Chapter 65
ALEXANDER
It was always the same man. Wherever Halsa went, he seemed to hover near her like a shadow–watchful, protective, and far too familiar. I’d first tried to rationalize it, telling myself maybe Dominic had hired him as some sort of bodyguard. But no, it wasn’t that simple. A bodyguard wouldn’t look at her like that, with affection so blatant it was impossible to miss.
Nathan.
Just the thought of his name made my jaw tighten. He wasn’t just around her, he was everywhere. Calling, testing, showing up at the hospital. My stomach chamed every time her phone buzzed and I’d see his name flash across the screen. Twice wasn’t obsessive, sure, but it was enough to make me question how much of her time and attention he was stealing Enough to make me wonder if this guy had already planted himself in her life in a way I ne longer could
It Nathan wanted her for himself, then I needed to act fast. I couldn’t lose her—not again.
That thought kept looping in my head when a sharp knock cut through my brooding. Before I could even tell my assistant to get lost, the door swang open. Vanessa barged in, her stiletto heels clicking against the floor like gunfire..
“What now?” 1 muttered, my irritation bubbling to the surface.
But she wasn’t alone. My mother followed close behind, her familiar air of superiority filling the room before she even sald a word.
“hy are you two here?” 1 demanded, leaning back in my chair. “I don’t recall inviting either of you.”
Vanessa flopped into one of the chairs, looking like she had nowhere else to be. My mother, on the other hand, carried herself with purpose as she tool
the seat across from me.
“We’re family, Alex,” she said smoothly, folding her hands in her lap. “We don’t need an invitation to be concerned.”
I arched an eyebrow, “Concerned about what?”
Her expression sharpened, her tone as pointed as a dagger. “You and Raina.”
That threw me off. My mother had never been particularly fond of Raina, even before the fallout. She’d tolerated her, sure, but “concerned” wasn’t a word I’d ever associated with their dynamic.
“Why the sudden Interest?” I asked cautiously.
“The Graham family is influential, Alex,” she said, as if she were explaining something to a child. “You’ve always known that Reconciling with Raina could strengthen our ties with them, and that benefits everyone.”
Ah. There it was
Vanessa, ever the opportunist, leaned forward in her seat, her perfectly manicured nas drumming lightly on the armrest as she spoke. “What about Eliza?” she said, her voice laced with disdain and sinquess. “She’s been by your side ever since you and Raina divorced. She’d make a perfect partner. Loyal Supportive. Everything Raina wasn’t.”
I scotted audibly, shaking my head at her sheer audacity. The laugh that escaped me was bitter, humorless. “We’re not divorced,” I said, my tone clipped.
The effect of my words was immediate.
Vanessa froze, her hand pausing mid–drum as her mouth fell open. She sat up straight in the chair, her back rigid, her disbelief almost comical. “What?”
Even my mother, who prided herself on never losing her composure, blinked in shock. For a moment, she looked like someone had slapped her, her polished facade cracking just enough to reveal her surprise. “Excuse me?”
I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I ran a hand through my hair. I wasn’t sure why I was admitting this now, but the weight of carrying this secret for so long was suddenly unbearable. “Raina and L.. we’re still married. I never finalized the divorce.”
The silence that followed was deafening
Vanessa’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment before she finally managed to speak. “You’re kidding, right? Tell me you’re kidding.”
I said nothing, my silence only confirming the truth.
My mother’s shock melted away, replaced by something that made me uneasy–a slow, creeping smile that grew wider by the second. “Well,” she said, her voice tinged with an almost unnatural excitement, “that’s unexpected… but wonderful”
*Wonderful?” I repeated, my frown deepening
“You’re still legally tied to the Graham family,” she explained, her eyes practically gleaming with triumph. “This is good, Alex. Very good. If you play your cards right, this could secure everything for us. The connections, the influence, the legacy. The entire fortune could be yours.…….”
I cut her off, my irritation bubbling to the surface. “It’s not about the money,” I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended.
15 Bonus
She waved a hand dismissively, as if my reasoning was irrelevant. “Still, it’s fortunate, And if Raina loved you even a little, she’ll understand that the pest was just a misunderstanding. You didn’t know Dominic was her brother. She’s not unreasonable.”
I thought this would be the end of the conversation, and as I leaned back in my chair, I added firmly, “Don’t say a word to Raina about any of this. I’ll tell her when the time is right. I’m still trying to figure out how to earn her forgiveness.”
My mother raised an eyebrow but gave me a playful smirk as she made a zipping motion across her lips. “Fine,” she said lightly, though the glint in her eyes told me it wouldn’t take much to pry this secret out of her.
Vanessa, of course, didn’t know how to stay quiet. She mudged our mother back into her seat and leaned forward, practically glowing with some hall- baked idea. “You know,” she started, her tone dripping with that manipulative charm she thought was so convincing. “I could be part of the Grahams too
with your help.”
Comments
1
Support
Shar
