Chapter 182 The Three-Legged Man

Chapter 182 The Three-Legged Man

Savannah's expression was so innocent, and there was no hard evidence against her, so there was no way to pin anything on her.

Alexander closed his eyes slowly, his expression suddenly turning unreadable. He spoke in a low, measured tone: "George slipped away in the chaos. My people have been looking for him. You two used to be so close — you should be able to reach him, right?"

Savannah frowned slightly, hesitating before she spoke. "I haven't been in contact with him for six years. And he knows how I feel about you, so he's probably keeping his guard up around me too."

Madison immediately figured out what Alexander was up to and played along. "Or maybe you just don't have the guts to call him?"

Savannah looked briefly caught off guard, then quickly put on a look like she was about to cry. "I know you don't trust me. If calling George is what it takes to clear your suspicions, then I'll call."

Savannah pulled out her phone and dialed George's number. But all she got was a busy tone.

Not that it mattered — she wasn't stupid. She and George had always used a different way to get in touch.

Savannah held the phone out to Madison. "See? No answer. But if you don't believe me, feel free to try yourself."

Madison looked at the phone but didn't reach for it.

If Savannah was bold enough to hand over the phone, she must have been sure George wouldn't pick up.

Madison pushed the phone back. "No need," she said flatly. "I believe you."

Savannah broke into a tearful smile, put her phone away, and turned her attention to Alexander's injuries. "Would it be alright if I stayed to take care of you?"

She looked at his sharp, intense face, bit her lip, then glanced over at Madison. "I know I probably shouldn't stay. But Madison, I don't think you're the kind of person who'd be petty about something like this."

With Savannah's wounded, pleading eyes fixed on her, Madison felt a sudden twinge of discomfort.

Somehow she'd been cast as the villain standing between two people in love.

She shifted her gaze away, a little uneasy. "That's between the two of you..."

Before she could finish, Alexander suddenly shot upright in the hospital bed like he'd come back from the dead, grabbing Madison's wrist and fixing her with a heavy stare.

She wouldn't dare.

If she actually left him with Savannah, he would...

Alexander racked his brain and couldn't come up with a single threat that would work on Madison. In the end, he swallowed his frustration.

His furrowed brow carried a hint of danger as he turned to Savannah, his voice cold. "I don't need you to take care of me. You should go."

He didn't even glance at Savannah when he said it.

Madison tightened her hand, a wave of emotion rising in her chest. She dropped her gaze to hide the unease flickering in her eyes.

Savannah pressed her lips together in disappointment and managed a strained smile. "Understood. Take care of yourself, Alexander. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Alexander gave a faint hum, still not sparing her a single look.

Savannah turned and walked out with quick, purposeful steps.

The hospital room fell suddenly quiet. Madison stood under Alexander's cool, unreadable gaze, feeling completely on edge.

She tugged hard at her wrist. "Let go of me. Savannah's already gone — you don't have to keep up the act... Ah!"

Madison let out a startled yelp as Alexander pulled her into his arms without warning.

He raised an eyebrow, his deep, dark eyes narrowing slightly. "In such a hurry to hand me off to someone else? Madison, you've got some nerve."

His words came out through gritted teeth, and Madison felt a flash of irritation. She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing back.

"What do you mean, hand you off? What does any of this between you two have to do with me?"

Was he being serious right now?

Savannah was the one who said she wanted to stay and take care of him — not her. It wasn't like she could have stopped her.

Every word out of that little mouth was something he didn't want to hear. Alexander's temper flared, and he dipped his head and caught her lips with his.

Madison froze, completely blindsided. Before she could even react, a sharp gasp came from the doorway.

She glanced over and saw three people standing at the door.

Her face went red. She immediately pushed Alexander away and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

"It's not what you think!" she said, her face burning as she tried to explain herself to Claire.

Nora deliberately lowered her voice — though not by much. "Noah, were Uncle and Mommy just kissing?"

Noah gave a quiet "mm," then, catching up a beat later, covered Nora's eyes with his hand. "From now on, when you see people doing that, you cover your eyes."

Nora pried his hand away and asked with wide-eyed innocence, "But why?"

Noah tapped her lightly on the head, his tone carrying a funny little air of maturity. "Because it's not good for kids to see."

Madison buried her face in her hands, her ears burning red.

This was mortifying. In front of two children, no less...

She turned, fuming, to look at the one responsible.

Alexander didn't look the least bit guilty. In fact, he was smiling.

That only made her angrier. She made a silent vow that this insufferable man was never getting near her again.

Two soft coughs broke through the awkward silence.

Claire reached out and ruffled both kids' heads. "Noah, take your sister outside to play. The grown-ups need to talk."

Noah saw that Claire's expression was serious and nodded obediently, coaxing his sister out of the room.

Claire crossed her arms and strolled in, her gaze moving between the two of them before she asked the question that made Madison want to disappear into the floor. "You two were going at it pretty enthusiastically just now. Don't tell me you're back together?"

Madison shook her head so fast it was practically spinning. "No. We're not together. You're reading too much into it."

Alexander, by contrast, looked completely unbothered.

"I'd like to be," he said. "Unfortunately, Madison doesn't agree."

Hearing that, Claire visibly relaxed.

Good. Not together was good.

She put a hand on Madison's shoulder and said with complete seriousness, "Sweetheart, don't put yourself through the wringer over a man. There are plenty of good ones out there. And don't forget how this guy treated you before."

Madison's face went even redder. She was starting to think Claire was doing this on purpose...

Alexander's expression darkened. "Claire, if you have something to say, just say it. What's with the personal attacks?"

Madison was already guarded enough around him. Did Claire have to come in and make things worse? Was she trying to slow him down on purpose?

Claire wasn't the least bit intimidated. She glared at him, indignant. "Am I wrong? You haven't even sorted things out with Savannah, and now you're coming after my best friend. What, you want to play both sides?"

The vein at Alexander's temple twitched. "There is nothing going on between me and Savannah. Stop making things up."

Madison was already sensitive about the whole Savannah situation, and Claire was just pouring fuel on the fire.

Claire let out a cold laugh. "I know what I saw. Savannah just walked out of this room. You think she came all the way here out of the goodness of her heart?"

A dangerous glint flashed in Alexander's eyes, his voice dropping low. "We only suspect that George was working under Savannah's orders when he went after Madison. I had her come in to get some answers."

"What?! Savannah might be connected to Madison getting hurt?!" Claire's voice shot up so loud it nearly blew the roof off.