Chapter 13: A lie Buried too deep

Vivian's Pov

The first thing I heard that morning was a man's calm but commanding voice.

"Search again."

"I don't believe she's just a business associate."

My heart skipped.

Was he talking about me?

Still unable to open my eyes, I listened carefully.

Alexander's assistant returned a few minutes later with a tablet.

"Sir, I found something."

"What is it?"

"There are old  photographs of Mr. David Blackstone and Vivian pretty close to each other."

Silence filled the room.

My heart pounded.

photograph?

The assistant continued.

"But something is strange."

"What?"

"There nothing to discover about their relationship on the internet, just few photograph of them together"

Alexander frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I think they're just business associate."

"And, they're close friends."

"The family photos have vanished."

"The company's website does not  lists Vivian as part of the Blackstone family."

"It looks as though someone deliberately erased every trace of her."

The room fell silent.

Alexander slowly looked toward my unconscious body.

"Interesting."

His voice was low.

"Keep digging."

"I want the complete truth."

Hours later...

The assistant returned again.

"Sir."

Alexander looked up.

"We've reached a dead end."

"The only remaining evidence is a few photographs saved on an old social media account."

Alexander took the tablet.

His eyes remained on the pictures.

David...

Smiling.

Holding my hand.

The very promises he had broken.

Alexander's expression darkened.

"Call Mr. David Blackstone."

The assistant nodded.

"Tell him I need clarification regarding someone connected to our business."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

David...

Coming here?

After abandoning me?

After calling me nothing more than a business associate?

My chest tightened.

Questions raced through my mind.

Would he tell the truth?

Would he finally acknowledge me?

Or would he deny me all over again?

Less than an hour later...

Footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Strong.

Fast.

Confident.

The doctor greeted the newcomer.

"Mr. Blackstone."

David.

Even without opening my eyes...

I recognized his voice.

"Good afternoon, Doctor."

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to ask him why.

Why had he done this to me?

Why had he erased me from his life?

But all I could do was lie there in silence.

Alexander stood beside the window.

His back was to David.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"Thank you for coming."

David answered politely.

"Anything for an important business partner."

Alexander finally faced him.

He held up the tablet.

"I'd like to ask you about this woman."

Several seconds passed.

Then I felt David was shocked to see me hospitalised when he turned to see me.

What! Vivian, what happened to her doctor.

She is collapsed on the roadside which eventually triggered the condition she is in now.

Alexander studied him carefully.

"You know her?"

"Of course."

David smiled naturally.

"She's worked with Blackstone Holdings on several occasions."

"We've become good friends over the years."

Good friends?

My heart shattered again.

Was that all I had become?

After everything?

A friend?

A business associate?

Nothing more?

Tears rolled silently from the corners of my eyes.

No one noticed.

Alexander noticed the tears only after a moment.

His eyes narrowed.

He looked from my face...

Back to David.

Then back to the photographs.

Something didn't add up.

Alexander asked another question.

"If she's only your business associate..."

"How do you explain these photographs?"

The room became deathly silent.

For the first time...

David hesitated.

He stared at the screen.

Then forced a smile.

"Old promotional photographs."

"We once appeared together during a charity campaign."

His answer came too quickly.

Too smoothly.

Alexander said nothing.

Instead...

He quietly observed David's face.

Every movement.

Every blink.

Every pause.

The room became unbearably quiet.

Even the doctor sensed the tension.

He knows about there  marriage and decided to remain quiet.

Finally...

Alexander handed the tablet back to his assistant.

"I appreciate your explanation."

David smiled with relief.

"I'm glad I could help."

Alexander nodded politely.

"So am I."

He was already convinced and decided to give up on the interrogation and investigation.

As David turned to leave, Alexander looked once more at Vivian's unconscious face.

Then he said quietly, almost to himself,

"No woman deserves to be in this condition this pretty lady is into.l."

David stopped walking.

"...May the person behind her pain suffer muserably."

David slowly turned around.

Their eyes met.

Neither man spoke.

Neither man smiled.

For the first time since entering the room...

David felt something he hadn't felt in years.

Fear

As the elevator doors closed behind David, Alexander's assistant hurried toward him again, holding another file.

"Sir..."

Alexander looked up.

"We've just found something ."

Alexander's eyes dropped to the document.

His expression changed instantly.

He whispered only four words.

"So that's who she is.