Chapter 193: Determined to fight

At the office, Alex sat behind his desk with several files spread before him, though his attention wasn’t really on any of them.

Jason leaned against the desk nearby, watching him quietly.

Ever since the wedding, Alex had buried himself in work like a man trying to outrun heartbreak.

However, no matter how calm he acted, the pain still lingered in his eyes.

His phone suddenly buzzed across the desk. His eyes flipped to the phone screen.

The moment Alex saw Emily’s name flashing on it, his heart skipped violently.

His brows furrowed in confusion.

“Emily?” he muttered it like a question.

Jason noticed the sudden tension in his expression and quickly grabbed the phone before Alex could hesitate further.

“Big bro, answer it.”

Without waiting, he swiped the answer button and placed the call on speaker.

“Hello?”

Emily’s furious voice exploded through the office instantly.

“Alex, I’m so disappointed in you!”

Both men froze.

“How could you let my brother marry that bitch of a girl?”

Alex’s eyes widened slightly.

“Emily, I…”

“Meet me right now at Gordon’s Cafe,” she snapped angrily. “You need to find a way and get my brother out of that hell of a marriage.”

The line went dead immediately after. Silence filled the office.

Alex stared blankly at the phone in complete confusion.

Jason slowly lowered it before turning toward him.

“What the hell was that?”

Alex swallowed hard, still trying to process her words.

Hell of a marriage?

His chest tightened painfully.

For days, he had been forcing himself to believe Lucas was happy… that maybe Lucas truly chose Derby over him.

But Emily’s anger didn’t sound like someone calling to defend a happy marriage. It sounded like a cry for help.

Jason narrowed his eyes on him.

“Well?” he asked. “Are you not going?”

Alex was already grabbing his car keys.

Jason immediately pushed back his chair and stood up.

“I’m coming too,” he said firmly.

Alex looked up at him.

“Jason…”

“I'm coming. If we get there and I’m not needed, I’ll give you guys space,” he added with a shrug. “But with the way she sounded, I don’t think this is something you should handle alone.”

After a brief hesitation, Alex nodded. “Okay.”

About fifteen minutes later, Alex’s car pulled into the parking lot of Gordon’s Cafe.

Through the glass walls of the café, they spotted Emily seated alone at a corner table near the window. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, and her expression was stormy.

The moment she saw them approaching, her face hardened even more.

Alex suddenly felt nervous. As if he were about to be judged. As if he had failed.

Neither of them spoke until Alex sat opposite her.

Jason remained standing awkwardly beside the table.

“Hey, Emily,” he said cautiously. “Mind if I sit too?”

Emily glanced at him briefly before nodding. “Sure. Two heads are better than one.”

Jason exhaled in relief and took the seat beside Alex.

For several seconds, Emily said absolutely nothing. She just stared hard at Alex.

The intensity of her gaze made Alex deeply uncomfortable.

For the first time in a long time, he felt strangely small in front of her. He felt like a man who failed to protect the person he loved most.

Finally, Emily leaned forward slightly.

“Big guy,” she said through gritted teeth, “don’t you have some explaining to do?”

Alex swallowed.

“Why didn’t you crash that fucking wedding?”

The accusation hit him directly in the chest.

“Emily,” he began quietly, “as I told you before, my line was blocked. I couldn’t reach Lucas.”

His jaw tightened painfully as memories from that day flooded back.

The frantic calls. The unanswered messages. The desperate drive to the registry. The signed papers and wedding ring on Lucas's finger.

Alex swallowed painfully.

“By the time I heard about the wedding, I rushed over there immediately.” His voice lowered bitterly. “Unfortunately, I was late. They were already married. There was nothing I could do.”

The helplessness from that day still haunted him.

Jason sighed and stepped in carefully.

“Alex wasn’t happy about it,” he explained. “None of us were. But we thought it was what Lucas wanted.”

Emily scoffed sharply.

Alex rubbed his face tiredly before looking back at her.

“I’ve been trying to hold on,” he admitted honestly. “Waiting for his memories to return.” His eyes darkened with worry. “But the way you sounded on the phone.” He hesitated. “Is Lucas not alright with the marriage?”

Emily let out a humorless laugh.

“Of course he’s not happy.”

Both men stiffened.

Emily shook her head angrily.

“Damn my dad… and damn Derby and her witch of an aunt, Larrissa.”

“Larrisa?” Alex and Jason chorused instantly.

Emily noticed their reaction immediately.

“You know her?” she asked suspiciously.

Jason exchanged a troubled look with Alex before asking slowly.

“Larrisa Beckings?”

“Yes, the same one.”

“We know of her,” Jason responded in surprise.

Alex’s expression darkened heavily.

She is a sister to Derby's late mother and she was involved. So

Lucas’s marriage wasn’t just a mistake.” Emily continued. “It seemed she had some grudges against you, Alex.”

The atmosphere around the table turned heavier.

Jason leaned back slowly, staring at Alex before shifting his gaze toward Emily.

“What makes you say Larrisa was involved?”

Emily folded her arms tightly.

“I overheard her and Derby talking before Lucas came home.”    Her eyes burned with anger at the memory. “They were literally laughing about it.”

Alex frowned deeply.

“Laughing about what?”

“About Lucas losing his memory.” Emily’s voice sharpened. “They said his amnesia made their mission successful.”

Both men froze.

Emily continued bitterly, “‘We’ve finally succeeded in separating Lucas from Alex.’ That was exactly how they sounded.” She shook her head in disbelief. “It didn’t sound like something spontaneous. It sounded planned.”

Alex’s expression darkened completely.

“So my question is…” Emily leaned backward, staring directly at him. “Why are they working so hard against you?”

For a moment, Alex didn’t answer. He looked genuinely confused.

“Frankly speaking,” he finally said slowly, “I’ve never had any  dealings with Derby.”

Emily narrowed her eyes.

“And Larrissa?”

Alex exhaled quietly and rubbed his jaw.

“I… had a fling with her once.”

Emily blinked.

Jason’s eyes widened slightly. He was aware of Alex and Larrisa but didn't know it was just that. “Damn, that lady was too possessive back then.” He said within him.

Alex continued, “It happened during a business summit two years ago,” Alex explained quickly. “Nothing serious. We went to a few dinners together. She wanted something more serious, but I ended it before it became anything.”

“And that was all?” Emily asked.

Alex nodded firmly. “That was it.”

Silence settled briefly over the table.

Then Emily sighed heavily.

“From what I understood,” she said carefully, “She became bitter afterward. Bitter enough not to want you and Lucas together.”

Alex looked stunned by the realization.

Jason slowly pieced everything together aloud.

“So this means it wasn’t just your dad and Derby involved.” He looked at Alex grimly. “Larrissa was part of it too.”

Emily nodded immediately. “Exactly.” Her voice lowered, filled with frustration. “And they’re still planning things.”

Alex stiffened.

“What do you mean?”

Emily glanced around cautiously before leaning closer.

“I heard them talking about hiring someone to watch Lucas,” she revealed. “To make sure he doesn’t sneak out to see you.”

Jason cursed under his breath.

Alex’s jaw clenched so tightly the muscles twitched visibly.

“They’re going to treat him like a prisoner,” Emily snapped angrily.    “Lucas doesn’t even know what’s happening around him.”

A dangerous silence fell over Alex. His eyes darkened with fury and guilt. All this time, he thought fate had simply separated him from Lucas. But now, it sounded like people had deliberately destroyed their relationship.

Jason noticed the murderous look forming on Alex’s face and quickly spoke.

“We need to calm down and think properly.”

“No,” Alex said coldly.

Both Emily and Jason looked at him.

For the first time since arriving at the café, the hopelessness in his eyes was gone. In its place was something far more dangerous.

Determination.

“They already stole him from me once,” Alex said quietly. “I’m not letting them control him again.”