0014

"That's ridiculous!" Xavier exclaimed, clearly offended by the accusation. "Andy would never do anything to hurt any of us, especially not his own father! He might be just as surprised as we are by Lisa's actions. Andy might not even know what's going on with her."

Xavier might be angry with his son but he couldn't help but defend him; no parents would stand their child being ridiculously judged!

Neil and Fred exchanged a look, still not sure what to believe. On the one hand, it seemed unlikely that Andy would be involved in something like this. But on the other hand, it was hard to explain Lisa's behavior any other way.

"You might not know this but Neil and I pleaded with Andy to help talked things out with Lisa but he turned us down instantly, Xavier!" Fred blurted out. "He stood there, watching Lisa's security officers dragged us out like criminals. Andy called those officers on us!"

Xavier sighed in defeat as he recalled the scenario at the board room with Andy presence but he did nothing to stop Lisa. The look in Andy face wasn't something he expected of him and he even asked the security officers to usher him out.

"It might be true but Andy wouldn't dare go against us!" He uttered, trying to change his brothers objectives. "Andy wouldn't abandon us for Lisa just like that!"

"Of course, he can. This isn't his first time of confronting us with things involving Lisa in it." Ella countered, her voice stern. "He's found of taking sides with her even in her absence."

"I'm starting to doubt Andy too, Xavier." Neil butted in after Ella. "Remember how he persuaded us into signing the documents even when we know nothing about the buyer —he didn't even give us the slightest clue of who the person was!"

"He knew all along that the buyer was Lisa but still had us sell it to her." Fred interjected coolly. "Definitely, there's something he is hiding —even from you, Xavier and you still think he deserves being defended like this?!"

Xavier shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. He trusted his son, and he couldn't believe that Andy would betray him like this. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the evidence that was piling up against him.

"You guys have to stop being paranoid!" Xavier insisted, trying to reason with them. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for all of this. Andy would never betray us."

"But what if he did?" Ella asked, her eyes wide with worry. "We've been so blind to it, we couldn't even see it and now, look where it landed us, uncle!"

Xavier hate the fact that what his siblings were saying is true, his son Andy has always turn his back on them whenever it involves Snow and his family. Things had turned normal when Lisa disappeared from the story and now that she's back, he can't tell what she'll make his son do.

"Don't worry, I'll talk things out with Andy first and see how everything goes, let's not just jump into conclusion yet." Xavier muttered, waving the topic off temporarily. He knew he needed to do something before it finally get out of hand...

***

Alex sat across from his mother, his hands nervously fidgeting in his lap. He knows his mother wouldn't take things lightly with him but he couldn't let go off the disturbing feeling he's having for the past few days.

"Mom, I need to confirm something from you." He said finally, avoiding an eye contact with her.

His mother looked up from her knitting, her expression concerned. "What's wrong, Alex?" She asked almost immediately. "Did something go wrong at work? Or maybe you are feeling pains anywhere?"

"No, everything is good at work and I'm fine too." He muttered, still yet to pick the courage to look her in the eyes but decided to spill the beans anyways. "It's just... it's about Lisa. She's disappeared."

Mrs. Williams eyes widen but find it hard to believe her son. "Disappeared?" She countered, lines visible on her forehead.

"After she signed the divorce papers. I can't find her anywhere, and...she left me an expensive gift. I'm starting to think that she wasn't as poor as I thought she was." Alex explained, with trail of guilt in his voice. "—maybe I've been wrong this whole time?"

His mother let out a soft chuckle. "Did you not say she's after your money?" She asked, her facial expression went blank. "Why are you having a second thought all of a sudden because she left you?"

"I know, I know." Alex said, running a hand through his hair. "But I can't shake the feeling that something's not right. And the gift...it's too extravagant for someone who doesn't have any money."

His mother sighed. "Alex, I truly don't know anything about Lisa's disappearance but I do know that you never really gave her a chance. You always assumed the worst of her, and it's possible that your assumptions were wrong."

Alex shook his head stubbornly. "I can't believe that. She always seemed so...calculating." He enunciated doubtfully.

"Maybe that's just how you perceived her." his mother said gently. "But have you considered the possibility that she might have genuinely cared for you? Have you ever, maybe for once, considered her feelings for you? No woman would ever tolerate your kind of attitude but she did without complaining."

Alex fell silent, mulling over his mother's words. Could it be possible that he'd misjudged Lisa all along? He realized with a jolt that he didn't even know where she was from, or what her family was like —he know nothing about her.

"Maybe you're right..." He said finally after few moment of silence. "Maybe I should have take a closer look at things when I had the chance to. But first...do you think you could give me any clues about where Lisa might have gone?"

His mother thought for a moment before speaking. "I remember her mentioning something about wanting to travel because she was tired of being stuck inside that house." She uttered recollectively. "Maybe she went on a trip?"

Alex nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. He had a new lead, and a new perspective on his marriage even though it's a failed one. Maybe Lisa wasn't just after his money after all, maybe she'd simply been misunderstood.

He regretted not paying closer attention to her when they were together as he recollects the moment when she used to be his nurse —maybe he had been ridiculously cold to someone who had genuinely cared for him.