Chapter 22 Apologize to Serena
Saintville First Central Hospital, inpatient wing.
Alexander was scolding Violet while Lucas stood nearby enjoying the show.
Alexander pointed toward the hospital room, his expression dark. "Did your sister-in-law tell you to go make trouble for Serena?"
Violet leaned against the wall, completely unapologetic. "Elsa isn't that bored."
Alexander's gaze sharpened.
Violet and Elsa had grown up together.
Violet had always been hot-tempered, while Elsa had been full of schemes and ideas. As children, wherever Elsa pointed, Violet charged.
If Elsa hadn't encouraged her, Alexander didn't believe Violet would have had the nerve to go after Serena on her own.
A vein throbbed near his temple. "Go apologize to Serena."
Violet shrank back a little but stubbornly held her ground. "You two apologize to Elsa first, and then I'll apologize."
Looking at his sister, Alexander suddenly thought of Elsa.
There was a reason those two had stayed friends for so many years.
One was impossibly stubborn. The other was impossibly defiant.
When they wanted to charm someone, they could be unbearably sweet. When they wanted to make someone angry, they could drive a person insane.
Alexander's voice hardened. "Violet, if you refuse to apologize, I'll send you abroad."
Violet quietly moved behind Lucas. "If you dare send me away, I'll tell everyone you're cheating on your wife!"
Alexander's chest rose sharply. "If Elsa and I really end up divorced, you'll deserve part of the credit."
At that moment, noise came from inside the room.
Alexander went in immediately.
The moment Serena saw him, her emotions became unstable. Ignoring her injuries, she climbed out of bed and walked barefoot toward him.
"Alexander, I want to talk to you."
Alexander glanced at the housekeeper. Taking the hint, the woman left the room.
He helped Serena back onto the bed and pulled a chair beside her. "You're injured. Why are you getting up?"
Serena's face was pale. She looked as though she was trying desperately not to cry.
"Alexander, Violet was only defending your wife. Your wife must hate me now."
Alexander frowned. "Don't worry. I'll make them apologize to you."
Serena studied his expression before continuing.
"I didn't realize Violet and your wife had misunderstood me this badly. Violet called me a mistress, hit me, insulted me, and accused me of spending your money. She's only your sister, yet she already hates me so much. Your wife is legally married to you. If she'd been the one who came last night...
she might have killed me."
Concern showed openly in Alexander's voice. "Serena, as long as I'm here, no one will hurt you or your son."
Serena took the opportunity to hold his hand and finally let her tears fall.
"Alexander, I know it was selfish of me to ask you not to explain things to your wife, but I'm scared."
Her voice trembled. "Six years ago, one sentence from your grandfather destroyed our future. Your grandfather and your parents can still ruin my life whenever they want."
"Your wife hates me so much. If she finds out what happened to me during these six years, if she learns the truth about my son, she'll tell everyone. Then your family will despise me even more."
"If that happens, how are my son and I supposed to live in Saintville? How could I face my family or friends? If I hadn't come to you for help, who else could I turn to?"
Alexander answered firmly, "Serena, I will never reveal the truth about the child. I'll take responsibility."
In his mind, Serena had endured unimaginable suffering because of him and had even been forced to give birth to a child.
Yet he had married someone else without knowing any of it.
He owed her.
"Alexander, I know my son and I have caused problems between you and your wife," Serena whispered. "But I'm frightened. I don't know what to do."
Alexander stood and gently patted her back. "Stop imagining the worst. Take care of yourself. Leave everything else to me."
Serena caught his hand again. "Alexander, this all started because of me. I can't keep hiding behind you. I want to apologize to your wife and Violet. Saintville isn't that big. We'll run into each other eventually. I can't let them keep misunderstanding me."
Alexander calmly withdrew his hand. "You're the one who was hurt. They're the ones who should apologize."
Elsa spent the entire morning working.
Time passed quickly when she was busy, and for once, the hours felt full rather than unbearable.
At noon, most of her colleagues went home to rest. Elsa remained alone in the large staff lounge.
She could have gone home too, but she didn't want to make the trip back and forth.
She sat quietly by the window. The boxed lunch in front of her remained untouched.
When Alexander opened the door and walked in, she gave him only a blank glance.
He sat across from her.
A table separated them. His gaze passed over the unopened meal and settled on her face.
She was wearing makeup today and looked beautiful.
But he had always preferred her without it, when her face looked soft and clean enough to make him want to pull her into his arms.
Seeing her so quiet reminded Alexander of the night before, when she had held a fruit knife and desperately tried to stop him from leaving.
His expression turned complicated.
He rose and moved to her side, reaching for her arm. "You never liked cafeteria food. I'll take you to a restaurant."
Elsa didn't move. She simply shifted her body away from his hand.
His hand hung in the air for a second before falling back to his side.
After a brief silence, he pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.
Facing her directly, he asked, "Elsa, can we talk calmly?"
She turned her numb gaze toward him. "About what?"
She already knew why he had come.
Violet had stopped by earlier.
That was how Elsa learned Alexander had threatened to send his own sister abroad just to force her to apologize to Serena.
If he could be that ruthless with his own sister, how much mercy could Elsa expect from him?
Alexander studied her. "Serena is in the hospital. Violet injured her."
Elsa answered without hesitation. "If you're going to call the police, tell them to arrest me instead."
The entire mess had started because of her.
She couldn't keep letting Violet fight her battles.
Alexander cautiously reached for her hand. "There's no need for police. Just go apologize to Serena."
Elsa quietly pulled her hand away.
Then she raised her eyes to his and said, "Alexander, you might as well kill me."
She had thought she was prepared for anything he could say.
She wasn't.
Her heart still hurt violently when the words came out of his mouth.
Elsa stood to leave, but Alexander caught her wrist.
"Violet went after Serena. Are you telling me you had nothing to do with it?"