Chapter 4

Amanda couldn't pay the mounting hospital bill, but she was determined not to accept help from Henry. She had to protect her secret: the identities of her twins. Alana and Alan's existence would remain hidden until she was ready to tell them herself.

Henry, however, was not a man easily put off. Amanda's frantic behaviour only made him more suspicious, convinced she was hiding something important.

"Why are you still following me? I told you the truth! Believe it or not, I don't care," Amanda snapped, her frustration boiling over as her ex-husband matched her stride.

"I just want to take responsibility, and you're the one stopping me," Henry countered, his voice steady and stubborn. He didn't care about her ban.

"Fine. You want to be responsible?" Amanda stopped and shoved him lightly to create space. "Then you wait here and look after Alana in her room. I'll be back in a while to get her things."

"Let me take you to pick up Alana's stuff," Henry insisted.

"I'll get it myself!" she hissed.

"Amanda, just let me help you. You were a part of my life. You're not a stranger."

"Yes, I used to be part of your life. That was before you divorced me for reasons that..." She cut herself off, her heart hammering. She'd almost said that she hadn't had an affair if he heard that, his suspicion that Alana was his biological child would only deepen.

"Never mind. Could you just not talk about it anymore? We're only exes, nothing more," Amanda continued quickly.

Though he was the man who had once filled her life, their separation had changed everything. She'd found a sense of peace without him, but fate seemed determined to drag him back.

"I am just your past," Henry conceded. "Then think of me as being in charge of Alana because I caused this accident."

"I have to protect my husband's feelings. So, please wait here," Amanda said in a low voice. "I don't want my husband to be jealous and judge me badly," she added.

"Are you sure you have a husband?" Henry's blunt question made her physically recoil.

"Do you think a poor woman like me doesn't deserve better than you?" Amanda's voice cracked with a fury she couldn't contain.

"I'm sorry, Amanda. I didn't mean it like that." Henry had managed to offend her again.

"This time, I'm begging you. Let me live in peace with my small family," she pleaded, clasping her hands together. "Even if my husband isn't as successful as you, he's a man who respects and trusts his wife. I won't hurt him."

Amanda turned and rushed away from Henry. He tried to stop her, but his assistant, William, immediately stepped in to restrain him.

Henry stood there, staring after his ex-wife, who glanced back over her shoulder. Amanda kept checking to make sure Henry wasn't following. She couldn't let him accompany her and meet Alan, Alana's twin.

She needed Henry to believe anything other than the truth. If he saw Alan, whose face was so strikingly similar to his own, he would know for sure that the twins were his children.

"Boss, let her go," William said, guiding him back towards Alana's ward. "If Mrs. Amanda's husband sees your closeness, he will misunderstand."

"Is she telling the truth? Does she really have a husband?" Henry muttered, his eyes distant. "How quickly she forgot me. She used to deny having an affair, but now she's married her lover."

"I understand how you feel, Boss, but you have a fiancée now," William gently reminded him.

"I don't love her," Henry said flatly. "I still love Amanda very much."

William remained silent. He would do whatever it took to keep his boss's loved ones safe.

Henry was now waiting next to the little girl, who was truly a sleeping beauty. Her eyes had been closed for so long, but Alana had yet to wake. Henry stroked her small hand, finding a sense of peace in her calm, shadowy face.

"Boss!" William called, returning to the room.

"Yes, what is it?" Henry turned to his assistant.

"Allow me to take care of Alana's hospital administration," William offered. "Maybe Mrs. Amanda is just protecting her husband's feelings."

"Amanda said her husband would pay for the treatment," Henry said. "She forbade me from helping her."

"I doubt she's paid for everything. Hospital fees aren't cheap. Let me handle it," William said, preparing to leave.

"Wait!" Henry stopped him.

"Yes, Boss. What is it?" William turned back.

"Why are you taking care of it? I'm her ex-husband, not you." Henry's jealousy was unmistakable.

"If you pay, Mrs. Amanda's husband will be offended, and he'll suspect the two of you are close again," William explained. He was determined to prevent Henry from getting close to Amanda for the safety of everyone involved. "But I'm a stranger. Her husband won't suspect a thing. We'll say I was the one who crashed into Alana and I'm taking responsibility for my mistake."

Henry looked intently at his assistant. He didn't like William acting like a hero, but he had to respect the suggestion. This way, he wouldn't feel so guilty.

"Do you have anything more to say, Boss?" William asked to confirm.

"No. Go already!" Henry waved his right hand dismissively, his left hand resting on his chin.

William nodded and immediately left Alana's inpatient room to settle the bill.

Henry turned back to Alana. His eyes caught a slight movement in her tiny hands. Her fingers were twitching.

"Alana, are you awake?" Henry asked, standing up to lean over her. He stroked the little girl's cheek.

His heart swelled as he stared at the face so similar to Amanda's. Only Alana had ever managed to touch his heart; he had never been fond of children before.

Faintly, Alana opened her eyes. The white ceiling blurred her vision. A sharp pain in her head made her cry out for her mother.

"Mom!" Alana sobbed, looking around wildly for her. She moved restlessly, and her cries grew louder.

Henry was confused and quickly patted her cheek. "Hey, calm down. Uncle is here," he said, trying to soothe her.

"Mom! Where is my mother?" Alana shouted through her tears.

"Your mother went home for a bit. She'll be back soon," Henry said.

"I want Mother now! Now!" Alana cried, her voice laced with fear.

"You're safe with me. Your mother is on her way." Henry attempted to reassure the girl, but Alana seemed terrified of him.

"Who are you? Why are you close to me? Go away!" Alana shrieked, clutching her head.

"Alana...!"