Chapter 5

Alexander's POV

I stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of Hayes Corporation, lost in thought. A long column of ash had gathered at the tip of my cigarette, the ember burning down almost to my fingers before I even noticed.

Too much had happened lately, and a certain someone's figure kept flashing through my mind, throwing me into complete disarray.

The door pushed open, and Charlie Evans strolled in. Spotting me like this, his interest was instantly piqued.

"Now that's a rare sight. Our Mr. Hayes, completely out of it?"

He sauntered over, winking and nudging.

"Who're you thinking about? Couldn't be your little assistant, could it? Looking at this, she might actually have a shot at becoming the real deal."

I stubbed out the cigarette and shot him a cold glare.

"How's the investigation into the hospital incident going?"

Charlie was in no rush to answer, indulging himself in reflection instead.

"Let's talk about something else first. I heard about Horizon. One drinking party, one little assistant, and she snatched such a massive piece of meat right out of the Sterling family's mouth for you. Alex, you're literally making a killing without putting up a dime!"

He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Then again, wasn't Shannon picked up by you from a drinking table three years ago?"

"Back then, I laughed at you, saying the great Mr. Hayes had brought home an unknown freeloader. Looking at it now, that investment paid off big time."

"A true legend in the investment circle—you can even turn a profit on a stray woman! Brilliant!"

Hearing her name, my mind drifted back to last night, when Shannon had said her most important day was six years ago.

I remembered the look in her eyes, drowning in sorrow and despair as she stared at me.

My expression darkened, and irritation surged in my chest once again.

Not wanting to pursue the topic, I deliberately struck at Charlie's sore spot.

"Worry about yourself before you worry about me. Bella Reed. You've been in love with her for all these years, but never had the guts to pursue her. You've watched her go through eight boyfriends while you stayed her backup. If you keep holding back, she'll be handing you her wedding invitation next."

Charlie flared up on the spot.

"That's my choice! Even if I stay her second choice for the rest of my life, it's none of your business!"

After snapping, his own momentum deflated, stripping him of the mood to tease me further.

Sullenly, Charlie pulled an investigation folder from his briefcase and shoved it onto the desk.

"Down to business. The hallway surveillance footage from the hospital has been restored. See for yourself."

I opened the folder. The surveillance stills were crystal clear: Amber Lane had intercepted Shannon on her own, looking arrogant and provocative, saying who knows what.

She had then shoved Shannon, and in her agitation, slipped on a puddle of water on the floor, tumbling straight down the stairs.

From start to finish, Shannon hadn't even lifted a hand.

Curiously, the origin of that puddle near the top of the stairs was unknown, suspected to have been splashed there beforehand.

However, earlier surveillance records were still unavailable.

I gripped the documents tightly, a violent pang twisting my gut.

She really hadn't lied.

I got up and walked to the window, peering out through the slats of the blinds.

Amid the cubicles, Shannon was weaving back and forth holding a stack of files. Her frame looked fragile, yet she walked with her spine held completely straight.

The scene from the hospital that day forced its way into my head unbidden.

Pinned to the hospital bed, she had fought back tears as she explained, telling me she hadn't touched Amber, even pleading with me to believe her.

Yet I hadn't listened at all, focused only on venting my rage.

What chilled me even more was what happened after I slammed the door and walked away.

I had called in a group of men to frighten her.

I thought they wouldn't dare lay a hand on her.

It wasn't until I saw Julian carrying her out of the ward that I realized what a catastrophe had nearly unfolded.

Had Julian not happened to be on duty at the hospital that day, had he not happened to pass by the door, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

An uneasy frustration churned inside me.

In all my life, no one had ever unsettled my mind like this.

The sensation was as dangerous as it was confounding.

Charlie took in my unusual behavior. Dropping his playful smirk for once, he clapped a hand on my shoulder.

"Alexander, take my advice. You can't keep hurting someone's heart forever. The day you break it completely and she leaves, she's gone for good."

With a darkened expression, I offered no reply.

Charlie studied me for a long moment before asking tentatively,

"You aren't... still hung up on Sarah Lewis, are you?"

My face turned completely black.

"I was abroad all those years, so I'm not entirely clear on what happened back home," Charlie said, choosing his words carefully. "But four years ago, you called me. I still remember that call to this day."

"You told me you'd met a girl. You said she gave you the courage to start over, and that once I returned, you'd introduce her to me."

"After what happened with Sarah Lewis, that was the only time I ever heard you mention wanting to settle down."

"Yet when I came back, I never saw that girl. Instead, I saw an Alexander Hayes who was colder and more suspicious than ever before. What on earth did you go through these past few years?"

I furrowed my brow.

Four years ago?

Starting over?

I had no recollection of this whatsoever.

In my memories, when I was eighteen, I took all my savings and eloped with Sarah Lewis.

Only for it to end shortly after... From that day on, I learned that a woman's deep devotion was never to be trusted. They had no genuine heart.

As for some girl who gave me the courage to start over?

Absolute nonsense.

"I know what I'm doing with my own life," I cut Charlie off coldly.

"Keep investigating. I want to know who is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Just as Charlie opened his mouth to press further, a frantic knock sounded on the door.