Chapter 3 HIS CHOICE

​The room fell silent as Alex's phone continued vibrating on the bedside table. Camille Calling...

​Javier didn't blink. She simply looked at the screen, and then up at Alex. "Answer it."

​Alex frowned. "Javier..."

​"You don't want to keep her waiting," she interrupted quietly.

​He looked at the phone again. "It might be important."

​A bitter smile crossed Javier's lips. "Of course. It always is."

​The ringing stopped, but before Alex could say anything, the phone immediately began to buzz again. Camille Calling...

​Alex let out a quiet sigh. "I'll tell her I'll call back." He swiped the screen and answered. "Camille."

​Her voice was shaky on the other end. "Alex... I'm sorry to bother you again."

​"What happened?"

​"I think I left my passport at the hotel," she said frantically. "I can't find it anywhere. My flight documents, my ID... everything is inside."

​Alex rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Did you ask the hotel staff?"

​"I did. They said the ballroom has already been closed. I don't know what to do."

​"I'll call the manager," Alex promised.

​"Please."

​The call ended, and Alex immediately began searching through his contacts for the hotel manager's number. Javier watched him silently. Even now, his attention wasn't on his wife or their ruined anniversary; it was entirely on Camille.

​Alex finally looked up from his screen. "I just need five minutes."

​Javier nodded blankly. "Take all the time you need."

​She walked past him toward the window, turning her back on him as Alex quickly called the hotel manager. "Hello, this is Alex Swan. I need a favor..."

​Ten minutes later, he hung up the phone. "They'll search the ballroom," he announced, turning around.

​He froze when he saw what Javier was doing. She was calmly folding the anniversary tablecloth she had brought upstairs, carefully placing it inside a storage box. Then, she reached out and removed their wedding photograph from the bedside table.

​Alex frowned. "What are you doing?"

​"I'm putting things away," she replied evenly.

​"It's over."

​"It was just one anniversary, Javier."

​"No," she said, finally looking him in the eye. "It wasn't. It was our fifth anniversary."

​Alex stepped closer to her. "I said I was sorry."

​"You keep saying those words, Alex, but your actions never match them."

​He reached out to take her hand, but she smoothly stepped back. For the first time in five years of marriage, she actively avoided his touch.

​Alex's chest tightened with a sudden wave of anxiety. "I love you."

​Javier smiled sadly. "I know. But lately... I'm not sure that's enough." Without another word, she walked into the dressing room and quietly shut the door behind her.

​Alex remained standing alone in the bedroom, a terrible, sinking feeling settling deep inside his chest.

​The next morning, the internet exploded. Every major entertainment page carried the same explosive headline: CEO Alex Swan Reunites With First Love On Wedding Anniversary.

​Photographs, videos, interviews, and wild speculations flooded every social media platform. The public comments were brutal:

​"Poor Mrs. Swan."

"His ex is so beautiful."

"Maybe they never got over each other."

"I'd leave him."

​Inside the Swan Group headquarters, employees whispered frantically as Alex entered the lobby. "Good morning, Mr. Swan," a receptionist murmured, but the gossip followed him all the way to the elevator.

​"That's him."

"I saw the video."

"Imagine how Madam must feel."

​Alex entered the elevator without looking back, but for the first time, his own office building no longer felt welcoming.

​When he reached the executive suite, his assistant hurried in. "Good morning, sir."

​"Morning."

​"There's something you should know," the assistant said hesitantly. "The board members are asking questions. They're worried the media attention could affect the company's public image."

​Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll handle it."

​Before another word could be spoken, there was a soft knock, and Camille entered the room. She looked utterly exhausted. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

​Alex stood up from his desk. "Did you find your passport?"

​She smiled weakly. "The hotel found it. Thank you."

​Alex nodded. "I'm glad."

​Camille noticed his tense expression. "You look tired."

​"I didn't sleep."

​She hesitated, biting her lip. "Did you and your wife argue because of me?"

​Alex remained silent, offering no reassurance. Camille lowered her eyes guiltily. "I'm sorry. I never wanted this."

​Alex shook his head, trying to dismiss it. "It isn't your fault."

​Camille forced a small smile. "I'll stay out of your way today."

​She turned to leave, but just then, the heavy office doors swung open and Kendall Swan walked in. The older man looked from Alex, to Camille, and then back to his son.

​"So..." Kendall said, his tone dripping with disappointment. "You brought her here."

​Alex answered as calmly as he could manage. "She starts work today, Father. She's qualified. I hired her because she's capable."

​Kendall's voice turned icy. "Out of every qualified person in this city, you chose your former lover."

​Camille immediately lowered her head in embarrassment. "Mr. Swan... I can resign."

​Kendall looked at her coldly. "This isn't about you. It's about the choices my son keeps making." The room fell into a tense, suffocating silence.

​Meanwhile, Javier sat alone in a quiet café near the hospital, absentmindedly stirring her tea. Her phone buzzed on the table; it was her best friend, Nina.

​"Where are you?" Nina asked when she picked up.

​"Outside."

​"Why?"

​"I just needed some fresh air."

​Nina arrived at the café a few minutes later. The moment she sat down, she reached across the table and grabbed Javier's hand. "I saw everything online."

​Javier smiled faintly, looking out the window. "The whole country did."

​Nina looked deeply into her eyes. "Tell me the truth, Javier. Is your marriage alright?"

​Javier didn't answer immediately. Instead, she opened her handbag, carefully retrieved a folded hospital report, and slid it across the table.

​Nina's eyes widened in shock as she read it. "You're pregnant?"

​Javier nodded softly. "I found out yesterday."

​"And Alex?"

​A long, heavy silence followed. Finally, Javier whispered, "He doesn't know."

​Nina couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Why haven't you told him?"

​Javier laughed softly, a sound completely devoid of joy. "When? During the anniversary dinner he never attended? While he was busy dancing with Camille? Or when he answered her phone call in our bedroom?"

​Nina's heart ached for her friend. She squeezed Javier's hand tightly. "You can't keep this from him forever."

​"I know," Javier said, gently placing her hand over her stomach. "But I don't want my baby to become the reason he stays. If Alex chooses this family, I want it to be because he loves us. Not because he feels guilty."

​Nina nodded slowly, finally understanding the heartbreaking reason behind Javier's silence.

​Late that afternoon, Alex returned home much earlier than usual. The mansion was unusually quiet. Trying to shake off his unease, he smiled to himself, thinking, I'll make it right today.

​He walked into the dining room. "Javier?" There was no answer. He checked the living room, the garden, and the library, but found nothing.

​Frowning, he called over one of the nearby maids. "Where's Madam?"

​The maid hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "Madam left this morning, sir. She hasn't returned."

​Alex's brow furrowed. "Did she say where she was going?"

​"No, sir."

​Alex's heart skipped a beat. Just then, the head housekeeper walked over, holding a small white envelope in her hands. "Sir... Madam asked me to give you this if you came home before she did."

​Alex snatched the envelope. On the front, only three words were written in her elegant script: For Alex.

​His heartbeat quickened with a sudden, sharp panic. He slowly tore open the envelope. Inside was a folded sheet of paper and another item—something so small that it slid out and fit right into the palm of his hand.

​Alex unfolded the paper first. As his eyes scanned the text, his gaze widened, and the breath completely left his lungs.

​Slowly, his trembling hand lifted to look at the other object that had fallen from the envelope: a single, tiny, knitted baby shoe.