I returned to the hospital, trying to clear my head from the whirlwind of thoughts that had been clouding my mind since the meeting about the will. Something felt off, and I couldn’t shake the suspicion gnawing at my gut.I knew I was missing something, and I hated that feeling.As I made my way to the courtyard, A raised voice broke through my train of thought making my steps falter.Aria.Her voice carried a strain of irritation, sharp enough to pierce through the typical hospital noise. My jaw clenched, and a tightness coiled in my chest. Who was she talking to? My pace quickened instinctively, my body reacting before my mind had a chance to catch up, I rounded the corner, and there she was—facing a man who had his hands on her. That man…Ethan.Her ex-fiancé.I can feel my blood boil instantly. Ethan’s hand was wrapped around Aria’s wrist, his posture invasive and aggressive. Every nerve in my body surged with a protective instinct that i couldn’t suppress. Without thinking, my h
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. "A
"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 slowly opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings. The glaring white ceiling was the first thing she noticed, followed by the steady beeping of the monitor beside her. The sterile smell of disinfectant lingered in the air, a sharp reminder of where she was. Her vision blurred momentarily as she tried to adjust to the bright lights, blinking several times before her eyes finally began to focus.The effort to open her eyes fully left her feeling drained, her body still weak. She tried to sit up, but her muscles refused to cooperate, and she collapsed back onto the bed with a thud. A sharp pain pierced her head, forcing her to raise her hand instinctively to her forehead, only to find it wrapped in bandages. And then it hit her—the memory of Ethan, his threatening words, the struggle, and the fall. Her heart raced at the recollection.Turning her head slowly, she noticed a figure slouched against the couch near her bed. His head was tilted slightly, eyes closed, his features soften
"Alexander, I didn't mean to hurt Grandma," Aria said softly, her hand still holding his. Her voice was shaky, the guilt and fear clear in her eyes as she gazed up at him. Alexander's eyes flickered to where her fingers were wrapped around his hand, and for a moment, there was something unreadable in his expression. Clearing his throat, he looked back at her, causing Aria to realize what she was doing. She quickly pulled her hand away, her face flushing with embarrassment."Please, can you give me another chance?" she asked, her voice wavering. Her fingers fidgeted nervously in her lap as she awaited his response. "Let me continue to take care of Grandma."Alexander regarded her for a moment before speaking, his tone steady but distant. "Just rest and focus on your recovery. Someone else is taking care of Grandma for now." He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "Let the chefs handle her meals. You don't have to do everything yourself."Aria's heart lifted with hope. ‘Does that mean I
What am I going to do? Aria’s thoughts spiraled as she hurriedly texted Ethan the location for their meeting. Anxiety gnawed at her, but she felt she had no choice. Her pulse quickened with each step as she sneaked out of the hospital. She knew it was dangerous to confront Ethan alone, but the fear of those compromising photos being leaked was even greater.Meanwhile, Alexander was in the car, heading back to the hospital with his assistant, Lucas. The atmosphere was calm until Lucas suddenly pointed out of the window."Look, isn’t that young madam?" Lucas said, squinting to see through the dimly lit street.Alexander, who had been scrolling through his phone, glanced up. His face darkened when he spotted Aria, heading towards a figure he recognized all too well."Pull over," Alexander commanded coldly.Lucas quickly obeyed, stopping the car and rushing to open the door for his boss. They both stepped out, moving cautiously toward the shadows."Mr. Alexander... that guy looks like Eth
“Young Master, perhaps I have a suggestion. Maybe we should visit the police station. Ask about the case file, what do you think? It might hold more information.” Lucas said as they drove through different streets. “You’re right. Mrs Smickums said something about the past sheriffs not being available but the case file would surely be available. Let’s got to the police station then.” The driver turned the car around, the ride to the police station was simple. He didn’t have any memories on this road, that was understandable. It wasn’t like he must have frequented the police station as a child. Alexander sat with his hands on his knees, his mind racing about the possibility of knowing everything at once. “Sir, we’re here.” The driver announced as he pulled into the driveway of the police station. “I’ll find somewhere to park sir.”Alexander and Lucas exited the car, Alexander’s migraine was back now, persistent as always. “Are you okay sir?” Lucas asked. “The migraine is back, let’
Alexander and Lucas had returned to the apartment, they sat in the living room. Lucas was seated at the dining table, his laptop was open and his phone was connected with a short cord, he scrolled through his laptop trying to find the app that could decipher the now deleted call logs from the phone. “Young Master, I’m almost done,” Lucas said, his eyes remaining on the screen. “I just need a few more minutes.” Alexander rubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t know what I’m feeling but it feels like every second we waste is another moment for Hensley to continue doing whatever the fuck he’s doing to Aria right now. She’s somewhere out there and we don’t know where…” Lucas kept on working. “Young Master, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that we find her. I understand your worry and I will make sure we find her as quickly as possible. Hensley and Ethan will rot in jail for this.” Alexander exhaled sharply, the dull ache of his migraine was adding to his anger and frustratio
Frieda walked into the bathroom of her hospital room with the phone. “Excuse me! You could just hold on. I’d be done with the phone before you’re done changing the sheets and then I’ll return it to you. I just want to pee.” Frieda told the nurse before closing the door behind her. The nurse nodded and left to get the new set of sheets for the bed.Frieda sat on the toilet seat, her fingers trembling as she called Hensley. She pressed the phone to her ear and waited, the phone rang and her stomach turned with unease. After another call, Hensley picked, once again giving the caller a silent treatment as only the sound of his breathing could be heard. “It’s me, Frieda.” She said, “Frieda, this better be important.” Hensley said, his voice betraying the impatience.“It is very important.” She replied, glancing below the door to be sure no one was lurking outside. “Alexander told me they want to leave the hospital and go back to his home. He’s insisting that there is a better healthcar
As soon as Alexander and Lucas exited the hospital building, leaving the noise of nurses and the staff, they exchanged a knowing look. Alexander was the first to break the silence. “That woman in there,” he said in a heavy tone, “that woman…” he shook his head. “is not Aria.” Lucas looked as though his brain was calculating different equations at the same time. He didn’t interrupt Alexander. “I knew it from the moment we rescued her,” Alexander continued. “She may have looked, and even sounded like Aria but her mannerisms, even the way she looked at me. Something felt different… wrong even. But I couldn’t quite explain it because of the glaring similarities.” He said, running a hand through his hair. “She called me darling, Aria told me she hated that because it sounded patronizing and fake and didn't like saying it either. Then she said she used perfume, Aria doesn’t even like using perfumes. Now I can safely say my gut was right Lucas. My heart wasn’t at ease, like Aria was still
“Thank you, Can I please ask you for a favor?” Frieda asked the nurse who came in to check in on her. The nurse smiled from ear to ear, their head of operations at the hospital had gotten a whiff of the fact that this woman was the wife of a multi billionaire and she was married into a very influential family. There was a whole meeting addressing all staff to be the nicest to them no matter what. “Sure. What do you need?” The nurse asked. “Your phone, I need to make a call and it seems mine got misplaced after I was kidnapped.” Frieda said, hoping that the last tidbit about her kidnap would make the nurse more sympathetic and susceptible to her. “Oh. We’re not allowed to hold on to our phones during working hours. That’s why I only have my pager on me but if you give me some minutes. I could dash down to the locker room and get it for you.” The nurse replied. She genuinely felt bad for her, being rich had its own issues. One could get into problems like kidnap and blackmail just
They arrived at the hospital to find Aria sitting up in bed, she looked too composed for someone who was recovering. Alexander noticed the empty sushi disposable plates in a corner, he offered her a small smile. Lucas wanted to verify beyond reasonable doubt that it was Aria that ate the meal. “Young mistress, did you eat the sushi?”“Yes. Thanks for everything. It was so good, I really enjoyed it.” She replied softly. Alexander looked at Lucas who understood what the words didn’t convey. There was something different about young mistress, as if she was a completely different person. “By the way, this perfume you have on. It’s a bit different, I think it smells a bit musky than usual.” Alexander said. “Oh no darling. I use the exact same perfume, I haven’t changed it” Frieda said, not understanding the trick question. There was no way Dr. Hensley would have told her what scent Aria uses so she had to just feign her way through. “Oh okay. I guess it’s the smell of the hospital mak
Alexander felt a lot better thanks to the medication the doctor had recommended. Although he had slept in an armchair in Aria’s hospital room, the migraine had reduced and he felt more alert. He decided to take a cold shower at the apartment, the cold water cascading down his body was way better than the last time. He could feel now and enjoy every moment of it. Alexander wished that he could be underneath the jet spray for even longer but they had places to be. Lucas knocked on the door just as Alexander got out of the shower. “Young Master? We might need to hurry a bit, we still have to get breakfast for young mistress before we track down Mrs. Smickums.” Alexander spoke through the door. “Yeah. I’ll be right out Lucas.” Lucas was already by the door when Alexander came out, they proceeded to enter the vehicle. “Is there a sushi place around here or any Chinese restaurant?“ Alexander asked “Yeah, there is one but it’s pretty far off. We can order it and it gets delivered to wh
As they arrived at the Pharmacy, Lucas came down from the vehicle to go into the pharmacy to get the medication. Alexander and the driver were left in the car“Did you grow up in this town?” Alexander asked. “No sir. I grew up in New York. I moved here as a teenager with my mom. We stayed with my grandmother before she passed, and I’ve been here ever since.” “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” Alexander wondered if maybe he could have some information about people in the town. “Oh! I’m 23 sir. But because I play rugby, people say I look older.” “Mmmm,” Alexander said, the kid is too young to know anything about me. He probably hasn’t been here for more than ten years, Alex thought.He watched as Lucas approached the car with a small bag. It had the migraine medication. As they drove back to the hospital, all Alexander wanted to do was sleep. Every other thing could happen tomorrow but for today, he just needed to rest. They arrived back at the hospital, the driver sig
Frieda was alone in the hospital room now; she had asked some of the nurses to help her locate her purse, which they did. They had gotten it back to her, she opened the small black purse, looking at the door of her room to be sure that Alexander and Lucas weren’t on their way in. The relief of finding the vials before she had to spray them on again was short-lived because she took a look inside and found that two of the vials were shattered. The liquid is absorbed into the material of the purse. “Shit! No. No.” She muttered under her breath, her hands trembling in panic. She put her hands in and found that the remaining two were still intact but this meant one thing. She had reduced her timetable by half and she had to call Hensley. I need to hold it together, there’s still time. Hensley could find a way to get me another one, She thought. Soon enough, she heard some footsteps; she had to put on the scent again before Alexander returned. She took one of the vials and twisted it op