Chapter 255 Truth or Test

Katherine's POV

I could feel Alexander's eyes on me as I drove through the Seattle streets. The weight of his gaze was so persistent that I finally had to say something.

"What are you staring at?" I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

"Nothing," Alexander replied, though his eyes never left my profile. "You just look... different when you drive."

I gave him a quick side-glance. "Different how?"

"Focused. Determined." His voice dropped slightly. "Gorgeous."

Under normal circumstances, I might have enjoyed his compliment, but my mind was too preoccupied with worry about Selena. Something about this whole situation felt deeply wrong.

"This isn't the time for flirting," I said. "I'm really concerned about Selena. It's not like her to miss important meetings or disappear without telling anyone."

Alexander nodded, his expression sobering. "You're right." He pulled out his phone and dialed. "Ava? It's Alexander Hudson. We need Selena's exact address."

After getting the details and setting the navigation, I pressed harder on the accelerator. The car shot forward, weaving through traffic with practiced ease.

When we arrived at Selena's upscale apartment building, the doorman recognized Alexander immediately and directed us to her floor.

I stood outside her door, knocked hard, and called out her name.

But there was only dead silence.

It felt really strange. What was going on today? 

I couldn't help but wonder. I knocked again, harder this time, and called her name once more. Still nothing. Not a sound came from inside the room.

"Selena? Are you in there?" I called again, louder this time.

I turned to Alexander, genuine concern in my voice. "Garcia Group can't find her, she's not at the hospital with her father, and she's not answering her door. Where could she be?"

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Alexander said, though I could see worry creeping into his expression too.

"We should call someone to open the door," I suggested. "What if she's had an accident inside?"

To my surprise, Alexander pulled out a small electronic device from his pocket. "No need. Ryan gave me this."

"What is that?"

"A high-tech lock picking tool," he explained, positioning it against Selena's door. "My son thought it might come in handy someday."

Within seconds, the lock clicked open. Alexander turned to me with such an absurdly proud expression.

Once inside, I called out again. "Selena? Are you home?"

The apartment was immaculate and tastefully decorated—exactly what I'd expect from someone like Selena. When no answer came, Alexander tried calling her phone.

Immediately, a ringtone echoed from somewhere deeper in the apartment. We followed the sound to the bedroom. The sight that greeted us made my heart stop.

Selena lay motionless on her king-sized bed, her face ashen against the dark bedding. Several empty pill bottles were scattered on the nightstand, with white tablets spilled across the floor.

"Oh my God," I shouted, rushing to her side. I pressed my fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. It was there—faint, but present. "She's alive. Alexander, we need to get her to the hospital right now!"

Alexander didn't hesitate. He scooped Selena up in his arms as if she weighed nothing. "I'll carry her to the car. You grab her purse and anything else she might need."

"But your wound—" I started.

"It's nothing," he brushed it off. "Doesn't matter right now."

He was right. With Selena's life potentially on the line, it wasn't the time to press him about it.

As he rushed out with Selena, I quickly scanned the room. A folded piece of paper on the nightstand caught my eye—a suicide note. I snatched it up and hurried after Alexander.

The private hospital's emergency room was a flurry of activity when we arrived. Medical staff immediately took Selena from Alexander's arms and whisked her away on a gurney.

I noticed Selena's secretary Ava and several Garcia Group executives already waiting in the reception area, their faces drawn with worry.

"Mr. Hudson, Ms. Jordan," Ava approached us, her voice trembling slightly. "We should have noticed something was wrong. She's been acting strange lately, but we thought it was just stress from her father's condition."

While Alexander spoke with Ava, I sank into a nearby chair. When Alexander returned, his face was grim.

"What did the doctor say?" I asked.

"It's serious," he replied, sitting beside me. "The medication she took has worsened her existing leg injury. They're concerned they might need to amputate."

"Amputate?" I repeated in shock. "I thought her riding accident would just leave her with a limp."

"So did I," Alexander said, running a hand through his hair.

I remembered the note in my hand and carefully unfolded it. As I read Selena's handwriting, my chest tightened.

"She mentions finding her father, but says he's critically ill," I summarized for Alexander. "She writes, 'Dad, let's be father and daughter in the next life. Your daughter is unfilial, taking a step ahead of you.'"

Alexander's jaw clenched. I continued reading.

"She apologizes to you, Alexander. She says her leg injury has become a burden to you, and she doesn't want to trouble you anymore. She asks that you look after her father when she's gone." I paused, glancing up at Alexander's troubled face. "She also wishes us happiness."

"This isn't right," Alexander said quietly. "None of this is her fault."

I reached out, touching his arm gently. "Don't blame yourself. We got here in time."

We moved to a quieter corner of the waiting area. The weight of the situation hung heavy between us.

"If she doesn't make it," I asked hesitantly, "what will you do?"

Alexander met my eyes. "She'll make it. We got her here in time."

"But what about her leg? What happens when she wakes up?"

"I'll make sure she gets the best care possible," he answered without hesitation. "If they can't save her leg, I'll provide her with the most advanced prosthetic available. And if she still feels it's unfair," he added with a hint of dark humor, "I'll give her my leg too."

"Don't say things like that," I scolded, though I recognized his attempt to lighten the mood.

Alexander suddenly drew me into his arms, his embrace firm and steady around me. "Katherine," he murmured against my ear, his voice soft yet resolute, "no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."

The raw sincerity in his words sent a flutter through my chest, my heart skipping a beat. When he pulled back, a playful, mischievous spark danced in his eyes.

"Would you still want me if I were disabled?" he asked, tilting his head.

I rolled my eyes, matching his tone. "Well, that depends. Would you still be rich?"

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound warm and rich. "Of course!"

"Then I'd take the kids, inherit your fortune, and jet off to see the world," I teased, a grin tugging at my lips.

"Without me?" he gasped, clutching his chest in mock betrayal.

"We'd Photoshop you into all our pictures," I assured him with a wink. "We could even draft a contract—'Alexander must appear in every family photo, present or not.'"

Despite the heavy shadow of our circumstances, laughter bubbled up within me, lightening the weight on my shoulders.

I knew exactly what he was doing—wielding humor like a shield to pull me from the edge of my worries.

I loved Alexander.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the depth of that truth settled over me. His own eyes glistened, mirroring mine, and he leaned in close.

Gently, he kissed the tears from my cheeks, his lips brushing away the saltwater with tender care.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he wiped the last of my tears away. "I really love you."

Before I could respond, he leaned forward and kissed me gently again, a brief touch of his lips against mine that somehow felt more intimate than any passionate embrace.

We were interrupted by the sound of doors opening. Selena was being wheeled out of the emergency room, surrounded by medical staff.

Her secretary and the Garcia Group executives immediately crowded around, bombarding the doctor with questions.

"Ms. Garcia is stable," the doctor announced. "We've managed to pump her stomach and administer the necessary medications. She's out of immediate danger, but we'll need to keep her under observation."

"What about her leg?" Alexander asked.

"We're still assessing the damage," the doctor replied. "We'll know more after additional tests. Right now, we need a family member or close friend to be our primary contact for her care."

To my own surprise, I stepped forward. "I can do that."

The doctor nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Ms..."

"Katherine Jordan."

"We're moving her to a private care unit now," the doctor informed us. "You can see her once she's settled."

As they wheeled Selena away, I felt Alexander's hand slip into mine, his fingers intertwining with my own. The simple gesture conveyed more than words ever could.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

I squeezed his hand in response. Whatever complexities existed between Selena, Alexander, and me, the priority now was ensuring she recovered. The rest we would figure out together.