ALEXANDER
Tears mixed with anger clawed at my chest, a suffocating knot of emotions I couldn’t untangle. She was gone. I’d lost her.
The courtroom felt like it was closing in on me, and all I could do was stand there, paralyzed by the weight of my failure. How could I win her back now? Was there even a chance left?
I felt hands on my arm, gentle but firm. Expecting Vanessa, I turned, but it was Eliza. Of course, it was her.
Her voice, sickeningly sweet, cut through my haze. “You should be happy, Alex. I am. Now that this divorce is over, our wedding can finally happen.”
Her words jolted me like a slap. My gaze locked on her, and the memory of Raina’s voice echoed in my head: Eliza tried to hurt Liam the day I was kidnapped. I didn’t need further evidence to believe her. I’d known for a long time what Eliza was capable of.
I yanked my arm out of her grasp, glaring. “And who told you we were ever going to get married?” My voice dripped with disdain.
Without waiting for her reply, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the courthouse.
“Alex!” my mother called after me. “Where are you going?”
“Anywhere away from Eliza,” I muttered, slamming my car door shut before speeding off.
My mind was racing, my emotions a whirlwind of frustration, regret, and anger. I needed air—space to think, to breathe. The car felt suffocating as I gripped the steering wheel tightly and drove aimlessly through the streets. The sun was beginning to dip, painting the city in hues of gold and orange. Most people were heading home to their families or preparing for the evening, but I? I was spiraling.
Before I knew it, I pulled into the parking lot of a small bar, its neon sign flickering as if struggling to stay alive. I didn’t care that it was still early in the day. I needed to drown the storm inside me.
The first drink went down too fast.
It burned my throat, but I welcomed the sting. A distraction, however temporary, was better than nothing. By the third drink, my tongue loosened, and I found myself muttering under my breath.
“I let her go… like a fool,” I said, barely aware of who could hear me.
A couple of patrons glanced in my direction, but I didn’t care. The words kept spilling out, half to myself, half to the bartender who pretended not to listen.
“She doesn’t even see how much I love her,” I continued, slurring slightly. “More than that stupid Nathan ever could. He thinks he can just swoop in and take her from me? Our family?”
Lying next to me, nestled comfortably in the sheets, was Eliza.
Her blonde hair was splayed across the pillow, and her smug smile sent a fresh wave of disgust through me.
I turned my head, and my heart stopped. Eliza.
“What the hell?!” I screamed, bolting upright and shoving her off the bed.
She landed on the floor with a thud and a shocked gasp. “Alex! What is wrong with you?” she shrieked, clutching the sheet around her.
“What are you doing in my bed?” I barked, my voice shaking with disbelief and fury. My gaze darted around the room until it landed on my jacket tossed carelessly on the floor. My head spun, fragments of last night blurring together in an agonizing haze.
Eliza stood up, glaring at me. “Why would you push me like that? You were the one who wanted me here!”
I scoffed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Don’t you dare try to twist this. You took advantage of me, didn’t you?”
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