Chapter 45

Alexander POV.

The call came in just before dawn, jolting me awake. I fumbled for my phone, squinting at the screen, and immediately recognized James’s number. A call at this hour could only mean something was seriously wrong.

“James, what is it?” I asked, my voice thick with sleep and unease.

“Sir, there’s been an incident,” he said, his voice urgent. “Christiana’s mansion–there was a fire. The house… it’s gone. She and the children are at St. Mary’s Hospital. I’m on my way there now.”

The words hit me like a freight train. I shot out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest. “A fire? Are they alright? What happened?”

“Christiana and the kids made it out alive, but she’s injured. Twisted her ankle. The mansion is a total loss.”

I didn’t wait for more details. Throwing on the nearest clothes I could find, I was out the door in minutes. My mind raced as I sped through the early morning streets. A fire? In the middle of the night? This wasn’t a coincidence. Someone was trying to kill them.

When I arrived at the hospital, I barely noticed the stares from the staff as I stormed through the corridors. My thoughts were singular, focused solely on finding them. As I reached the room, the door swung open, and there she was–Christiana, lying on the hospital bed, her ankle bandaged, her face pale but composed. The doctor was standing beside her, checking her vitals, but it was clear from the tension in the room that this was more than just a routine examination.

“Daddy!” Ethan’s voice rang out, high–pitched and filled with relief. He ran towards me, followed by Emma, their small faces streaked with tears but showing a glimmer of hope now that I was here.

their little bodies against mine nearly broke me. I pressed my lips to the top of their heads, trying to calm the storm

the storm didn’t calm. It

at Christiana, who was watching us, her eyes steady but betraying a hint of the turmoil she must have been feeling She was always strong, but I could see the exhaustion in her posture, the way she held herself together

cut me off

her voice firm despite her weariness. “Someone set the house on fire. They wanted to kill

thick and heavy, fueling the anger that was already bubbling beneath my skin. I could feel my hands balling into fists, my mind racing with possibilities, suspects, enemies. How could

else. My voice was low, deadly, filled with the kind. of

“I don’t need your promises, Alex. I need you to understand that this isn’t about us anymore. It’s about the kids. Whoever

right, of course. This wasn’t just

still holding onto the kids. “I’m going to find out who did this, Christiana. And when

all the fight had drained out of her. “We can’t

feeling a mix of emotions I hadn’t expected. Concern, anger, guilt.. and something else, something I wasn’t ready to admit. I leaned down and pressed a kiss to Emma’s forehead,

as I straightened, I caught Christiana’s gaze again. There was something in her eyes, something that reminded me of the woman I fell in love with all those years ago. The same fire, the same determination, but also a deep,

11:00 AM

Chapter 45

face a mask of professionalism but his eyes filled with concern. “Get the best security on them,” I ordered, “Around the

grim. “Already

chest tight with emotions I couldn’t quite name. “I’ll be back,” I promised, my voice rough

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