When the Backup Wife Disappears Chapter 06
Alexander’s POV
“You… what?”
My voice shook.
Robert sighed. “Every penny she had–two hundred grand. When your company was circling the drain, Evelyn came to me. Asked me to invest it under my name. Said if you knew it came from her, you’d feel guilty about it.”
I sagged against the wall, legs going weak.
Two hundred thousand.
That lifeline years ago–it was Evelyn’s money all along.
All this time, every time I saw Robert, I’d tell him: “I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Turns out the person I should’ve been thanking was beside me the whole time. And I never said it. Not once.
“Honestly? Seeing you two end like this–it kills me.” Robert’s voice brought me back. “Everything Evelyn’s
done for you over the years? I saw it all.”
“Remember Whitmore? Guy wouldn’t even take your meeting. Evelyn pulled strings to get you in that room. And Morrison–she drank for three straight nights to close that deal. Landed herself in the ER with a
bleeding ulcer. You never would’ve gotten that signature without her.”
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
“If you give a damn about her,” Robert squeezed my shoulder, “go find her. Or you’ll regret it till the day you die.”
He turned and walked away.
I slid down the wall, eyes shut.
Images hit me in waves–Evelyn up at 3 AM
organizing my files, eyes barely staying open. Evelyn drinking shot after shot with clients, face ghost–white but still smiling. That look in her eyes that never complained…
And me?
I pushed her aside for Maya. Over and over. Called her jealous. Petty. Fought with her. Took every single thing she did for granted.
I thought I knew what I was doing. Turns out I was the biggest fool of all.
The next three days, I went crazy looking for her. Called her phone–dead. Hit up her coffee shop–no one had seen her. Hired a PI–came up empty. Evelyn had vanished.
Third night, I sat alone in our house.
That’s when it hit me—five years married, and I didn‘ t KNOW her. Not really. Who were her friends? What did she do for fun? Where did she go? I didn’t even have her parents‘ number. She’d cut them off for me. And I never asked why.
Then someone came to mind.
I shot to my feet, tearing through the house. Found
our wedding album in the study. Flipped to a photo of Evelyn with her maid of honor.
Chloe!
Business card tucked behind the photo–Chloe Miller. I called.
Rang forever before picking up.
“Yeah?”
“This is Alexander Green: Evelyn’s husband. I need tb-”
“I know who you are.” Chloe’s voice went arctic. “Got some balls calling me.”
I froze. “I just need to know where she is. I have to see her-”
“See her?” Chloe laughed–sharp, bitter. “You think you’ve EARNED the right to see her?”
“I know I screwed up. I want to apologize, fix things-
“Apologize? FIX things?” Her voice cracked loud. “You know what she gave up for you? She CUT OFF her parents! They saw through your bullshit from day one, but she wouldn’t listen. Said she LOVED you! And what’d you do? She spent every birthday alone for YEARS. I’d ask how she was doing–she’d lie, say fine.
But I could see her breaking.”
Each word landed like a punch.
“She used to light up, you know? Over stupid little things. A flower blooming. Rain on the window. After she married YOU? That light died.”
“Please.” My voice cracked. “Just tell me where she is. I swear I’ll-”
“Too late.” Chloe’s words came out cold as death. “She has cancer. Stomach. Stage four.”
Everything stopped.
What?”
“Shocked?” Chloe spat. “Whose fault you think that IS? All those nights drinking for YOUR deals. YOUR clients. Doctors said if she’d caught it early, she’d be fine. But she was too busy saving YOUR ass to take care of herself.”
My legs gave out. Hit the floor hard. Phone tumbled from my hand.
Cancer. Stage four.
Her pale face. The way she’d press her hand to her stomach. Passing out on that yacht. It wasn’t dramatics. She was dying.
“Alexander.” Chloe’s voice crackled through the speaker like a curse. “You’re gonna live with this forever. If you have ONE shred of humanity left, stay
away from her. Let her get treatment in peace. That’s
the only goddamn thing you can do for her now.”
*Click.*
I knelt there on the floor, tears coming fast.