Aleckin could not leave yet. His ticket to stay in the hospital was to take advantage of Rebecca's injuries, so he continued walking without looking back.
He lowered his gaze at the woman in his arms. Surprisingly, she was too light, as if he was only carrying a human-size paper doll.
'Who is she? A model who starved herself? That is why she only weighs like this?'
Rebecca sank her head, tilting on the side. She was wearing a hat, but she could still sense Aleckin's burning gaze on top of her head.
"Aleckin Ferrero, return Rebecca to us!"
Aleckin ignored everyone following him and quickened his pace towards the hospital entrance. However, just before he could enter the door, a strong wind suddenly blew.
It was too late for Rebecca to hold her hat and hide in it when the strong, chilly wind blew it away. The cool breeze touching her skin cause for her body trembled.
She has no choice but to wrap her slender arms around Aleckin's neck and bury her face in his shoulder to hide from his line of sight.
Aleckin stopped and watched the hat fly away. He was eager to see the woman's facial features, so he lowered his gaze to peered at Rebecca.
However, she pressed her head on his neck, tickling him. The scent of her shampoo invaded his nostrils, and he liked how fragrant it was.
He didn't notice that his lips parted with a smile.
"Aleckin, wait for us!"
As he remembered everyone still chasing him, he trotted toward the elevator. He quickly entered and instructed the AI operator to close the door and take him to the radiology department.
The elevator swiftly took them to the second floor, where the AI operator showed the map to the radiology department and it was located in the left wing of the main building.
"Aleckin! Return Rebecca to us!"
It didn't take long. Anton and Elric almost caught up behind him. They were chasing their breath, but they didn't stop. They could not wait for the elevator. Hence, they used the escalator, climbing the steps with long strides, and arrived on the second floor in less than half a minute.
•••
Soon, they all arrived at the radiology department. The radiologist on duty that day was startled when a group of loud people entered the door.
"You guys are the ones who should leave!" Elric roared at Zoren and Harriet, with whom the two countered the exact words.
Aleckin could no longer stand how noisy they were. He turned around and bellowed at them. "You guys! Don't get me involved if you want to be kicked out of the hospital!"
"That's right! This is a hospital! Why are you creating a commotion? If you want a check, head to the reception and fill out the form! And while doing that, keep silent! You will be assisted once your name is called out!"
Zoren, Harriet, and Elric fell silent when they realized the doctor was furious. But Anton stepped forward and spoke to the middle-aged doctor. He glanced at his name tag and smiled.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Clark. Our friend sprained her foot, so Doctor Payne advised us to bring her here for an x-ray."
Hearing Doctor Payne's name, the radiologist immediately instructed Aleckin to place Rebecca in the sickbed.
"Alright. You can all leave now. I'll call you when the patient is done."
"No, we won't leave her alone!" Elric protested.
"Unless a female radiologist who will assist Rebecca. I want a whole body check to see if she has no injuries in other part of her body." Anton chimed in with firmness in his voice. It sounded exaggerated, but the doctor understood.
"Alright. I'll get Doctor Nessa. Maybe she hasn't had her lunch yet."
Doctor Clark instructed a nurse to page Doctor Nessa. She happened to be nearby, so Rebecca was assisted immediately.
When Simon heard what happened, he rushed to the radiologist department, and his gaze darkened upon seeing Aleckin.
"I told you to take care of Becca! Why did she end up spraining her foot?" He turned to Anton and Elric, and none of the two answered. They merely shared a knowing look.
On the other hand, Harriet and Zoren, who have known Simon's temperament since they were children's playmates, disappear without a trace.
Aleckin narrowed his gaze when his so-called best friends left him alone in the face of a storm.
"It's his fault!"
Elric pointed his index finger toward him. Aleckin has to explain himself with this. He uttered,
"I've already apologized and am willing to take responsibility. If I don't, I shouldn't be here."
Simon is taken aback when Aleckin says that. 'Is he already learned that Rebecca is his wife?'
He would have assumed if it weren't for Elric's ranting.
It was a good thing that Elric was tactless. Whatever the situation is, he never shut his mouth.
"Is that so? You were talking big about it. Isn't you abandoned your wife? Why would we let you stay by Becca's side when you are a heartless husband?"
Aleckin frowned when Elric made this remark. Once again, the guy insulted him for his credibility as a husband. How certain they are that he is not a good husband? It just happens that his marriage was to a stranger and not the woman he is in love with.
"I don't understand why you all hate me. If you are close to Yelena, you know that the elders who arranged our marriage. Our union was without love because we were strangers to each other. Even so, my family didn't neglect her. Grandpa showered her with gifts and generously gave her unimaginable allowance. So I believe she has nothing to complain about in the past five years."
"Hah! What's the use of your money if Re… I mean, your wife was… ugh… you guys!" Elric couldn't finish his words when Anton and Simon elbowed him at his sides. He felt like his ribs were breaking. "Ouch. I think I need an x-ray as well…"
"Shut your mouth, Elric. It's no use telling him that. Let's just be happy that Yelena divorced him," said Simon with fill of hidden meanings.
Aleckin isn't pleased with Simon's statement. They spoke as if Yelena had become miserable after being married to him, and their reaction intrigued him about the kind of person his nominal wife was.
Why do they sound like they were talking about a different person? He never understand this.
On the one hand, things often didn't go right when he tried to get to know her. It was like a curse.
The manor he gave her as alimony burned down, and then she disappeared without any trace. Moreover, the news caused his grandfather to have a heart attack.
Now, he was trying to get information from Yelena's friends, which led to another accident.
'Could it be that Rebecca knows Yelena's whereabouts? She was often around Elric and Anton. She is probably also close to my wife.'
Aleckin came up with an idea. Determined to locate her for the sake of his grandfather.
•••
Rebecca had only a minor sprain. But she still felt helpless when she returned to her ward with a swollen ankle.
Gladly, Aleckin wasn't there anymore after she had finished having an x-ray and full body check to see if she had bruises on the other parts of her body.
She doesn't want to cross path with him. But thinking that Aleksandr was also in this hospital, it's natural for Aleckin to be here, too. Thus, she needs to do something. She cannot avoid Aleckin' forever or cover her face whenever they encountered.
Rebecca picked up her phone on the side table and sent Simon a message.
[Simon, can we launch my plan ASAP?]
[Sure. I'll arrange things immediately.]
•••
On the other wing of the hospital, Aleckin sat on the sofa outside the Operation Room. He stared at the red light on the door, waiting for it to change into green.
Three hours have passed, but Rolan hasn't finished the operation. Aleckin started to have mixed feelings. Of course, he would not have peace thinking he was the reason his grandfather died suddenly.
"Aleckin! How's Grandpa Alek? I'm so worried about him!"
Aleckin was lost in his thoughts when a woman suddenly threw her body on him and cried as if her lover had died.
"Margaret? What are you doing here?" Aleckin pushed Margaret aside and stood up to put a gap between them.
Margaret was annoyed when Aleckin pushed her aside. She thought Aleckin would no longer let Aleksandr influence him.
But as she sees it, Aleckin still avoids getting close to other women because Aleksandr keeps reminding him that he is married and must stay faithful to her.
'I wished that old man would just die! Then no one can stop Aleckin from divorcing his wife in name and marrying another!'
Of course, she considers herself to be the most rightful Mrs. Ferrero.
A smile almost slipped into Margaret's lips thinking that. Immediately, she settles her emotion and put up her facade of a concerned future granddaughter-in-law.
Thinking of her bright future, Margaret grabbed the hem of Aleckin's shirt and said, "Grandpa Arnaldo told me that Grandpa Aleksandr had a heart attack. He sent me here to take care of things. I didn't know you were here."
The smile on Margaret's face faded when she noticed the red stain on Aleckin's suit. Jealousy filled her heart in an instant. Dying from curiosity she asked,
"Aleckin, why do you have lipstick on your shirt?"
•••
Next chapter sneak preview:
"Anton, finally, you're back! I'm famished!" Rebecca paused and was taken aback when she recognized the man approaching her. "Oh, it's you…"
"Tsk. Those men have been bad-mouthing me, judging me of how a terrible husband I am. But look at them? They left you alone and starving?"
Rebecca didn't like his opinions toward her friends, but she could not blame Aleckin. He was only forced to marry her.
"Anton went to cook my favorite dishes, and Elric grabbed me some clothes while Simon made reports of my test results. Each of them does something for me while my husband is out there dating."