst. She was certain she had been caught, her disguise as a maid failing her. But when she turned around, it wasn't the bodyguards glaring at her—it was the butler, Mr. Grayson. His stern yet composed expression briefly unsettled her before he spoke, his voice firm and unyielding."You two," Mr. Grayson said, pointing at Aria and the other maid she had bumped into. "The lady of the house has been waiting for assistance in the courtyard. Do not keep her waiting any longer."Relieved but cautious, Aria nodded and quickly followed the other maid, her mind racing with questions. She had narrowly escaped suspicion, but she wasn't safe yet. As they reached the sunlit courtyard, Aria's eyes immediately fell on an elderly woman seated gracefully on a plush chair surrounded by blooming flowers. The woman exuded an air of elegance and authority, her gray hair styled neatly, and her eyes sharp with wisdom that only comes with age
"Aria, the adoptive daughter of Samuel," Alexander Sinclair said, his voice cold and unwavering as he glanced down at the folder spread open on his desk. "Your adoptive father is a known gambler. He owes a substantial amount of debt, forcing him to borrow money from several dangerous sources. To pay off those loans, you've had to work multiple jobs at once, barely scraping by."Aria felt a surge of anger rise within her, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She had been through enough—working long hours just to survive—yet here was this man, sitting behind his desk with an air of power, throwing her past in her face as if it were nothing."You investigated me," Aria spat, her eyes narrowing with frustration. "You had no right to dig into my life like that."Alexander met her gaze without flinching, his expression unreadable. "My grandmother likes you," he said, his voice smooth and measured. "She believes you're someone important from my past. Regardless of whether that's true,
Bound By Fate: The Billionaire's Contract BrideChapter 5: The Unforseen EncounterThe morning sun was gentle, casting a golden hue across the city,the sun filtered through the large windows as Aria sat in the passenger seat of Alexander's sleek black car, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her blouse the material twisting between her fingers. She wasn't nervous, or so she told herself. After all, this wasn't a real marriage—it was just a contract. She couldn't believe how surreal her situation had become. Less than 48 hours ago, she had been running for her life from Ethan, and now she was on her way to the civil registry with Alexander Sinclair, one of the most powerful men in the country, to get a marriage certificate. She could barely catch her breathAlexander's eyes lingered on her for a moment before he returned his focus to the road. His expression was unreadable, calm, and calculated, just like always. The man was a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, and now she was bound to h