Chapter 44 Unwanted Realities

Chapter 44 Unwanted Realities
ELENA

The rhythmic sound of a heart monitor's beeping was the first thing I registered the moment I came to. Then, the sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nose. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I forced them to open, blinking back against the harsh fluorescent lights overhead.

My entire body ached terribly—especially my head. My throat felt dry, as if I'd swallowed sandpaper, and my limbs were unusually sluggish. I inhaled sharply as I shifted slightly, only to feel a warm, firm grip on my wrist.

"Elena."

The voice was deep, sharp, and laced with an unmistakable edge of frustration.

My blurry vision instantly cleared, and I found myself staring into Alexander Harrington's piercing steely grey eyes. His jaw was clenched so tightly that I swore I could hear his teeth grinding. His face was an unreadable mask, but his eyes burned with something intense.

It looked like...

Anger. Concern. Relief.

It was a storm of emotions I couldn't decipher.

I swallowed hard, my voice feeling and sounding hoarse when I spoke.

"Alexander…?" What was he doing here?

His grip tightened slightly on my wrist—not painfully, but firm enough to send a message.

"You're awake." His voice was unnervingly calm, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.

I attempted to sit up, but he immediately pressed a hand against my shoulder, pinning me back down.

"Don't." His tone left no room for argument.

My eyes flickered around the room. White walls. Medical equipment. An IV drip was attached to my arm. Hospital.

I was in the hospital.

My eyes returned to Alexander's, and my stomach twisted at the look on his face.

"You—" His voice was eerily controlled, but I could see the barely contained anger in his expression.

"Are you out of your damn mind?"

I winced slightly, but he continued before I could open my mouth.

"You ran off without Prescott. You ignored my calls. You stayed in that hellhole of a place, surrounded by drug addicts and god knows what else. And now, you land yourself in the hospital." He exhaled sharply, his fingers running through his already disheveled hair. "Tell me, Elena, exactly how stupid are you?"

My eyes narrowed despite the fatigue pressing down on me.

"Excuse me?"

Alexander's face darkened.

"You're pregnant, Elena." His voice was ice-cold now, each word slow and deliberate. "Do you even understand what that means? Do you realize the risks? Or do you not care?"

My jaw tightened.

"Of course, I care."

"Then start acting like it!" His voice rose slightly, his patience holding tightly to a thread.

"I didn't do anything reckless," I bit back. I'd momentarily forgotten that I was exhausted.

"You collapsed, Elena. Do you call that nothing?" His eyes flashed. "Do you have any idea what went through my mind when you passed out in my arms?"

I faltered; the raw intensity of his words took me aback.

"I thought—" His voice broke off for a second before he inhaled sharply and regained control. "I thought something had happened to you. To the baby."

Guilt prickled at my chest, but I refused to let him see it.

I knew he was doing all this for the baby, but something in me wanted him to be genuinely concerned about me.

"I was just exhausted. I didn't sleep well. I wasn't kidnapped or in danger, Alexander."

He scoffed and ran a hand down his face.

"Right. So you just casually decide to faint in the middle of a group of strangers? That's completely normal, isn't it?"

I looked away, pressing my lips together.

Alexander leaned forward, his voice lower now but no less intense.

"You're not staying there again."

My head snapped back to him.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His tone was resolute. "You're coming back with me. To my penthouse."

My pulse spiked.

"No, I'm not." I didn't want to. Well, a part of me didn't like that I wanted to.

He arched a brow.

"Yes, you are."

I shook my head.

"I already have a place—"

"That you haven't been staying at. And even if you were, I don't trust it." He leaned closer, his expression remaining unreadable. "I'm done playing this game with you, Elena. You're coming back with me, and that's final."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"Oh, is it? Since when do you get to decide where I live?"

He tilted his head, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Since the moment you started carrying my child."

His words sent a jolt through me.

"Let me be perfectly clear," he continued, his voice softer now but still carrying every inch of authority. "I don't trust you to take care of yourself properly, and I refuse to stand by while you put yourself in situations that could harm you or the baby."

My hands curled into fists.

"I can take care of myself."

"Yeah?" He let out a cold laugh. "Because collapsing is proof of that."

My throat tightened.

I hated this.

I hated the way he always took control. I hated that he made me feel so—so small in moments like these.

"Why are you doing this?" I muttered.

His eyes softened for just a fraction of a second before hardening again.

"Because I don't trust you to make the right choices for yourself."

The words stung.

But before I could respond, there was a knock at the door.

Both of us turned as Riley stepped in with her arms crossed and her expression unimpressed.

"Oh good, you're awake," Riley said flatly before her eyes flickered to Alexander. "And you—Mr. Billionaire Control Freak—are still here."

Alexander exhaled, clearly trying to keep his temper in check.

"What do you want, Riley?"

Riley smirked.

"Well, I was going to check on my friend, but it seems like you've already taken over."

I sighed.

"Riley—"

"No, no, it's fine," Riley said, holding her hands up. "I'm just loving how he storms in, barks orders, and expects everyone to obey."

Alexander shot her an icy look.

"Stay out of this."

Riley grinned.

"Nah, I think I'll stay in it. Because, unlike you, I actually ask Elena what she wants instead of making decisions for her."

I rubbed my temple as exhaustion crept back in.

"Can we not do this right now?"

Riley threw up her hands.

"Fine. But he doesn't get to dictate your life, Elena."

Alexander's jaw ticked.

"She's pregnant with my child. That makes it my business."

"Does it?" Riley challenged. "Or are you just using the baby as an excuse to control her?"

The air in the room grew tense.

Riley and Alex locked eyes in a silent battle, and my look caught in a war I wasn't prepared for.

Then, my phone rang.

The sudden sound cut through the tension like a blade.

I frowned. Who would be calling me at this hour?

I glanced at the screen.

No caller ID.

A strange chill ran down my spine.

Alexander noticed immediately.

"Who is it?"

I hesitated. Then, with a deep breath, I answered.

A distorted, robotic voice spoke when I put the phone to my ear.

"Miss Knight… we need to talk."

My blood ran cold.

Miss Knight?

No one had called me that name since...well, since before my father's death.

I sat up straighter.

"Who is this?"

A pause.

Then—

"Someone who knows exactly what happened to John West."

My heart stopped.

My fingers trembled slightly around the phone.

Alexander and Riley were watching me now, sensing the shift in my expression.

The voice on the other end chuckled darkly.

"Tick tock, Elena. Time's running out."

The call ended.

Silence.

I slowly lowered the phone, my pulse hammering in my ears.

"Elena?" Alexander's voice was sharp. "Who was that?"

I swallowed.

And then—

I lied.

"Wrong number."

But he didn't believe me.

I chose not to be bothered.