Free Web NovelChapter 141: Chapter 141: Weary Gold
The automatic glass doors of the hospital hissed open, letting in a cool, sterile draft as Alexander walked inside The lobby was filled with the low hum of medical equipment and the quiet murmurs of the staff He walked smoothly toward the main reception desk, his tall frame drawing the immediate attention of the nurses on duty. freewёbnoνel.com
"I’m looking for an update on Mrs. Jessica Vane and young Ashley Vane" stated Alexander, his voice calm, polite, and completely steady.
The nurse behind the counter tapped rapidly on her keyboard, her eyes scanning the monitor before she looked up with a small, relieved smile "Ah, you arrived just in time We were actually about to clear Mrs Jessica for discharge, but we needed some administrative signatures from a guarantor I’ll prepare the paperwork immediately, young man You can go up to see her; they moved her to a regular room on the second floor, room 201".
"And Ashley?" asked Alexander, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.
"She is still in intensive care" stated the nurse, her tone turning a bit more cautious "Everything is stable for now, but she suffered some intense internal bleeding during the night, so the doctors are keeping her under strict observation Visitors are strictly restricted for that ward".
Alexander nodded in understanding "Thank you".
He took the elevator to the second floor and walked down the quiet, white corridor until he reached room 201 The door was slightly ajar He took a slow breath, adjusting his jacket, and knocked softly on the wood.
"Can I come in?" asked Alexander, his voice low and smooth.
Inside the small, private room, Jessica Vane was sitting on the edge of the mattress, looking completely defeated Her long hair, which should have looked like spun gold, appeared faded, almost like dull silver under the harsh fluorescent lights She looked terribly haggard, her pale, thin hands resting limply in her lap while her lifeless green eyes stared blankly at the linoleum floor.
At the sound of his voice, she slowly snapped her head up, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized him "It’s you, young man... what are you doing here?".
"I came to see how you both were doing" stated Alexander, taking a slow step into the room "I was deeply worried after yesterday, but I had some urgent business to take care of outside the city".
"You don’t have to worry about us, seriously" whispered Jessica, her voice shaking as she looked down again, a heavy blush of shame creeping onto her pale cheeks "I... I am so sorry for screaming at you like that yesterday It was entirely uncalled for".
Alexander walked deeper into the room, pulling up a plastic chair and sitting directly in front of her, his large, imposing presence completely commanding her focus.
"It was completely my fault" stated Alexander, keeping his tone entirely grounded and full of a reassuring weight "I entered your house without a proper explanation, and given your daughter’s history, it’s only natural that a misunderstanding occurred It is my fault that you collapsed under the stress".
"No, it wasn’t your fault at all" muttered Jessica, a bitter, heavy sigh escaping her lips as she shook her head "My body was already completely ruined Ever since the cancer, things have simply never been the same I feel so incredibly weak, so tired all the time... and my family is an absolute mess".
A hot tear suddenly escaped her eye, tracking down her hollow cheek, and she quickly covered her face with her hands as she began to cry, her shoulders shaking violently under her thin hospital gown.
"I don’t know how much more I am supposed to endure" sobbed Jessica, her voice cracking with a deep, suffocating despair "Sometimes... sometimes I just want everything to finally end I want to leave this miserable world But if I go... who is going to take care of my stupid daughter? Marcus is completely useless, the house is a ruin, and I have absolutely nothing left to give".
"I am not one to judge or offer cheap advice" stated Alexander, his voice smooth and entirely grounded as he leaned closer "But I can listen to you, if that’s what you wish".
Jessica wiped a tear from her cheek with a trembling finger, letting out a weak, hollow laugh "I wouldn’t want to bore you with my endless problems and personal traumas, young man".
"It doesn’t bore me in the absolute least" murmured Alexander, his dark eyes locking firmly onto her faded green gaze "Talking to a beautiful woman is always incredibly comforting".
Jessica raised an eyebrow, a flicker of pure incredulity cutting through her deep depression "Beautiful?" whispered Jessica, gesturing vaguely to her hollow cheeks and messy, dull hair "Do you not see how horrible and drained I look right now?".
Alexander simply offered a faint, unreadable smirk He was planting the seed, slowly and methodically He had promised Marcus he would give these women a reason to wake up and care about life again, and if his cock was the only weapon powerful enough to do it, he was going to use it to drag them out of the mud.
"How did you even meet my daughter, Alexander?" asked Jessica, shifting her weight on the thin mattress.
"I was passing by a bar yesterday afternoon" stated Alexander smoothly, spinning his casual lie with absolute precision "I stepped inside to have a drink because it had been a highly grueling day and I wanted to unwind The moment I walked in, I realized the atmosphere was completely wrong, and then I heard a woman screaming for help I couldn’t just stand there, so I intervened and pulled her out of that place".
"It must have been that wretched, low-life bar down the avenue" muttered Jessica, her expression turning into a mix of deep shame and anger "My daughter has been completely out of control Ever since those terrible things happened with her brother, she became entirely rebellious She started using drugs, drinking, chasing after older men... I honestly thought she had started selling her body for quick cash, which is why I screamed at you yesterday Please, forgive me".
"You don’t need to say another word" stated Alexander, waving his hand slightly "It’s all in the past".
"I know this isn’t the proper time to ask, but do you know exactly how my daughter is doing right now?" whispered Jessica, her voice full of maternal anxiety.
"The nurses told me she underwent surgery and is currently stable" stated Alexander.
"I have to thank you for that as well" said Jessica, more tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him with raw gratitude "When my world was collapsing yesterday, all I could think about was how I would ever afford the medical bills But the administrative staff told me you had already paid for both of our treatments I truly appreciate it, Alexander, but I have absolutely no way of paying you back... not even my old, ugly body is worth anything as a currency anymore".
Alexander didn’t answer immediately He smoothly stood up from his chair, took a single step forward, and dropped down onto one knee directly in front of her, placing his large palms on the edge of her mattress to look up into her face.
"Don’t ever say that" whispered Alexander, his deep voice carrying a dark, incredibly heavy sensuality that made her breath hitch "You are still highly beautiful, and completely fuckable".
Jessica blinked in absolute shock before she suddenly burst into a soft, surprised laugh, shaking her head Alexander let out a rich, quiet chuckle as well, smoothly smiling along to make it seem like it had just been a wildly inappropriate, bold joke to cheer her up.
But as Jessica laughed, a faint, long-forgotten spark finally returned to her dead green eyes, her pale cheeks flushing with the first warmth of life she had felt in years The bait had been completely set.
