Chapter 16: I had to know

Alex POV

The car sped down the road, tyres humming against the asphalt. I didn’t slow down. Not once. Every second we were in motion. Every moment her body trembled beside me, I felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on my chest.

I stole a glance at her. She was staring out the window, jaw tight, fingers gripping the edge of the seat like she was trying not to burst. Not from fear, not from anger, but from a mix of both, twisting into something raw and unpredictable.

I hated it. I hated feeling protective, and I hated that I hated it.

“Alex,” she whispered, barely audible, her voice trembling. “You’re insane.”

I didn’t answer. I focused on the road, on the next turn, on the stretch ahead. My jaw was locked tight, my muscles tense. She didn’t need to know how scared I was scared that her mom was worse than I imagined, scared that Sloane might blame me for taking control, and I was scared that… I couldn’t admit any of it.

“You’re taking me where?” she asked again, sharper this time.

I let out a short laugh. Humorless. “The hospital.”

Her head whipped toward me. “The hospital?” Her eyes went wide. “My mom? What… When? How did you—”

“I’ve been here since last night,” I cut in, voice low, almost a growl. “I had to check. I couldn’t wait until you got home. I stole your phone while you were asleep.”

Her hands shot to her mouth. “You…what? You stole my phone?!”

“Yes.” I didn’t flinch, didn’t soften. “I had to. You were asleep. I had to know.”

She froze, staring at me, disbelief burning in her eyes. Then her entire body stiffened, trembling slightly as anger and panic battled in her chest.

“Stop the car! Let me out right now!” she demanded, her voice high-pitched with fury.

I didn’t even glance at her. I kept my hands on the wheel, driving faster. “Sit.”

She gasped, then her hands shot to the door handle. “Sit? You can’t..”

“I said sit!” I snapped, leaving no room for argument. My voice echoed in the small space, sharp and commanding. Her eyes widened, lips trembling, and for a brief second, she looked like a little girl caught somewhere between fear and exasperation.

I could feel her anger buzzing beside me like electricity in the air, and I hated it. Hated myself for feeling protective for needing to fix this.

“You…you can’t just decide things for me, Alex!” she spat, trying to wrench her hand free, but I held firm.

“Watch me,” I muttered, voice low, dark.

She fell silent, stunned, her body still trembling, every inch of her resisting me but also… not moving. Not leaving.

That was good. That was enough.

I drove in silence for a few minutes, the engine’s hum filling the space between us. Her presence was heavy beside me, suffocating, and I didn’t know if it was fear, anger, or something else entirely that tightened my chest.

Finally, she spoke again, quieter, more vulnerable. “You really… thought of my mom?”

I gritted my teeth. “Of course I did. What did you think I was doing all night? Sitting in your empty house waiting for someone else to care?”

She swallowed hard, lips trembling. “I… I didn’t expect…”

“You never do,” I muttered, eyes back on the road.

She leaned back against the seat, exhaling sharply, finally quiet. The car moved faster, cutting through the streets, the tension thick and almost painful.

And then she spoke again, softer this time. “Alex… why do you care?”

I didn’t answer immediately. Didn’t turn my eyes toward her. Didn’t let her see the weight in my chest. Because if she saw it, if she understood just how much I cared, everything would change. And I wasn’t ready for that.

Instead, I muttered under my breath, so only I could hear it. “Because I can’t stand seeing anyone hurt you… not her, not him, not anyone.”

Her breath hitched audibly. I didn’t look at her. Didn’t dare.

“You… you can’t just decide things like this,” she whispered, voice shaking. “You….you don’t get to control me, Alex.”

I exhaled slowly, harshly, jaw clenched. “I’m not controlling you. I’m protecting you. And if that scares you… tough.”

She went quiet, folding her arms across her chest, turning slightly to stare out the window. I could feel the glare burning into my side, the silent resentment. I hated it. Hated her anger. I hated that I liked it.

Minutes passed like that. The silence between us wasn’t peaceful,it was loaded, tense, almost electric. Then her voice cut through, soft, broken, almost a whisper.

“Where… exactly are we going?”

I didn’t answer. Not yet. Not until I saw the hospital’s familiar facade appear ahead, its lights glaring like they were accusing me of every stupid choice I’d ever made.

She stiffened beside me. “The hospital?” she whispered again.

“Yes,” I said, voice low. “Your mom’s… she isn’t doing well.”

Her hands flew to her face, and I finally turned toward her, just enough to catch her expression. Panic, fear, disbelief, all of it mixing into one. She was beautiful in the chaos, and it made my chest tighten.

“Alex… I was supposed to visit her today!” she snapped, trying to wrestle control of the situation again.

“I know,” I said softly, voice calmer but no less firm. “That’s why I’m here. I couldn’t wait. I couldn’t let her be alone.”

She swallowed, shaking her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “You… you did all of this… for her? For my mom?”

“Yes,” I said. Short. Final.

She stared at me, breathing unevenly, trembling. And for a moment, just a moment, the walls between us cracked.

Then she spat words I wasn’t ready for, voice sharp again. “You…stealing my phone, dragging me here… Alex, you’re insane!”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Maybe. But I don’t care what you call me. I only care about what matters.”

Her lips trembled, and her jaw was tight. “You… you think you’re the only one who matters?”

“I don’t,” I said. “But right now… this is bigger than both of us. You, me, him..none of it matters if she’s not okay.”

The hospital gates loomed closer, and I slowed the car slightly, still gripping her wrist when she tried to open the door. Locked, of course.

She let out a frustrated groan, turning to glare at me. “Open the door!”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

Her chest heaved, lips trembling. “I can’t believe this. I… I trusted you, Alex. You….”

“Don’t talk,” I snapped, louder than intended. The sound made her flinch. “Just… sit. Let me do this.”

Her eyes softened slightly, the anger momentarily replaced by fear and disbelief. She stayed still. Just stayed.

I parked the car under the harsh hospital lights. The engine hummed low, steady, and I finally released her hand, letting her pull it back to her lap.

“Stay here,” I said, voice tight. “I’ll go check on her.”

Her chest rose and fell sharply, eyes wide, glossy. “I… Alex….”

“I said stay,” I cut her off.

She let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly, still staring at me. I didn’t look back as I opened the door and stepped out, feeling the night air hit my face, the weight of every emotion, every moment, every stupid, selfish, impossible feeling pressing on me.

Inside, the hospital smelled antiseptic and worried. Nurses moved quickly, faces serious. I approached the desk, glanced at the nurse, and asked for my mom no, her mom. Sloane’s mom.

The nurse looked at me oddly but nodded, pointing toward the elevators. My chest tightened further. I wasn’t ready for what I’d find. I wasn’t ready to see her like that.

Then my phone buzzed. I glanced down at Sloane’s phone. She had no idea I still had it. A message from the doctor appeared on the screen.

"Her condition has worsened. Immediate attention is required. Please come now."

I swallowed hard, pocketed the phone, and headed toward the elevator, already planning my next move.

Sloane was outside the car, waiting, unaware I had the full picture. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell her yet… or let her figure it out herself. But one thing was certain,I wouldn’t let anyone, not even her, stand in the way of what needed to be done.