Chapter Nine.

ALEX

The entire room was spinning as I lost my footing and then rolled down the stairs. A sharp pain ran through my back and head, I felt something wet running down my face. It was blood but my entire body was too numb to move an inch. Everything happened so fast to comprehend.

“ Chloe,” A low groan tried to leave my lips to call for help, but there was no one, and slowly, everything turned dark.

****

The slight beeping sounds of a machine caught my attention. A low groan left my lips as my eyes slowly pried opened but I was forced to shut it back again due to the bright lights.

"Fuckin hell," I cussed, pressing my eyes together before I blinked it again, trying to adjust my eyesight to the bright lighting. The first thing that came to my sight was the clear white ceiling then my eyes slowly darted around the room to realize I was in a hospital.

How did I get here? I wondered. "Chloe," I muttered, remembering we had an argument, but what happened after that? I tried to sit up but the pain in my body was intense. It was like all my bones were grounded and my head was worse.

I touched my forehead, that was wrapped with bandages, and slowly, everything came to me. Chloe was having a fuckin affair behind my back. I wondered if she was the one who brought me to the hospital because there was no one else at home.

The door creaked open drawing my attention to it. Mutters were coming from there as the incoming party was having a conversation slowly dying immediately after they got in.

"You are up," I heard a strange voice say. It was a young lady dressed like a doctor, and beside her was a middle-aged nurse and Maddox. He was the one that brought me here.

"Seems like someone finally joined the land of the living." Maddox snickered, tucking his hands in his pocket. He was pissed out for real.

"How did I get here?" I asked the first question on my mind which I was certain Maddox knew. "By luck." He clicked his tongue.

I tried to sit up but the pain was too much to bear. The nurse quickly ran to my side. "Mr Cage, you should not move too suddenly, your entire body is covered with bruises." The nurse cautioned.

"Mr Rivers, can you excuse us for a bit? I want to check your friend's condition." The doctor said, referring to Maddox, whose surname was Rivers.

"Sure, I will be outside." He replied then left the room after giving me a disturbed glance. As soon as the doors shut the doctor walked up to me. Her voice firm, "How are you feeling, Mr Cage?" She enquired, her gaze taking me in.

"Like shit, my head feels like it wants to split up," I answered, and she quickly noted down my answers. She asked a couple more questions, I answered and, in the end, gave the nurse some instructions before leaving.

Some medicine was given to me, painkillers mostly because of the pain that was ripping me apart. After everything was done I finally had the chance to talk to Maddox.

"Alex, this isn't your week. first the police cell and now a hospital." He clicked his tongue taking a seat opposite me.

"I got into a fight with Chloe," I groaned. He didn't have to remind me how fucked up my situation was right now.

"Another fight, what did she do this time around?" Maddox rolled his eyes at me. It was annoying, but I had gotten immune to his annoying tactics long ago. We have been friends for a long time and go way back.

"She is cheating on me. She came back home very late, basically in the morning drunk and covered in hickeys." I explained then his jaw dropped before a hearty laugh rang in the room. This was so like him; why do I bother telling him shit when all he would do was to laugh.

"Pardon my behaviour, Alex, but let me get this: the mistress you left your wife for is now cheating on you. You are a legend." He laughed off up to the level he started to choke.

"Dude, can you get real," I snapped at him, and his laugh finally died off. "Sorry, but it is funny; let me guess, she was the one who injured you and pushed you off the stairs. That's attempted murder bro." He chuckled, unable to hold back his laugh.

I rolled my eyes at him, "How were you able to get me here?" I asked curious because I had a feeling it was not Chloe.

"I didn't, actually; a couple of hours after reaching home, drained and exhausted, I received a call from your housekeeper. She explained that she found you unconscious at the foot of the stairs, bleeding through your head and rushed you to the hospital.." He started to explain.

To help with the house chores, a contract housekeeper came every day by 9 am except on Sundays and left by 8 pm, meaning I was cold at the foot of the stairs for hours.

"As for Chloe, the housekeeper did mention she was fast asleep, probably knocked out drunk," Maddox explained, my fingers curled into a fist. My problems with Chloe have been getting out of hand, and not to forget Reyna in the mix.

"I am getting sick of everything," I sneered, Maddox arched a brow at me. It felt like he was enjoying my predicament.

"You laid your bed, it is time you lie on it." He said and I was starting to doubt if Maddox was truly my friend. He wasn't helping things and was just rubbing salt on my wounds.

"Can't you be like most friends and be a bit encouraging? " I snapped at him, but he shrugged his shoulders and said with utmost sincerity in his tone.

"Well I would if what you're doing is the right thing to do but the fact right now is that you fucked up big time bro. You let Reyna go like she meant nothing to you even after everything she had done to keep your marriage alive and together. Now, take a good look at the mistress you left your lovely wife for—That Bitch Landed You In A Hospital! Something Reyna would never do when she was with you," He snarled, shaking his head in disappointment.

I parted my lips to say something but his phone rang, drawing his attention. After checking the caller ID, he excused himself from the room. "Well, you seem to be handling yourself; I got to go. I already covered the medical expenses. Take care." He said in a hurry while leaving.