جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Elena's POVDon't, just don't, you don't get to touch me anymore, you don't get to demand anything from me anymore, I'm done."My own words echo in my head as I walk out of Alexander's office, down the hallway past his secretary who pretends not to see me crying, into the elevator where my reflection shows a woman I barely recognize.The doors close and I lean against the wall, my whole body shaking…I need to get Julian, need to hold my son, need to remember what actually matters in all this mess.Sarah opens her door with Julian already running toward me, "Mama!""Hey baby," I catch him, lifting him up even though he's getting too big for this, I bury my face in his hair and just breathe."How did it go?" Sarah asks quietly, probably seeing something broken in my face."It went," I say, setting Julian down, "thank you so much for watching him.""Elena, are you okay?" Sarah touches my arm gently."I will be," I say, "I just need some time." I force brightness into my voice, "Julian

Marcus's POV"She's not answering again."I stare at my phone showing another call going to voicemail, Elena's voicemail that's been full for two days now, twelve calls, eight texts, complete silence.Cassandra is going to kill me.I grab my keys and drive to the Plaza, maybe Elena's just ignoring her phone, maybe she needs space and I'm being too pushy, maybe she's fine and I'm panicking over nothing.The concierge at the Plaza looks up as I approach, his smile professional and empty, "Good afternoon, sir, how may I help you?""I need to speak with Mrs. Elena Harrington," I say, keeping my voice casual, "she's a guest here, could you ring her room?"The concierge types something into his computer, frowns slightly, types again, "I'm sorry sir, but Mrs. Harrington is no longer a guest at this hotel."My stomach drops, "What do you mean no longer a guest, when did she check out?""Let me see," more typing, "she checked out three days ago, early morning, is there something else I can hel

Alexander's POV"I don't know where my wife is."Those words won't stop echoing in my head as I drive out of the city, Thomas Grayson's voice still ringing in my ears, Elena filed to destroy our marriage, she's really leaving me.I don't know where I'm going until I'm already there, pulling through the gates of our Connecticut estate. The security guard looks surprised, I haven't been here in weeks.The house is completely dark when I walk in. I flip the lights, and the silence hits me hard.Empty, so empty it hurts.I walk through the kitchen where Elena used to make breakfast, the living room where she'd curl up with books, every room screams her absence.Julian's toys are still in the den, his trucks lined up perfectly by the couch like he's coming back any minute.I pick up a red fire truck, hold it, and something in my chest cracks.My son, where is my son right now? Is he scared? Does he miss me?I put the truck back and walked upstairs to the master bedroom.The bed is made per

Alexander's POVThe night crawls by slower than any night in my life. I don't sleep, can't sleep, just lie on the bathroom floor surrounded by Elena's vanilla scent until the sun comes up.Morning finally arrives, and I know what I need to do: I need to retrace Elena's steps, need to find any clue about where she went.I shower, shave, try to look like a human being instead of the mess I've become, then I drive straight to the Plaza Hotel.The place I sent my wife to, the place I thought would keep her contained until she apologized and came home begging.The manager recognizes me immediately when I walk through the lobby. "Mr. Harrington, good morning, how can we help you today?""I need information about my wife's stay here," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, "Elena Harrington, she was in room 2047.""Of course, let me pull up her account," the manager types on his computer, his professional smile never faltering, even though he must know our marriage is falling apart, it's pro

Alexander's POV"She wanted to be loved, that's all she ever wanted."I'm talking to myself in the empty penthouse, sitting on the floor surrounded by photo albums and empty scotch bottles, the city lights blurring through my tears.It's past midnight, maybe one AM, I've lost track of everything except the crushing weight of what I've done.I stand up, stumble, and walk to the window seat in the corner, Elena's favorite spot.She'd sit here in the mornings with coffee and a book, sunlight streaming in, looking peaceful.I find a book tucked into the cushions, one she left behind, a novel about second chances.I open it and see her handwriting in the margins, little notes to herself, thoughts about the characters."Is it possible to love someone who doesn't see you?" she wrote on page fforty-sevenMy hands shook while reading her words. Elena had a whole life, whole thoughts happening right in front of me, and I never asked.I sink onto the window seat holding her book, and five years