Chapter 30 Alexander
Chapter Thirty
ALEXANDER
Something seemed off, and I couldn’t figure out why.
Ever since Ella and I had slept together again, she had been distant. I was terrified I had done something wrong.
Most of my texts were met with one word answers or a meme.
It felt like she was hiding something but I didn’t know what. I was letting my father’s paranoia get into my head and the last thing I needed was his paranoia.
I walked into Elizabeth’s room and slumped down onto her bean bag.
She was currently reading her stuffed teddies a story.
I laid back and enjoyed her story, trying to forget everything else. Although. I wasn’t successful because my mind drifted back to Ella. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, seeing if I had any messages from her or TikToks that she had sent me.
Nothing.
I heard the door open and turned to see Henry walking in and slumping down on the bean bag next to me with a loud sigh.
I let out a little laugh. “I know why I’m in a mood, but why are you in a mood?”
“Mum and dad are making me get a tutor,” he said.
“A tutor? For what? You’re not even in high school yet,” I said confused. “Surely you don’t need a tutor for anything important just yet.”
“That was my argument too!” Henry said, his hands in the air clenching as if he was trying to strangle someone. “Apparently, it’s not normal that words jump around the page. The letters and numbers get muddled.”
I sat up and looked at Henry. “That’s not normal. How long has this been happening? Is this why you don’t like to read.”
He buried his head into the bean bag.
“Henry, mum and dad might be right on this. It sounds like you have a learning disability,” I told him gently.
“I’m not disabled!” He snapped.
“Henry, that isn’t what a learning disability means. It just means your brain works a little differently than mine, Arthur’s, our parents, or even Elizabeth’s,” I told him. “We have to find a way that your brain can learn and absorb the information. It’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s not?”
I pulled him off the bean bag into a hug and squeezed him tightly. “It just makes you more special Henry. We love you whether you have a learning disability or not. So go back to mother and father, and tell them you’ll accept the tutor.”
He nodded, getting up and leaving the room. “Thanks, Alex.”
I smiled to myself.
Maybe I should be a therapist instead of a Prince. Or maybe it could be a side hustle.
I stood up, leaving Elizabeth to her tea party and walking throughout the Palace.
For a place so big, I did feel bored a lot. It was the weekend, which meant no duties for a change.
Ella said she was working, and I was procrastinating my butt off not doing university work. Maybe I should have taken a leaf out of my own book and did some work, but I couldn’t focus.
“Alexander, your father is looking for you,” a butler said.
I groaned, “Can’t you just pretend you didn’t see me?” I asked.
“Afraid not, Sir,” he said with a small smile.
I groaned, heading towards the office. The door was open as I reached and I could hear whispering. “Nicely,” I heard someone mutter sharply.
I walked into the office and saw my father and mother standing by the fireplace. “You called?” I asked sarcastically.
“Hello Alexander, could you sit down?” My father asked, pointing to the chair as they both took a seat on the sofa.
I shook my head. “I don’t want to. This seems like bad news. I don’t want bad news or vibes.”
“Baby boy, sit down,” Mother said gently.
Dread filled my stomach. My mother only called me baby boy when she had bad news. It was the same nickname she used when my grandfather and grandmother died.
I sat down and looked at them concerned. “What’s wrong? Who died?”
“Nobody, honey,” mother said.
“You only call me baby boy when there’s bad news,” I told her. “So, what’s the bad news?”
“The background check Miss Brown agreed to has come through,” Father said.
He handed me some papers, and I looked at him confused.
“She didn’t come back clean, Alexander.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused. “Ella would tell me anything I needed to know. How do I know you haven’t fixed it? You haven’t exactly been quiet about your hatred for her.”
“Alexander, I am concerned that is all,” Father said, shaking his head.
“Baby boy, your dad hasn’t made it up. Open it,” mum said.
I slumped back on the sofa and opened the envelope. I flipped up the paper, and my eyes laid on the envelope. My eyes widened as I read her finances. “Holy fuck, how does someone get into that much debt?”
“You didn’t know?” Mother asked softly.
I shook my head and continued to read.
Her father, Roman Brown, was arrested for murder and assault. There was still a warrant out for his arrest.
My eyes widened as I saw the name. “How?” I looked at my father. “How did he attempt to kill you? If this was true how did she even step into the Palace with our security?”
“We used to be close, the name rang a bell. When she appeared that’s why I was so standoffish, Alexander. Roman Brown used to be a close friend of the family, his mother was my father’s P.A. We grew up together. And then one day, it all changed. He tried to kill me, and I never did find out why.”
“You’re sure it was him?” I asked.
My father nodded. “He left a note.”
“She’s never mentioned her father before,” I whispered.
I read the rest of the background check.
Ella was receiving money from him.
Why would she hide this?
Why hide the relationship with her father?
Some of the other things were things I already knew.
“No. This can’t be true.”
“I’m sorry, but it is.”
I shook my head, “No, I love her!” I stood up, running a hand through my hair. “There’s got to be an answer for this. She wouldn’t—”
“Alexander, how well do you know this girl? Forget about your feelings, think practically. Was she with you for access to money? Have you slept together?” Mother asked.
“I really don’t want to discuss my sex life with you,” I said. “It’s not any of your business if we have.”
“It is, if she cries assault.”
“She wouldn’t!” I snapped.
“How do you know?”
“Our relationship is on record. The public knows we are together.”
My father scoffed. “You can still assault someone in a relationship, Alexander.”
I walked out the room, slamming the door behind me.
She wouldn’t do this.
She loved me.
I slammed my fist into the wall next to me and screamed. “Fuck!” My fist went straight through, and I pulled it out, ignoring the pain. It didn’t compare to the pain I was feeling over her betrayal.
I walked over to the garage and grabbed my keys off the hook, getting into the car. I opened the garage and sped out until I got to the gates, and they were opened. I pressed my foot down on the accelerator. I had no idea where I was driving to, but I needed to clear my head.
I pressed the button to roll down the window and enjoyed the breeze in my face. I finally stopped driving as I reached the River Thames.
Something about watching the river go by was peaceful.
I looked at the time, seeing it was only 3:00 p.m. I pulled my phone out and clicked Ella’s face to open the messages. She still hadn’t replied to my messages. I pressed the call button and it began to ring almost immediately I got sent to voicemail.
Why the fuck was she ignoring my calls?
I slammed my hand on the steering wheel.
It couldn’t be true. I pray to God it’s not true. I love her, and I can’t lose her. I rang her once more, hoping this would be the time she answered, but it went to voicemail.
I needed to see her.
I reversed away from where I parked and headed to her.
A couple of hours later, I was parked outside of her house.
I had seen a man enter her house and as I focused I noticed it was her father.
Fuck.
They were right.
I pressed her caller ID again, giving it a ring. It rang three times before I was sent to voicemail again. I got out of the car, walking over and knocking on the door.
The door opened and Ella stood there with surprise etched on her face.
“We need to talk.”
She frowned and nodded letting me into the house, I pulled the envelope out of my pocket as she sat in the living room. “What’s wrong? I’m sorry for dodging your calls.”
“You lied to me, Melinda,” I said.
Her mouth dropped open, “What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth? What was the point of lying?”
“What the fuck are you talking about you?” She asked, taking a step closer to me.
“Your fucking father!” I shouted.
She flinched. “I don’t have anything to do with him.”
“So, he gives you money for shits and giggles?” I asked, shaking my head. “Melinda, you’re in debt, and he gives you money.”
“If you would let me explain, I don’t accept his guilt money,” she snapped. “The debt isn’t something easy I can explain—”
“He tried to kill my father, too. I mean I kind of don’t blame him too much on that front. You lied to me..”
She flinched slightly. “You don’t know the full story, Alex.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “You’ve lost that privilege. I trusted you. I fell in love with you.”
She reached forward, pushing me away from her.
“Then, you don’t get to touch me. Let me explain.”
I could feel myself shutting down. “You can’t be trusted. Did you sleep with me just to accuse me of assault to try and blackmail me?”
Her eyes widened. “What the actual fuck? Did you seriously just ask me that after having sex with you?”
As I looked at her, I knew I struck a chord, most normal people would back down, but I didn’t care she was destroying my heart. “Well.”
She stepped closer. Before I could react, she reached up and slapped me hard across the face. “Get out. I can’t believe you even just fucking suggested that. You fucking arsehole!”
I handed her the envelope, “You lied, and I’m the arsehole?” I laughed, shaking my head and walking out of the room.
“Alex, stop! We need to talk about this!”
I opened the front door staring at her. “No, the time to talk about it would have been when you told me the truth. We’re done, Melinda.”
“Please,” she begged. “Let’s talk about this.”
“You broke my heart,” I whispered.
I turned around, heading towards the car and ignoring the swarm of paparazzi who were trying to surround me. I got into the car and sped off immediately and dialled Jeremy’s number.
He answered immediately. “What’s up, dude?”
“Get me a race as soon as possible,” I said. “Some good stuff, too.”
“Did something happen?”
“She fucking broke my heart man. She lied.”
“Oh, fuck. Forget the race. Come to my house. I have the antidote,” he said.
“Be there soon.” I ended the call pressing my foot on the accelerator, heading straight to Jeremy.
If anyone could make me forget all this bullshit, it was him.