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.

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

the storm didn’t calm. It

steady but betraying a hint of the turmoil she must have been feeling She was always strong, but I could

she cut me

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

in the air, 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 anyone dare to harm them?

to anyone else. My voice was low, deadly,

eyes sharp despite her condition. “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 did this… they won’t stop until

let her see how much they affected me. She was right, of course. This wasn’t just about her or me. It was about Ethan and Emma, who were too young to understand why

jaw tightened as–I stood, still holding onto the kids. “I’m going to find out who did this, Christiana.

now, as if all the fight had drained out of

Concern, anger, guilt.. and something else, something I wasn’t ready to admit. I leaned down and pressed

something in her eyes, something that reminded me of the woman I fell

11:00 AM

Chapter 45

to James, who had been standing silently by the door, his face a mask of professionalism but his eyes filled with concern. “Get the best security on them,” I ordered, “Around the

expression grim. “Already on it,

turned back to Christiana one last time, my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t quite name. “I’ll be back,” I promised, my voice rough

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