onsciousness slowly returned as Alexander opened his eyes.
Before he could fully gather his senses, a little girl darted to his bedside, shouting joyfully, “Daddy’s awake!”
Shirley immediately pressed the call button, asking softly, “Alexander, feeling better?”
His gaze lingered on her face for half a second before he suddenly bolted upright. The abrupt movement yanked the IV tube, the needle scraping sharply against his hand–yet he seemed oblivious.
“Where is she?”
He seized Shirley’s wrist with terrifying force. “Where is she?”
Shirley winced in pain, her eyes instantly reddening.
“Alexander, she’s dead. Can we just… move forward together?”
“Shut up!”
He whirled around, despair threatening to spill from his eyes. “She’s not dead. She’s just angry with me. I need to find her-”
Staggering toward the door, he pulled the IV tube taut. The needle tore from his hand, blood trickling down his arm. Yet he felt no pain, consumed by a single thought:
Bring her home.
Shirley reached out to steady him, but he shoved her away.
“Shirley, I gave you the title, the child, the status, the power–everything you wanted. But she… she only has me.”
“Alexander!”
Shirley’s voice sharpened. “Even if she weren’t dead, after how you treated her, would she even want you? Wake up!”
Alexander’s hand trembled on the doorknob.
He opened the door and walked out.
Fuming, Shirley stamped her foot. Spotting Shirley huddled silently nearby, her anger flared anew.
Kneeling, she smoothed the child’s clothes and murmured, “Remember what Mommy told you?”
The girl shivered but answered obediently, “Keep Daddy for Mommy.”
0.0 %
01:01
Chapter 12
A cold glint flashed in Shirley’s eyes as her hand dug into the soft flesh of the child’s lower back.
“Shh-”
Shirley choked back a sob.
288 (Vouchers
Lips pressed tight, tiny hands clutching her pants, she whispered fearfully, “Mommy, I won’t cry. I won’t tell any- one.”
“Good girl.”
Shirley patted her head, then yanked her hair, forcing their eyes to meet.
“Next time, make sure Daddy stays. That’s my good girl.”
The child nodded, trembling with fear and hurt.
Watching her, Shirley wore a gentle smile–yet icy disgust flickered in her gaze.
Alexander faced days of rejection at Sean’s door, finally resorting to a business dinner arranged through mutual part-
ners.
Sean spotted him at the head of the table the moment he entered.
Time had carved Alexander hollow, his eyes sunken, spirit drained.
“Where are you hiding Rita?”
Sean scoffed, lazily pouring himself a drink.
“Mr. Williams. You wouldn’t let her live, yet chase her ghost? Haunting, aren’t we?”
Alexander slammed the table, rising. “And you?
How are you any different?
You think Rita wants to stay with you?”
Sean’s smile vanished, his stare frigid. “Neither of us deserves to bury her. Especially you.”
Sean stood up to leave, but paused at the door to deliver a final blow: “After all, you personally delivered her to that hellhole, wasn’t it?”
His heart clenched.
Alexander instantly lost all his resolve to argue, collapsing heavily back into his seat.
He refused to believe Rita was truly gone.
Yet everyone reminded him–not only was she dead, he’d driven her to it.
46.1 %
01:01
Chapter 12
288 (Vouchers
Alexander stumbled out of the club, so dazed he nearly walked into an oncoming truck. The driver shouted profani- ties, but Alexander moved like he was dreaming, disconnected from reality.
Only when the housekeeper called out did he snap back–a package had arrived.
He took it automatically.
Opened it with routine manner.
Clatter!
A black USB drive abruptly fell out.
89.5 %
