Chapter 134 I Am Edith
Liam had no choice but to abandon any counterattack. He threw his full weight against the door.
"Listen carefully in there! We've already taken out half your guards! Hand over Alexander if you know what's good for you! We only want him! Anyone who doesn't want to die—get out of the way!"
A brutal voice roared from outside, followed by another heavy impact. The wooden door shuddered violently.
Liam sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth and held his ground. He turned his head with difficulty to look back into the terrace lounge.
Celeste was supporting Alexander, who had slipped into semi-consciousness. Her voice was urgent. "What do we do?! The door won't hold much longer!"
Liam pressed his back harder against the door, his voice strained and rushed. "Can't... can't hold it... Miss, take Mr. Hamilton and go! There's a small staircase over there—leads to the service elevator by the kitchen! Go! Now!"
As he spoke, he pulled his service weapon from inside his jacket and checked the magazine quickly.
Even if it cost him his life, he would make sure Alexander got out safely.
Celeste looked where he pointed and nodded immediately. "Okay! I'll get Alex out! Liam, be careful!"
She half-dragged, half-carried the barely conscious Alexander, stumbling toward the stairwell.
Liam watched them disappear at the top of the stairs. He drew a sharp breath, spun around, and used his last reserves of strength to slam the security bolt home. He dragged a heavy iron planter stand over and wedged it firmly against the door.
Then he raised his gun, aiming at the wooden door that could burst open at any second.
Celeste hauled Alexander down the service stairs, one slipping step at a time.
Finally, at the bottom, she spotted the iron door to the storage room.
Her eyes brightened. She shoved the heavy door open with force and dragged Alexander inside.
The moment she turned to lock the door behind them, her panicked expression vanished completely. A triumphant smile curved her lips.
She hadn't expected those men to move so fast, to "force" them here so perfectly.
Now she and Alexander were alone, locked in a room together.
People outside were hunting Alexander. When everything played out naturally, no one would suspect that the woman who had desperately saved him had drugged him. Alexander might even be grateful.
And if she got pregnant—Mrs. Hamilton's position would be secure.
As for Caroline?
A lunatic with scrambled memories. What could she possibly compete with?
Celeste turned around, arranging her face back into worried concern. She walked over and crouched beside Alexander, speaking softly. "Alex? How are you feeling? Can you hear me?"
The drug seemed to be taking effect.
Alexander leaned against the floor, his breathing growing heavier and more labored.
He tugged unconsciously at his tie, which felt like it was strangling him. A low groan escaped his throat.
"So hot..." he murmured.
Celeste's heart leaped with secret joy. She moved closer quickly, reaching out with feigned urgency to unfasten his suit jacket.
"Alex, just hold on. Let me get your jacket off. That'll help."
She worked the jacket open rapidly, then went straight for his shirt buttons.
Alexander seemed startled by the touch. He forced his eyes open with difficulty.
Through blurred vision, he saw a figure in a light-colored dress moving. The outline was somehow familiar.
A name slipped from his lips without his control.
"Edith..."
Celeste's expression darkened instantly.
Edith again! Even now, barely conscious—the first person he thought of was still that dead woman!
She forced down her rage, quickly adjusted her expression, and mimicked Edith's gentle tone from memory. She answered softly, "Yes, it's me. I'm here, Alex..."
As she spoke, she boldly took Alexander's burning hand and pressed it to her chest.
"Alex, feel. I'm right here. I'm so worried about you..."
But the instant his fingers touched her body, Alexander jerked violently.
With strength from nowhere, he shoved Celeste away hard.
"Get away... stay away from me!" His voice came out in a hoarse snarl.
Celeste fell back awkwardly, hitting the floor and gasping from the pain.
She stared at him in shock, watching him struggle to crawl upright.
She had even pretended to be Edith!
And he still pushed her away?!
Did he not want to touch even Edith anymore?!
Then when desire burned through his body, who did he really crave?!
It couldn't possibly be Caroline herself, could it?!
Remembering that moan she had heard over the phone before, Celeste's mind spun into chaos.
But whether it was Caroline or not, she had no time to hesitate.
This chance came once. She couldn't let it slip away.
Watching Alexander stagger toward the glass door at the far end of the storage room—the one leading to the balcony—Celeste scrambled to her feet.
She couldn't let him get outside. If he escaped, everything would be ruined.
Since the soft approach wasn't working, she would go hard.
She walked to the door, yanked it open just a crack, and hissed at the two men in hotel maintenance uniforms standing outside. "Get in here! Drag him to the back! Hold him down!"
The two men exchanged glances, looking hesitant.
When Celeste had made the deal with their boss, it was only to help get Alexander into a room. Nothing was said about using force.
"Miss, this... Mr. Hamilton's in this state. If we force him, won't it make too much noise? What if he wakes up and remembers—"
"Enough talk!" Celeste snapped.
"Don't forget who your boss is! Alex personally drove him out of Grandhaven years ago! He's been living outside like a dog cast out ever since! Now he finally has a chance to come back and get revenge, and you don't even have the guts for this? If he finds out his own men are so useless they can't even handle one disoriented man, who do you think will suffer—you or me?"
Both men's faces changed. Finally they gritted their teeth, nodded, and slipped into the storage room.
Celeste quickly shut the door behind them and locked it.
She pointed at Alexander, who was trying to use his body to ram through the other door. She commanded, "Quick! Get him over here! Be careful—don't actually hurt him!"
The men didn't hesitate anymore. They moved in from both sides, grabbed Alexander's arms, and tried to drag him back toward the interior of the room.
But they hadn't expected that even in this condition, Alexander's strength would be so formidable.
He struggled violently, swinging his fist at both of them.