Chapter 78
Chase's reply never came, and Alexander sat alone in the hospital room, unable to sit still.
At this moment, each passing moment felt like agony to him.
He was aware that Joseph would not back down readily, and Chase would undoubtedly not dare to defy his instructions.
So if he wanted to find Stella, he could only rely on himself.
A daring thought struck him suddenly—he needed to get out of the hospital.
Once he had decided, during the doctor's next visit, Alexander began to feign compliance with the medical care.
He dutifully swallowed his medication and accepted the intravenous fluids, putting on a performance of complying with Joseph's orders and recuperating calmly.
Yet in private, he was preserving his energy and discreetly watching the rotation schedules of the security guards stationed outside his ward.
The following morning, the physician arrived for his regular rounds. Upon entering, he discovered the room was vacant.
The bedspread had been folded tidily, the window was fully open, and a chilling breeze was blowing fiercely into the space from outdoors.
"Oh no, quickly notify Mr. Joseph Brown — Mr. Alexander Brown is missing!"
The doctor shouted in alarm and quickly gave orders to the guards stationed outside.
Upon hearing the news, Joseph became furious and threw the glass he was holding to the ground.
Upon hearing the news, Joseph became furious and threw the glass he was holding to the ground.
"That bastard! He's getting more and more insane!"
Though Joseph was furious, he immediately sent people to pull the hospital's surveillance footage.
The footage clearly showed the time and what happened.
Around 5 AM, Alexander took advantage of the gap during the guards' shift change. Enduring the severe pain in his abdomen, he climbed out the window, got into a taxi he had called earlier, and headed toward the Hall family's home.
When Joseph got the news, he flew into a rage and hurled the glass from his hand onto the floor.
Joseph's face turned dark with anger as he roared at his subordinates on the phone.
At that point, Alexander had already reached the front gate of the Hall house.
He paid the fare, clutching his aching abdomen, and walked step by step toward the gate.
But when he reached the entrance, he found the gate locked tight, with weeds growing wild in the yard — clearly no one had tended to it for a long time.
He knocked on a neighbor's door, and an old lady poked her head out, looking at Alexander with some confusion. "Sir, who are you looking for?"
"Good day, I'm trying to find Stella. Has she returned here lately?"
As she met Alexander's eager look, she shook her head and released a heavy sigh.
"Stella hasn't been back since she found out about her father's accident. We don't know where she went either. Poor thing, losing her father at such a young age, and she's pregnant too. It's really not easy for her."
Pregnant?
Alexander's pupils dilated in shock at these words.
He had been aware earlier that Stella was expecting, yet he hadn't anticipated that the people living nearby were also informed.
He wanted to ask more, but the old woman had already closed the door.
Alexander stood there alone, the unease in his heart growing stronger.
He pulled out his phone and called Stella again, but still no one answered.
Worried, Alexander sent Stella countless messages, pouring out his longing and concern, but the messages sank like stones in the sea — no response at all.
In desperation, Alexander suddenly thought of Nicholas.
Stella had once said the child was Nicholas's.
Thus, if she had no other refuge to seek, would she end up reaching out to Nicholas?
This thought gave Alexander a glimmer of hope.
Without delay, he flagged down a cab and sped off toward Nicholas's office.
He arrived during work hours. When the receptionist saw Alexander barging in aggressively, she tried to stop him in alarm.
"Sir, do you have an appointment? You can't go in without an appointment!"
"Move aside!"
With his eyes bloodshot, Alexander shoved the receptionist aside. Paying no attention to the employees trying to block him, he marched directly toward Nicholas's office.
When he had investigated Nicholas before, he had thoroughly researched all the information related to him.
Outside Nicholas's office, Alexander kicked the door open.
When Alexander spotted Nicholas at his desk, busy with paperwork, his stare immediately grew intense.
"Where's Stella?"
Without any small talk, he approached Nicholas step by step, his tone icy and full of accusation.
"Where are you hiding her?"
Nicholas looked up. Seeing Alexander's pale face and slightly trembling body, a mocking smile curved his lips.
"Mr. Brown, what's this about? Running out to look for someone before you've recovered — are you really that worried about Stella?"
"Cut the crap. Tell me, where is Stella?"
Alexander's hands clenched into fists at his sides. He endured the pain in his abdomen, trying to pierce Nicholas with his glare.
"Did she come to you? Tell me quickly."
Under his questioning, Nicholas spread his hands, his tone extremely calm.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her since we met at the hospital last time."
His casual manner immediately enraged Alexander.
Alexander stepped forward and grabbed his tie tightly.
"You're lying! Besides you, who else could she turn to now? Nicholas, I'm warning you — if you know where she is, you'd better tell me immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for not being polite."
Facing Alexander's warning, Nicholas's expression darkened. He yanked his tie free from Alexander's grip.
"Mr. Brown, I really don't know where she is. No matter how much you press me, it won't help."
Alexander stared intently into Nicholas's eyes, trying to detect any hint of deception on his face.
But throughout, Nicholas's expression remained calm and unruffled, showing no sign of anything unusual.
"Swear it."
Alexander suddenly said, "Swear you really don't know where Stella is, or you'll never get the person you love for the rest of your life."
Seeing his obsessive behavior, Nicholas just found it ridiculous.
He didn't want to waste time with Alexander. He stood up and motioned toward the door.
"Mr. Brown, I still have work to handle, so I won't keep you company. If there's nothing else, please leave."
With that, he pressed the intercom and had security come in to escort Alexander out.
Alexander was led away by security, his heart filled with despair and helplessness.
He couldn't figure out where Stella could be hiding.
He just wanted to know — was she safe right now?
Unable to contact Stella, Alexander could only wander aimlessly through the streets, his gaze constantly sweeping across every corner.
He went to places where Stella had worked, to hotels where they had traveled together on business trips, to every place he could think of, but there was still no trace of Stella.
What he didn't know was that after he left, the door to Nicholas's office lounge opened, and Stella slowly walked out.
"Did he leave?"
Stella asked softly.
"He's gone."
Nicholas replied, and when he looked at Stella, a flash of complex emotion crossed his eyes.
"Stella, are you really planning to keep hiding from him like this?"