Chapter 4

Alex stared at me and then at Michael, breathing hard, his chest heaving with emotion. Michael just stood there, looking unbothered.

"Mr. Carter," Michael finally spoke up, "this is a celebration dinner, and Ms. Lane is the star tonight. If you have something to discuss, let's save it for another day."

Alex ignored him and stared at me. "Do you even know who he is? He's my rival. Everyone knows that. What do you think people will say when they see you hanging out with him?"

I looked at him.

"I don't understand what you are talking about," I said. "Who are you to me? Why would people say anything?"

He was taken aback.

"Your wife is in the hospital," I continued. "What are you doing here instead? Go look after them. Don't leave her alone."

With that, I turned and headed for the terrace door.

As I passed him, he reached out to stop me, but I brushed past him without stopping.

The door closed behind me, his voice muffled through the glass. I couldn't make out what he said. Without looking back, I walked through the private room, greeted Matthew, and told him I was taking off first.

He was in a good mood and waved me goodbye.

Once I stepped outside the hotel, the wind helped clear my head a bit. I stood by the curb waiting for a cab when my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Michael.

Michael: [Let me know when you get home.]

Sophie: [Okay.]

The cab pulled up, and I got in, leaning back in the seat and closing my eyes.

Alex's face flashed through my mind. His face had been a mess, flushed and pale all at once, completely thrown off. In three years of dating, I'd never seen him like that before. It wasn't that I felt bad for him. I just couldn't even put it into words.

Anyway, I didn't want to dwell on it.

After I got home, washed up, and finally lay down, my phone rang again. I picked up.

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Emily Grant's voice came through, gentle and weak. "Sophie, it's me."

I sat up.

"Sophie, it's me," Emily said, her voice gentle and weak.

Her voice was so gentle, almost liquid, with a husky tone from just waking up.

I didn't say anything.

She waited a couple of seconds and then spoke again, "Sorry for bothering you so late. I just got out of surgery, and Alex won't let me use my phone. I'm sneaking this call."

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I just wanted to explain," Emily said, coughing softly, like she was afraid to disturb anyone.

"The whole him marrying me thing... It was I who begged him. I was terrified. My parents are gone, and there was no one around to sign the consent forms for me... I didn't think about your feelings. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Alex."

I leaned back against the headboard, listening.

"He really loves you. He can't stop talking about you," Emily continued. "Right after the surgery, the first thing he asked was when we could get divorced, so he could get back to you. Sophie, please, just make up with him. I don't want to be the one at fault here."

I said, "Are you done?"

She paused, a little taken aback. "Sophie..."

"If you're done, I'm hanging up," I said.

"Wait!" Emily's voice got a bit urgent and then softened again. "I just wanted to tell you that I'll be discharged soon, and once I'm out, we'll handle the paperwork. Could you come see Alex? He hasn't slept well lately, and he's lost so much weight. It honestly hurts to see him like this."

I let out a laugh.

"Ms. Grant," I said, "Alex is your husband, not mine. He is yours to deal with."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"But you're the one he cares about," Emily whispered.

"Again, he's yours," I said.

With that, I hung up.

I lay back down, but sleep just wouldn't come. So I got up, poured myself some water, and stood by the window, sipping quietly. The streetlights glowed outside, with cars occasionally passing by.

My phone lit up again. It was Emily's number.

I hit decline.

Then a text popped up.

Emily: [I'm begging you, Sophie.]

I deleted it.

The next morning, I got up and started packing up for a trip. There was a project in Seaside Bay I needed to follow up on, and honestly, it was just what I needed to escape for a bit and clear my head.

My flight was booked for the afternoon.

It was midday, and I was sorting through my files at the office when the receptionist knocked and came in, her face a mix of nerves and uncertainty.

"Ms. Lane, someone's here to see you," she said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Um... Mr. Alex Carter," she replied.

I told her I understood and asked her to step out. Then I kept packing, slipped my laptop into my bag, and zipped it up.

The door opened.

Alex stood in the doorway with a bag in his hand. He looked even more worn out than he had a couple of days ago. He was unshaven, his eyes red and tired.

"Sophie," he said.

I didn't pause. I just threw my bag over my shoulder.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm heading out for work," I said.

"Where?" he asked, not letting it go.

I ignored him and walked right past. He caught up to me in the hallway and grabbed my arm.

"Wait," he said.

I turned to face him.

He pulled out a velvet box from the bag and popped it open. The diamond ring inside was sparkling, like new.

"Just here to give you this," he said. "You left it on the windowsill in the hallway."

I took it and shoved it into my pocket.

"Right, thank you."

I kept walking.

He caught up to me. "Sophie, the surgery went great. Emily's doing fine now. As soon as she's discharged, I'll file for divorce. It'll be quick."

I stopped and turned to look at him.

"Alex," I said, "how many times do I have to say it? Your divorce is your business. It's got nothing to do with me."

"Why not?" he stepped closer. "Once I'm single again, we can get back together."

"And then what?" I asked.

"We'll just get married, have a wedding, start our life together," he said.

I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you even get what divorce is?" I said. "Divorce means you end your marriage. What's that got to do with me?"

His face fell.