Chapter 5
When Leah opened her eyes again, she realized she was back in her room.
The family doctor was busy tending to the frostbite on her skin, and Alexander was seated right beside her.
When Alexander noticed she was awake, his eyes were clouded with worry, though there was indifference lurking just beneath.
He said, "Leah, I lost my head yesterday, but you shouldn't have used yourself as a bargaining chip, and then going so far as to hit Rachel.
"Since you've already paid the price, I guess we'll just let it go."
Leah glanced at him, her heart aching as a sneer formed.
She couldn't believe he could be so ridiculous.
Just as she closed her eyes, Alexander's voice cut through the silence again.
He said, "Leah, Rachel's apartment caught fire last night. Since she has nowhere else to go, she'll be staying with us for the time being."
When Leah frowned, Alexander took out the fixed sapphire necklace from his pocket, his voice serious.
He said, "Leah, I fixed the necklace and made it prettier with the gold detailing.
"Don't make a fuss about Rachel anymore, okay?"
As Alexander was speaking, Leah could even hear Rachel trying to stifle a triumphant giggle outside.
Leah's breath caught, and she clutched the sheets tighter.
Holding back her emotions, she took the necklace from his hand.
When the door closed, the familiar feel of the necklace in her palm made her cry.
*****
From then on, Rachel stayed with them every day, constantly finding ways to erase any trace that Leah had ever lived there—swapping out everything from the living room couch and carpets to the decor and furniture.
No matter what Rachel asked for, Alexander always agreed. He even instructed the butler, "Just make sure everything matches Ms. Summers' tastes."
Leah couldn't help but remember how, back when they were about to get married, Alexander was the one who pampered her—sticking by her side as they picked out every furniture for their home.
Yet now, he was letting another woman erase every bit of her presence.
Biting back the ache in her chest, she glanced at the calendar on the table, watching the numbers blur together as the days slipped endlessly by.
She closed her eyes for a second, then turned around and went back to her room.
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, Alexander burst into her room.
He demanded with a stern face, "Leah, where is Rachel? What did you do to her?"
Leah stared at him in confusion, frowning. "What are you even talking about?"
Rachel's voice, shaking with fear and desperation, burst out from Alexander's phone.
She screamed, "Alex, help. I'm sorry. I never should've offended Leah.
"Can you talk to her? Tell her to let me go. If she does, I'll say sorry and I'll get out of Neriton right now."
Her voice was cut off suddenly, and Alexander's breath came in rough, ragged bursts. He looked deeply unsettled.
Eyes bloodshot, he pinned Leah to the bed, looking down at her, the pressure in his posture unmistakable.
He said, "Leah, she's just an innocent girl. Why can't you just drop it? Why do you always have to make things so difficult?
"Let her go. Can't you see? She's dying."
Leah frowned and explained, "It's not me. I have no idea what's going on."
However, the next second, Alexander suddenly grabbed her by the neck, squeezing hard.
His expression turned stern again, his voice hard as he demanded, "Leah, tell me. Where is she?"
Under his threatening gaze, Leah bit back her tears, her voice shaking as she spat out every word. "I told you I don't know."
The moment her tears hit his hand, Alexander snapped out of his rage.
He instantly released Leah, staring at her pale face, and for a brief moment, a strange feeling twisted inside him.
Just as he was about to hug her, his phone buzzed—a message from Jacob Morris, his assistant, revealing the exact location where Rachel was being held.
Without a second glance at Leah, Alexander snatched up his coat and bolted out the door.
The engine roared as the car sped off into the night.
Leah chuckled softly, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
Alexander's so-called love for her crumbled completely in the face of real danger.
It was always one's actions that revealed what truly mattered to him.