Chapter 136
Grace's POV
"That's also part of why I chose you for this alliance," Alex continued. "Not just for business. I owe him a debt I can never repay."
"So your business alliance with me was all to repay my father?" I looked into his eyes, wanting to find the most honest answer there.
"Not entirely," he looked at me with deep affection. "Our fate was already sealed."
"What do you mean?"
"We had already met three times before all this happened."
"Three times? When?"
A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "The first time, you were standing outside Morgan International headquarters. For an entire month, every day when the project managers left work, you'd be there. Rain or shine."
I remembered that project—the one that was ultimately rejected. "You noticed me?"
"How could I not? You were such a determined woman, wearing crisp suits, never giving up. When I finally asked security about you, they said you were just an ordinary employee from Harrison Group, trying to secure a meeting." His expression softened. "Even though you didn't get that project, you still bought coffee for everyone who had evaluated your proposal. You thanked them for their time."
Hearing this, memories flooded back like a tide, and I couldn't help but smile. "So you had already seen me then? Did you think I was being too presumptuous? Because honestly, I knew our company had almost no chance of getting your investment."
Alex murmured. "'Beauty is the best letter of recommendation.'"
Heat rose to my cheeks. "What about the second time?"
"The business summit six months ago." His voice grew warmer. "You waited outside that five-star hotel for hours, looking for opportunities. When it started raining, you ducked into the service entrance."
I gasped. "That was you? There?"
That night when it started raining, I rushed to the hotel's service entrance and bumped into someone. The lighting was dim. I only remembered the man was tall, wearing sophisticated and expensive cologne.
"It was me." Alex's lips curved into a smile, his eyes reflecting my trembling gaze. "I recognized you immediately. You usually look so composed—how could you walk so carelessly? You bumped into my chest pretty hard."
His reproachful words carried a teasing tone.
Especially the way he said "chest" with that gentle pronunciation sent an electric current through my body.
"It was because of the rain, so I wasn't careful, and the lighting wasn't good either..." I reached out, gently touching his chest.
"But I didn't leave immediately that day. I watched you from my car for a while." He caught my hand and brought it to his lips.
"You were secretly watching me?"
"After meeting you twice and still remembering you—you're the only woman who achieved that." He smiled.
"I happened to watch from my car as you helped an elderly homeless man who had fallen in the rain." He continued.
I recalled helping the old man at the time, when several well-dressed people with umbrellas came to help and gave us two umbrellas. I thought their appearance was quite coincidental then.
"Oh, they were your people?"
Alex nodded with a playful smile.
Now it made sense—no wonder they wouldn't accept money for the umbrellas.
"Your kindness in that moment—it left a deep impression on my heart. I started paying attention to Grace Wilson."
"What about the third time?"
"When I saw the news of Robert Wilson's death, I had my team investigate his heir. You were purchasing a luxury apartment at the time, and I came personally to confirm. When I realized it was you..." He paused, gripping my hand tightly. "Three encounters couldn't be coincidence. It felt like destiny."
I stared at him, shocked. "So the alliance—"
"Was because of you. Only because of you." His voice was firm. "Business interests were secondary. I wanted you, Grace."
"I'm really lucky." I gazed at him with deep affection, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"We should go back to the hospital," I said, leaning into his warm embrace. "Your injuries—"
"Pain is nothing compared to leaving this moment." He murmured against my neck.
I turned in his arms, pretending to be angry. "If you say anything else about not taking care of yourself, I'm never speaking to you again."
The seriousness in my voice made him blink. Then his expression became surprised and tender.
"Few people care about my health more than what I can provide for them."
Oh, Alex. I cupped his face with my hands. "Get used to it."
A knock interrupted us. The medical team Eleanor had summoned had arrived. Throughout the examination I gripped Alex's hand tightly, watching as they tore away bandages to reveal the full extent of his injuries.
The wounds were angry and gruesome, surgical sutures forming jagged lines across his torso. Some areas were seeping blood, and I had to look away when they began cleaning.
"The internal bleeding has stopped—that's the best news. But the spinal injury remains our greatest concern. While it doesn't appear as critical as we initially feared, there's still a risk of long-term complications. The minor rib fractures are actually the least of our worries now. He absolutely needs complete bed rest," the lead doctor announced.
"This is my fault," I whispered to Alex as the doctors packed their equipment.
"No." His voice was firm. "You must never blame yourself for my choices."
After the medical team left, I followed Eleanor, Daisy, and the lead doctor into the hallway.
"We need to get him back to Starport as soon as possible," the doctor said. "He needs proper facilities for recovery."
Daisy nodded. "I'll arrange a private jet tomorrow morning."
Eleanor took out her phone to video call Ethan. When his face appeared on screen, his usual composure cracked.
"How is he?" Ethan's voice was tense with worry.
"Awake, stubborn, refusing to admit he's in pain," Eleanor replied. "But alive."
"Let me see him."
When Eleanor turned the phone toward Alex, I saw the concern in Ethan's eyes. "You reckless child," he said, his voice stern but I couldn't detect anger. "Don't scare us like this again."
"I'm fine, Grandfather."
"You're not fine. Look at this beautiful girl—" Ethan's gaze found me through the screen. "She's worn herself out taking care of you. Her face is drawn with exhaustion. You'd better treasure her, Alex."
"I will," Alex promised, his eyes looking toward me. "Every day for the rest of my life."