Chapter 19 The Buzz of His Phone
By the time Elsa woke the next morning, Alexander had already left.
She quickly got ready and went to the hospital for work.
Once she threw all her attention into learning and getting along with her colleagues, she discovered the pain inside her became easier to ignore.
After work that evening, she unexpectedly met the senior colleague Professor Morris had wanted to introduce her to.
Julian Reyes.
Elsa greeted him politely. "Dr. Reyes."
Julian was dressed in a polished but relaxed style, rimless gold glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. He was handsome, warm, and unfailingly courteous.
"I heard you live near Rose Street. I have something to do in that direction. Want a ride?"
Elsa quickly waved both hands. "Thank you, but I drove today."
Julian had been personally recommended by Professor Morris.
He was currently the youngest medical doctor in Saintville to hold his particular level of credentials.
Elsa had heard that the Reyes family had practiced medicine for generations and owned private hospitals in countries all over the world.
Despite his age, Julian already controlled a vast family fortune.
When Elsa stepped out of the outpatient building, she unexpectedly saw Alexander.
The memory of the concern in his eyes for Serena the previous night made her chest ache again.
If he was at the hospital, he had probably come to take care of Serena.
Elsa swallowed the pain and walked past him with dignity.
Everything she'd shouted last night—taking him to court, destroying both sides—had been spoken while she was out of control.
Even if Elsa no longer cared what happened to herself, she still had to think of her parents and Noah.
Alexander had found the exact pressure point that immobilized her.
Except for losing her mind at him in private, there was almost nothing she could actually do.
Alexander watched Elsa walk past, then followed without losing his temper.
He caught her wrist and pulled her back to his side.
"Elsa, we can fight, but don't forget we're husband and wife."
She shook off his hand. "Your first love is waiting for you. You should hurry."
Alexander glanced back at the outpatient building, then at Elsa.
He took her hand and began leading her toward the road outside the hospital.
"I came to pick you up from work. We're going to visit Mom and Dad."
Elsa stopped.
So this was Alexander's attempt at easing the tension.
Whenever she got angry, he either bought her jewelry, sent expensive gifts to her parents, or—like now—personally accompanied her to visit them.
Lowering his head and apologizing?
Explaining himself?
Never.
Elsa refused without expression. "There's no need. My parents aren't worth troubling yourself over."
To Alexander, the words sounded more petulant than serious.
His grip tightened slightly.
"I already called Mom. She made fish for you. I'll have a couple of drinks with Dad."
Elsa was angry that he'd arranged everything before telling her, but she also didn't want her parents waiting for them.
So she swallowed the protest.
Pedestrians passing nearby looked at Alexander with open admiration.
Elsa turned and looked at him too.
He wore an all-black business suit, elegant and striking, the kind of man who attracted attention wherever he went.
Elsa had spent her whole childhood orbiting him.
She was used to other people envying her.
Once, she had been proud of it.
Now she felt nothing.
"Alexander, you don't have to buy so many things every time you come for dinner."
Margaret stared helplessly at the luxury gifts occupying half the living room.
After the driver carried in the last two boxes of liquor and left, Alexander said, "Mom, you and Dad should move back downtown. It's a little far out here. Now that Elsa is working, it'll be inconvenient if she wants to visit often."
Harold brought the final dish to the table and interrupted him.
"Let's eat first."
Elsa sat beside Alexander and noticed that he wasn't comfortable in the small apartment.
She reached toward his place setting. "Go if you're busy. I can get home by myself later."
She didn't say the real meaning aloud, but Alexander understood.
He did not become angry.
Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of fish onto Elsa's plate.
"It's fine. We'll leave together after dinner."
Across the table, Margaret and Harold exchanged worried looks.
They knew exactly how much their daughter had loved Alexander over the years.
Whenever the couple ate here before, Elsa practically hung off him.
If Alexander was too busy to stay, she would pout, nag, and cause enough trouble that he usually had to come back later to pick her up.
Now Elsa ate with perfect manners and visible distance.
Not only did she avoid clinging to Alexander, she encouraged him to leave and deal with work.
Her parents looked at each other and fell silent.
Noticing their expressions, Elsa quickly served Alexander some food.
She needed to act warmer.
She couldn't let them worry.
Alexander calmly ate what Elsa placed on his plate.
He had grown up as the pampered heir of one of the city's most powerful families.
An aging relocation apartment and simple dining room were far from the environment he was used to.
But Alexander was well educated and disciplined.
No matter how unfamiliar the setting, he would never behave disrespectfully in front of elders.
He stood and poured Harold some wine.
"Dad, I heard this one is mild. Try it. If you like it, I'll bring this brand from now on."
Harold gave his son-in-law the courtesy expected of him. "You're busy enough. Stop spending so much on us. Since you're here, eat more."
Alexander was relatively relaxed around Elsa's parents.
During dinner, he brought up the downtown apartment again.
In the past, Margaret and Harold listened to almost anything Alexander suggested.
To them, their son-in-law had always been a source of pride.
But this time, even after Alexander mentioned the move twice, neither agreed.
Elsa understood.
Her parents still had doubts.
She had told them it was all a misunderstanding and that Alexander wasn't cheating, but suspicion did not appear without cause.
They couldn't simply stop worrying.
Alexander was socially perceptive.
After they refused him twice, he did not mention it again.
When dinner ended, Elsa and Alexander left together.
Alexander secretly left behind the bank card her parents had returned.
Margaret discovered it, quietly slipped it back to Elsa, and told her to take it home.
On the drive back, Elsa held it out to Alexander.
"My parents won't accept it again. Take it."
Alexander had drunk some wine at dinner, and his eyes carried a slightly hazy intimacy as he looked at her.
He studied Elsa's delicate face, then closed his hand over both the card and her fingers, pulling her gently toward him.
At that moment, his phone vibrated inside his pocket.
The sound buzzed through the quiet car.
Their eyes met.
Elsa immediately pulled her hand away.
Alexander took out the phone.
Before he could answer, the caller disconnected.
Then message notifications began arriving one after another.
Elsa watched every change in his expression.
Her hands clenched at her sides.
She felt sick in a different way now.
Whenever Alexander's phone made a sound—call or message—it didn't matter.
If he hesitated for even half a second, Elsa immediately felt as though she were losing control.