The next morning.
Remington Mansion.
Zachary had left for the hospital at dawn. Rian was getting ready to head to AZTechs, while Ria still hadn't returned home after last night's emergency surgery.
In the kitchen, Adel was preparing fresh juice for the early-morning guest,Alex who sat in the living room, impatience written all over him. He was here after many years.
Everything had changed; the house, the air, even the silence felt different. Yet Alex had no interest in observing any of it. He wasn't here to reminisce. He was here for one purpose alone, to meet his supposed fiancée, cancel the wedding as quickly as possible, and return to his love. His little doctor.
Seated on the couch, he tapped his foot against the floor, eyes fixed on his phone though he wasn't really reading anything.
"Here, son. Drink this."
Adel's gentle voice broke through his restless thoughts as she handed him a glass of orange juice.
"Thank you, Aunt," he replied politely, offering a faint smile. He had always respected this woman.
"She hasn't reached home yet," Adel said softly. "She left the hospital only a few minutes ago. You can wait in her room, if you like."
"It's okay, Aunt. I… I'll wait here," Alex said, still courteous, still reserved.
"Oh, aish! Don't be shy, dear," she laughed warmly. "To me, you're just like Rian. Come on, get up. I'll show you the way. Rian is home. I'll ask him to join you until she arrives."
Alex chuckled lightly and followed her. Adel led him to Ria's room, asked him to make himself comfortable, and then left.
Almost immediately, Alex walked toward the balcony and slid the glass door open.
Beyond it lay the backyard, a neat little garden, quiet and pleasant, wrapped in a calm that felt untouched by time. It was beautiful. Peaceful.
And yet, it did nothing to soothe the storm inside him.
He stood there, staring without really seeing, his mind rehearsing the words he had prepared. The sentences meant to end this alliance, to cancel a wedding he never wanted. Again and again, he repeated them in his head, waiting.
Meanwhile, Rian was getting ready in his room when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered.
"Hello?"
"Rian, are you home?" Theo's voice came through.
"Yes, Uncle. I'll be leaving shortly. What happened?"
"It's… Alex is already there. He's adamant about meeting Ria," Theo said carefully.
Rian rolled his eyes. "They meet almost every day. What's new today?"
"It's not like that, son…"
Theo paused and then explained everything, how Alex had come determined to cancel the wedding, completely unaware that the doctor he loved was the very same Lady Remington he despised.
"Oh God!" Rian exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. "Seriously, Uncle! I thought he was an intelligent officer."
"Ahem… I did too, dear," Theo replied dryly. "But it seems love has made him rather dumb."
Despite himself, Rian chuckled softly.
"What I mean to say is," Theo continued, "he has a serious misunderstanding about Ria and…"
"It's okay, Uncle. I'll handle it here," Rian interrupted calmly. "Thank God Ria still hasn't reached home. I'll talk to him before she arrives."
They exchanged a brief goodbye and hung up.
As Rian stepped out, he spotted Adel, who informed him that Alex was already waiting in Ria's room.
'He may have seen her photos… or maybe he hasn't'.
Rian thought. 'Either way, I need to talk to him first.'
He headed straight to Ria's room.
Ria's room
Alex stood on the balcony, leaning against the railing, staring outside. Rian walked in and stopped beside him.
"You're early," Rian said casually.
Alex turned to look at him.
"She hasn't reached yet," Rian added.
Alex scoffed. "Yeah. Clubbing all night," he muttered under his breath.
Rian frowned, irritation flashing across his face. "Who told you she's into clubbing?"
"I know her too well to guess," Alex shrugged dismissively.
Rian felt his temper spike. He shut his eyes briefly, clenching his jaw, forcing himself to breathe.
'Control yourself, Rian. He knows nothing. You're here to explain, not to hit him.'
He opened his eyes and faced Alex squarely.
"Stop badmouthing her, Alex," Rian said, his voice firm. "You know nothing about her. Don't test my patience."
Alex scoffed again. "Rian, don't put that 'she has changed' nonsense in front of me. I'm twenty-nine, not two."
Meanwhile… Ria
Ria reached home, but her heart was racing far faster than usual. Maybe it was because of expectation. Of him.
Or maybe it was what she had overheard on her way back from the hospital.
Earlier that morning, as she walked through the corridor, a group of nurses had been gossiping nearby.
"Oh God! Isn't he that handsome, cold General?" one of them exclaimed.
"Yes, it's him. Look," another said, holding up her phone. "There's gossip about him."
"Who even has the courage to gossip about that ruthless man?" a third whispered, fear evident on her face.
"It's true," the first nurse said, eyes wide. "It says he has a secret lover."
All of them gasped.
"That's unbelievable!" one murmured.
Their conversation caught Ria's attention.
'Are they talking about Xander…?'
She glanced at the phone and there he was. Her brows knitted together.
'Does he really have a secret lover? No. It must be false gossip.'
She brushed the thought aside and headed home.
When Ria reached Remington Mansion, Adel greeted her with a knowing smile.
"Alex is here to meet you, dear."
Ria's cheeks flushed instantly.
"Aww, don't be shy, baby," Adel teased gently. "Go. He's waiting for you in your room. Rian is with him."
Ria nodded, her blush deepening.
"Take this juice with you," Adel added, handing her a glass. "Give it to Rian."
Clutching the glass, Ria walked upstairs, her heart pounding with nervous anticipation.
Ria's room.
Inside, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
"I'm twenty-nine, not two, Rian!" Alex snapped. "I know your sister's true colours. She's nothing more than an arrogant woman craving attention and living off your money."
"Stop right there, Mr. Gonzales," Rian warned, barely restraining himself. "You're going to regret this."
Alex scoffed.
"Hear this clearly, Rian. I didn't come here to see her ugly face. I came to annul this wedding. I'm not marrying her. I love someone else and I expect all of you to stay out of my life."
His words rang with fury.
Crash—