Aria wandered around the hospital premises, trying to clear her mind from the suffocating tension between her and Alexander. His gaze, filled with so much doubt earlier, still weighed heavily on her. She needed space, fresh air—anything to breathe a little easier. But just as she rounded a corner, she froze, her heart dropping at the sight of someone she least expected to see.
"Ethan?" she said in disbelief, her voice tight. He stood in her path, his lips curling into a smirk that made her skin crawl.
"Aria," Ethan drawled, stepping forward. "Long time, no see."
Her heart raced with frustration. "Why are you stalking me again?" she demanded, crossing her arms defensively. "I've told you before, I have nothing to say to you. Leave me alone."
Ethan chuckled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Stalking? Come on, don't be so dramatic. I'm just here for what's mine."
"I don't owe you anything," Aria snapped, turning to leave. But before she could take more than a few steps, Ethan's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and yanking her back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he sneered. "The old lady gave you everything, didn't she? The news is all over the place—how she transferred all her assets to you. So, why not be a good girl and give me a cut, huh?"
Aria ripped her arm away from his grip, fury blazing in her eyes. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. "I don't owe you a single cent, and you know it!"
Before she could retaliate further, a familiar voice cut through the tense moment. "What's going on here?"
Aria and Ethan both turned to see Alexander standing just a few feet away, his eyes dark and dangerous as they flicked between the two of them.
Ethan's face twisted into a mocking grin. "Oh, Mr. Sinclair, just in time. You're rich, right? Then you can help your wife settle her debt."
Aria's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did I ever owe you anything?" she exclaimed, her voice incredulous.
Ethan crossed his arms smugly. "When?" he echoed. "Let me remind you. I pursued you for three years, Aria. Three long years of paying for everything. Now you've gone and married someone else. I think it's only fair you pay me back what I spent."
Aria's jaw dropped, anger bubbling up inside her. "I never asked you to spend a single penny on me! I never took advantage of you, and you know it."
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, that's your version. I spent my money on you regardless. And now, three years of expenses, plus the emotional damage of losing you—let's call it a nice round figure. How about three million dollars?"
Alexander's expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer. "You're out of your mind," he said coldly, his voice low and menacing. "You think I'll give you a single cent? Keep dreaming."
Ethan's smug expression faltered, but he quickly recovered, leaning toward Alexander. "Come on, you're the CEO of Sinclair Group. Surely you can spare a little cash, right?"
Alexander looked down at where Ethan had touched his arm as if it were contaminated, then casually wiped it away. "If you don't have any money, don't pretend to be a rich guy," he said icily, turning on his heel to walk away.
Ethan's face twisted with frustration. "You think this is over?" he spat, raising his voice. "If you don't pay up, I'll make sure everyone knows the truth about your wife."
Alexander paused mid-step, his back still turned to Ethan. His voice, when he spoke, was dangerously quiet. "What truth?"
Ethan's grin returned, malicious and gleeful. "That your precious wife has been with every man she could find before she married you. I'll make sure the whole world knows she's nothing but—"
The words barely left his mouth before Alexander turned, his fist connecting with Ethan's jaw in a sharp, brutal punch. Ethan staggered back, clutching his face in shock, blood trickling from the corner of his lip.
"Keep your mouth clean," Alexander growled, his voice low and lethal. He grabbed Ethan by the collar, pulling him close, his eyes blazing with fury. "If you say one more word about my wife, you'll regret having this mouth."
Ethan's eyes widened in fear as he tried to steady himself, but Alexander shoved him hard, sending him stumbling backward. Ethan wiped the blood from his lip, glaring at Alexander with a mixture of fear and rage.
"Get out!" Alexander roared, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
Terrified, Ethan scrambled to his feet and ran, casting one last nervous glance over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
Aria stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen Alexander so furious, so protective… but his anger wasn't entirely directed at Ethan. She could still feel the distance between them, the coldness in his gaze as he turned to her, his face hard as stone.
"Alexander, I swear, I have no relationship with him," she said quickly, her voice pleading as she tried to catch up to his pace.
He didn't stop, his strides long and purposeful as he brushed past her. "I don't care what's going on between you two," he said coldly, not even looking at her. "But if anything happens to grandma because of you, I won't let you off."
The words stung, cutting through her like a knife. "I get it, Alexander," she said, her voice quiet and filled with hurt. "I would never hurt grandma. I'll take good care of her, I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Alexander fired back, his tone sharp as he continued walking, leaving her standing there, heartbroken and alone.
Aria watched him disappear into the hospital, the ache in her chest growing heavier with each step he took away from her. She had never felt so alone, so misunderstood. And now, with Ethan stirring up trouble, it seemed like the distance between her and Alexander had grown into an impossible chasm.
"How much longer can I endure this?"