When the Backup Wife Disappears Chapter 07
Alexander’s POV
That night I drank myself stupid. Bottle after bottle, trying to black out, shut my brain off. But the drunker I got, the clearer Evelyn’s face became.
Morning came. Doorbell.
Maya’s voice through the door: “Alexander, open up! You’re ignoring my calls. I’m scared out here alone…”
I opened it. Walked straight to my desk, grabbed my checkbook. Scrawled a number. Ripped it out, handed it over.
Maya stared at it-$500,000. Her face shifted. “What’s this?”
“We’re done.” Flat. Empty. “Take it. Leave. Don’t come back.”
“WHAT?!” She screamed. “You can’t just–you
PROMISED-”
“Get out.” I shoved her backward and slammed the door.
She pounded on it, shrieking. I didn’t hear it.
Eventually, silence.
Spotted her purse on the table. Fine. I’d give it back.
Grabbed it, headed down to the parking garage.
That’s when I saw it.
In a dark corner–Maya, tongue down some guy’s throat.
I stood there, frozen.
“So how much’d that sucker give you this time?” Guy laughed, pulling back.
Maya waved the check like a trophy. “Five hundred K! God, he’s pathetic. Acting weird today though.
Different.”
Guy smirked. “Your depression routine still got him by the balls?”
“Obviously.” Maya sneered. “Been milking that act for years. Cry a little, threaten to hurt myself–he folds every time.”
“Why’d you even waste time on him?”
“Waste time?” Maya laughed, harsh and ugly. “I WANTED to leave for London. Who’d look twice at
that broke nobody? Heard he got rich, came running back. Too bad he’d married that dumb bitch. But
whatever–let her build him up with her money first. Now she’s gone, I can cash in. Bleed him dry and dump his ass-”
My whole body shook.
“MAYA!” I charged out. “You’ve been LYING this
whole TIME!”
They whipped around.
Maya went white for half a second. Then she smiled-
cold, cruel. “Yeah. I lied. What’re you gonna do? You were always just a wallet with legs.”
The guy stepped forward, sneering. “Hear that? She never gave a FUCK about you.” swung.
He was bigger. Faster. Slammed me to the concrete, fists coming down. Maya stood there watching–didn‘ t stop him. LAUGHED.
He finally threw me down, boot pressed into my ribs.
Maya crouched, looking at me like garbage. “You know what you are, Alexander? A JOKE. Evelyn gave you everything, and you tossed her out. I played you for YEARS, and you bought every word.”
she kicked my face. “You fucking deserve this.”
They left. Laughing.
I lay there on cold concrete, blood in my mouth, ribs screaming. Physical pain was nothing compared to the rest.
Tears again.
Evelyn… God, I’m sorry…
I’m so, so sorry…
Evelyn’s POV
London was gray. Always gray.
I stared out the hospital window at the drizzle.
“Hey, Earth to Evelyn.”
Chloe walked in with daisies. Set them on the nightstand, dropped into the chair beside my bed.
“You look better.” She smiled. “Doc says surgery went perfect. Next round of treatment starts tomorrow.”
I nodded. Tried to smile back.
Chloe watched me for a beat. “That asshole call you yet?” “Who?”
“Come on. Alexander.” She rolled her eyes. “Called me. yesterday asking where you were. I tore him apart.” I stayed quiet.
“You know what pisses me off?” Chloe’s voice climbed. “He had the NERVE to beg forgiveness. After everything? After what he DID to you? I could’ve-”
“Chloe.” Soft. Tired. “Please. I just want to get better.”
She looked at me. Sighed. “Okay. But you have to promise me you’ll fight this.”
I nodded. Eyes burned.
Chloe went quiet. Then: “Have you called your parents?”
My whole body tensed. “No. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because…” I shut my eyes. “When I married him, I… we had this massive fight. Mom said if I went through with it, she’d never speak to me again. It’s been five years, Chloe. How do I face them now?”
Tears rolled down.
“I left so angry. So sure. And now… with this disease…
what would they even think?”
“Evelyn.” Chloe pulled me close. “No parent stops Hoving their kid. Not really. And yours? They never stopped worrying about you.”
I looked up. “What?”
Chloe smiled soft, glanced at the door. “I called them. They’re here. Right outside.”