Eva spoke to her colleagues at the hospital and Laura informed her about a one-bedroom apartment up for sale in Bronx. Although buying it would leave her penniless, Eva didn’t mind. She needed a place of her own before Alexander’s wedding. She couldn’t see them together all the time. “My cousin lives in the building. It’s good. Would you like to check it out?” “Yes. Can we go today after duty?” She hadn’t seen Alexander since that night and wanted to move out before he returned from his parents' place. “Sure. I’ll check up with her.” In the evening, just as promised, Laura took her to a lower middle-class locality in Bronx, where the building was located. It wasn’t posh as her current home, but it was a decent, freshly painted one in a clean neighborhood. She introduced Eva to her cousin, Sarah, who worked at a departmental store and lived on the second floor. “It’s on the third floor. Come, I’ll show you around.” Sarah led them up the staircase to the third-floor apartment overl
Alexander stared at the photographs forwarded to his phone in disbelief. He hadn’t expected Maxwell to really work so fast. Maybe he had underestimated the guy! Despite Maxwell's capabilities, what surprised Alexander was how Eva fell into his trap so easily. Or did she willingly go out with Maxwell? Maybe she had given up hope on him? Ever since they returned from the Paris trip, he hadn’t once found an opportunity to talk to her. Now the time had come to confront her. He couldn’t sit back and watch Maxwell whisk her away from right under his nose. He hadn’t given his final decision to Beatrix yet. With his dad still unwell, he was delaying it purposely. While Beatrix bothered her all day, he refused to give in to the pressure. He had no wish to father Fairfield’s illegitimate child. The doorbell rang, and he glanced at the clock. Who could be here so late in the night? “Alex, are you awake?” asked his mom from her room. “Yes, mom. I’ll get it.” He got up from his bed and went t
“Yes, Alexander Van Every speaking,” said Alexander accepting the call with a feeling of dread clutching at his heart. Was it regarding his dad?“Hello, Mr. Van Every! I’m calling from Columbia Hospital Critical Care Unit. Your fiancée, Beatrix Rotterdam has been admitted here for allegedly attempting suicide by slashing her right wrist. She is in the OT but we need you here for the formalities and police investigation.” Alexander’s jaws dropped with horror at the news. Surely there was some misunderstanding here! Why would Beatrix commit suicide?“Are you sure about this? How serious is Ms. Rotterdam? Maybe it was just an accident,” he reasoned.“No, Mr. Van Every. It is a suicide, and the patient is critical. Please come here as soon as you can.” Alexander quickly changed and stuffed his wallet, and phone, and rushed over to his parents' room. “Mom, dad, I need to go to Columbia Hospital right now. Beatrix has attempted to take her life and is admitted to the Critical Care Unit. T
Beatrix opened her bleary eyes slowly after a while, focusing on Alexander sitting at her bedside. There was a police officer too at the foot of the bed on high alert. “Alexander!” she croaked with surprise. The doctor came forward to check on her. “Please, can you step out, officer? I need to check how the baby is doing,” said the doctor. The officer reluctantly left the room, and the doctor started talking to the sonographer present. Thankfully, no one gave him a thought, considering him to be the father of the baby. Seeing his only opportunity, Alexander leaned towards Beatrix. “Why did you do such a thing, Beatrix?” he scolded her. “I’ll do it again if you don’t marry me, Alexander. I’ll give my verdict against you and send you to prison.” Alexander gaped at her, unable to understand whether she did this on purpose to trap him or something else! It didn’t look like she did this to kill herself. He looked at the bandaged wrist and wondered how much she had harmed herself. How w
Thankfully, Alyssa was away when she went home. Not in the mood to face her questions, Eva went to her room and quickly changed for bed. She lay down, but the tears wouldn’t stop. Alexander’s sudden announcement had her broken. She didn’t know what to think of Beatrix’s pregnancy. Why would Alexander lie to her if he had enjoyed physical intimacy with Beatrix? She was sure there was an explanation because, as far as she knew Alexander, he never lied. He would have told her if he had any physical intimacy with Beatrix even once. He would rather face her wrath than lie to her! Eva wiped her eyes dry, feeling determined to move out before Alexander came over to his apartment. She wouldn’t ask him for an explanation or remind him of his promise to her. Even if she died of heartbreak, she would never beg him to accept her in his life, to love her. She would go away to her own little apartment forever, far away from their lives. The next day, Eva completed all the formalities and received
Alexander dragged his tired body to the hotel room he had been staying in for the last few days. He had completed his work in London but somehow didn’t have the wish to return home and face Beatrix again. The entire afternoon Ashton had been calling him but he had been too busy in a meeting to accept his call. He unlocked his phone to check the messages Ashton had sent wondering what the urgency was all about. There wasn’t a thing that Ashton didn’t know about him. They were more like brothers than best friends. He frowned at the message, wondering what was up now. Bro, did you announce your wedding and Beatrix’s pregnancy officially today? It has gone viral! Here’s the link, check. Call me immediately, it’s important.–Ashton.Shocked, Alexander clicked on the link, which took him to Beatrix’s social media post. Alexander gaped at the photograph of them together. It was an old photograph taken by uncle Desmond when he was alive. He had forced them to pose with one another for the p
Eva rushed to open the door and found a beaming Alyssa outside. “What’s wrong? Who were you fighting with?” asked Alyssa, coming inside, but froze at seeing her brother standing in the middle of the living room. How did he find them? How did he know their address? “What are you doing here, Alex?” she demanded angrily. “I've come here to take you both home,” he said gruffly. “I’ve bought this apartment and I’m not going anywhere with you. This is my home,” said Eva pointedly. It made Alexander angrier, and he glared menacingly at her. After that clarification earlier, he had expected Eva to give up her grudge and return home with him.“What was the need to suddenly buy an apartment?” he demanded gruffly, angry with the two of them. “I’m tired of living in other people’s houses and being trampled upon like trash. I refuse to be addressed as a beggar girl. Tell your dad that I have an apartment of mine now,” she spat back, taking Alexander by surprise. He had completely forgotten ab
The next morning, Alyssa was so apprehensive at the prospect of working for Nicholas that she left early without having her breakfast. After she left, Eva had just taken a bite of her sandwich when the doorbell rang. She was sure Alyssa was back for something. She opened the door with an eye roll. “Since you’re back, you might as well have your breakfast,” she said with a grin, but froze at seeing Alexander at her doorstep. His disheveled state, and tousled hair made him look as if he just woke up from bed and arrived here. “You? Don’t you have any work early in the morning?” Alexander grinned lazily, his eyes sweeping over her and resting on her face at last. “Yes, me! Just came over to grab some coffee and breakfast till I set up my new home.” Eva’s eyes widened as she tried to grasp the meaning of his words. “New home? Have you moved away somewhere?” she asked, following Alexander inside while he eyed her food hungrily. “Don’t touch my food. I’ll get you yours.” She rushed to