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This is unacceptable, Alexander. Your father and I do not support your decision! You cannot marry that man!"

'You are marrying Jordan Salvador? The cold-hearted son of the callous Salvador family? Oh my.'

'He will break your heart, Alexa. Please, don't do this.'

'Alexa, do not proceed with this marriage!'

'You're seriously quitting your job because of him too? You're a finished woman.'

'I, Gregory McKenna, hereby disown and reject you, Alexander, as the heir to the McKenna fortune and as my daughter.'

'And I, simply Alexander, accept your rejection.'

'The only reason I haven't divorced you yet is because of the child you're carrying inside of you.'

...

Alexa's eyes fluttered open slightly as the disjointed echoes of her past disrupted her sleep and gradually pulled her back to consciousness. She blinked weakly, remaining still on the bed as she struggled to gather her thoughts, squinting at the unfamiliar, pristine white ceiling above her.

As memories of recent events replayed in her mind, it dawned on her that she was still in the hospital. A wave of agitation washed over her as her thoughts drifted to the miscarriage she had not yet confirmed before losing consciousness, but she felt too weak to get on her feet.

She lay there motionless for a moment, the atmosphere eerily quiet until she heard a familiar voice.

"Mr. Salvador. Hi, it’s Elena, your wife's best friend."

From her position, Alexa strained to hear as Elena spoke from the far end of the room, Elena's back towards her.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

Alexa caught Jordan's curt reply. The call was on speakerphone, and the silence in the room allowed her to hear every word distinctly.

Remaining still, Alexa eavesdropped intently on their conversation.

"Mr. Salvador, your wife is currently in the hospital, fighting for her life. The doctor has just confirmed that she... she... uhm, she has lost her baby." Elena managed to say, her voice thick with sympathy as she swallowed hard.

Alexa's heart raced as she absorbed Elena's words. Tears filled her eyes, and she felt a sharp constriction in her chest. For a moment, she struggled to breathe, her gasps turning into silent sobs.

A heavy silence followed as they awaited Jordan's response. Alexa heard him exhale a deep sigh over the phone, but she was unable to discern its meaning whether it was a sigh of despair and devastation or a sigh of relief.

Her face twisted in anguish, emotions surging within her, yet she held back her full reaction. Despite her trembling hands and lips, she fought to maintain her composure. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, pooling at her ears as she lay silently on the bed, anxiously awaiting Jordan's next words.

In that moment, Jordan was her sole hope and savior. His response would wield immense influence over her fate, either offering solace and reassurance for the loss or plunging her into more sorrow and despair. Unfortunately, the latter seemed to prevail as she heard his next words, spoken in an icy tone that lacked any warmth.

"Inform Alexa... I will be sending the divorce papers over immediately for her to sign them."

Elena gasped in disbelief, her eyes widening in horror, while Alexa's already fragile world shattered completely.

"Mr. Salvador!" Elena exclaimed, taken aback. Although she knew Jordan's cold nature, she never expected he could be this cruel.

As his words sank in, Alexa felt as if her heart had plummeted into her stomach. The day she had dreaded most had finally come. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks in a silent cry. Despite the agony tearing at her heart, she remained silent, watching from where she was. Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she struggled to catch her breath.

Elena's fury, which had been simmering within her, could no longer contain itself as she unleashed her rage upon Jordan.

"Mr. Salvador!" she began, her voice taut with anger. When he offered no response, she pulled the phone away from her ear, confirming that the call was still active and that he was just deliberately ignoring her.

Bringing the phone back to her ear, she pressed on. "Mr. Salvador, how can you say such nonsense? Do you have no conscience at all? Divorce papers, really? I just informed you that your wife, my best friend, Alexander McKenna, suffered a miscarriage not long ago, and you dare to file for divorce in this state. Are you even in your right mind?"

Elena was aware of Alexa's sacrifices for Jordan, and it pained her even more to see Alexa suffering under the hands of Jordan and his likewise cruel family. It pained Elena to see they had wronged her friend. Alexa didn't deserve all that from them.

Continuing in a resolute tone, Elena went on. "Are you even aware of the sacrifices my girl went through just to be with you? She fucking abandoned her dreams for you! Gave up her career for you, just to be the housewife that you wanted! She did everything for you... And the one..."

"I never asked her to do any of those things for me, Miss Cameron, or whatever you're called!" Jordan cut in angrily, his response catching Elena off-guard. Jordan added firmly. "The unborn child had been the only thing holding us together in this marriage, and now the baby is gone. We're done!"

Elena couldn't believe her ears.

"You cheated on her just a few hours ago! How can you be so daring and unremorseful? Have you no sympathy in your heart for anyone? Did you even love her in the first place?" Elena barked at him furiously. Not that Elena expected him to answer her last question, but he did.

Jordan replied harshly. "No. I didn't. I don't think I ever did. And that is why I am getting a divorce. It's better for everyone that way."

This was the final straw that broke the camel's back. She had lost her baby and her husband the same day. The pain was unbearable.

Alexa felt her heart plummet, her eyes rolling into her head as she felt all the oxygen escape her lungs. The heart monitor displayed her declining heart rate, the beep intensifying as she began to lose consciousness.

Elena's attention was drawn to the alarming beeps. Her eyes grew wide with horror as she turned to see Alexa, the phone in her hand slipping from her grasp and shattering on the floor as she rushed to her friend.

"Alexa!" Elena shook her frantically, but there was no response.

Alexa's chest only heaved erratically, her breaths coming in short pants.

"Oh, my days!! She's dying." Realization hit Elena.

Without second thoughts, Elena dashed out of the ward, screaming desperately for help as she ran around the hospital in search of a nurse or a doctor.

Moments later, a doctor and three other nurses arrived in Alexa's ward, ready to revive her. Unfortunately, Alexa had already lost consciousness. Regardless...

"Three, two, one!" They applied the defibrillator to her chest. Alexa's body jolted but she remained unresponsive.

"Three, two, one...!" They repeated the action. Her body jolted again, yet still, she didn't respond.

"Alexa please.." Elena cried, watching her strong, resilient best friend battle for her life.

"Three, two, one," Another attempt that yielded no positive result.

"P- Please, come back to me," Elena's face was already flooded with tears, and her heart ached painfully as she sobbed. "Fight this, Alexa. You can do this. Please fight!!" Elena urged, praying silently for her best friend to respond to her pleas.

"Three, two, ...." The heart monitor let out a final, ominous beep, the lines indicating her heartbeat began to flatten. The doctor and nurses exchanged solemn glances, the gravity of the situation settling in as they realized what this meant.

The doctor shifted his gaze to Elena, whose anxious expression conveyed her confusion as to why they had stopped. Her tears had momentarily ceased. Though she had witnessed what just happened, she chose to turn a blind eye to it.

She glanced at the doctor sharply, demanding. "Why did you stop? Come on!"

In a sedate and regretful tone, the doctor replied. "I'm sorry, Ms. Cameron, but she..."

"Enough!!" Elena barked, cutting him off as she was reluctant to hear the remnant of his words.

Her heart raced wildly as she fixed her gaze on Alexa, who remained still and motionless on the bed.

Elena turned to the doctor imploringly. "She needs your help, doctor. Please continue. Save her. I beg you."

The doctor added sadly. "I'm truly sorry, but it's futile, Ms. Cameron. We have done all we could. I regret to inform you, but she is..."

"I said, enough!!" Elena barked, fighting back the tears that threatened to tear her apart. "If you cannot save her, I guess I'm going to do it myself! Move!!" She snapped at the doctor.

At her command, the doctor instinctively stepped aside and allowed her to pass.

Elena snatched the defibrillator from one of the nurses, proceeding to press it firmly against Alexa's chest like they had done earlier, just that she applied more pressure in hers.

"Come on, Alexa! Come on!!" Tears rolled down Elena's face, falling on Alexa's oxygen mask.

One of the nurses tried to restrain Elena but Elena shoved her off forcefully.

"Don't touch me! Don't fucking touch me!" Elena exclaimed shakily, "You don't know her! She's a fighter, she'll pull through with this. I won't give up on her!" Elena barked at the nurse as she continued her frantic efforts to revive Alexa.

Despite her relentless attempts, Alexa remained motionless. Her eyes were still closed, and her body showed no sign of improvement.

Elena eventually burst into tears after several failed attempts, her mind slowly starting to accept the painful truth of the doctor's earlier words_ Alexa was gone.

But even after acknowledging this, Elena refused to stop in her desperate attempts to save Alexa. Instead, what she did next was set the defibrillator aside, and leaned closer to Alexa.

She removed the oxygen mask from her face. Holding Alexa's nose tightly, she breathed air into her mouth.

"Please... come back to me." Alexa pleaded softly as she exhaled air into Alexa's mouth for the second time.

Throughout the ordeal, the doctor and nurses helplessly watched Elena as she desperately tried to revive Alexa. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, they had nearly given up and were about to leave when a miraculous event occurred. Abruptly, Alexa drew in a deep breath, startling everyone in the room, as exhaled heavily while opening her eyes.

Elena instinctively stepped back, staring at Alexa in disbelief, momentarily rendered speechless. A wave of relief washed over her almost instantly. The room fell silent as they all watched Alexa regain her composure.

“E-Elena,” Alexa murmured weakly, her gaze locking onto Elena's.

Tears cascaded down Elena's cheeks as she returned the gaze, overwhelmed by a mix of elation and relief. “H-Hi. You came back. You’re alive,” she exclaimed, enveloping Alexa in a tight embrace, disregarding her frail state.

The doctor and nurses stood in astonishment, their faces brightening with joy as they applauded the miracle and Elena's unwavering determination.

“Thank you for coming back to me, Alexa. I thought I had lost you,” Elena said, pulling back from the hug.

Alexa offered a faint smile and nodded weakly as she recalled the situation that had landed her in the hospital. Her heart twisted painfully.

**

In the week that followed, Alexa was discharged from the hospital. During her time there, she never received the supposed divorce papers, nor did Jordan make an appearance. Though hurt, Alexa resolved it was time to move forward and release herself from the shit called 'love'. She decided to focus on the future, vowing not to be tethered by her past and never fall in love again.

As they entered Elena’s home, Elena led the way until Alexa abruptly halted, prompting Elena to turn and inquire about the sudden stop.

“I came back for one purpose, Elena,” Alexa started, her expression growing serious.

Elena regarded her with a puzzled look. “What purpose is that?”

Their eyes locked, and Alexa delivered her response with a chilling, icy stare.

“Revenge. I intend to seek my revenge on the Salvadors. Every single, one of them!” Her voice was resolute and laced with bitterness, leaving no doubt that she was serious about her intentions. Elena's heart raced at the sight of the cold determination etched on Alexa's face, recognizing that she seriously meant what she had just said.