Restart

Chapter 38. The truth always shines

Claire's p.o.v.
I arrive at the hospital, but once I get there, I have no idea of what I am supposed to do. He said my doctor wouldn't give him any information regarding me, as she thought I was being abused. At least that was true, as I know she also notified the police, for this matter, so the person I am looking for is this Dr. Ronan.
"Could you please tell me where I can find Dr. Ronan? I need to talk to him about my blood test." I ask a nurse at the hospital's front desk.
"He is on the fourth floor Miss. You can ask for directions again when you are there."
"Ok, thank you!"
Once I get there, I feel my temper rising. How could a real doctor, do such a thing? He should have his license taken from him, as he broke both his doctor's oath and the law.
I am now standing in front of his office, but he is not in, so I decide to wait for him. I waited for more than half an hour, but he hadn't come yet. I was asking every nurse and doctor who would pass by me, if they had seen him, but the answer was always the same, 'he is with patients'.
I see a doctor turning away from me the moment he sees me and I know it's him.
"Wait! Don't you dare ran away from me!" I command and he stops.
He approaches me and opens the door for me.
"Let's talk here." He says.
"How do you know me? I mean, we never met."
"Alexander showed me a picture of you. He is my best friend and that's how he convinced me to do this for him."
"Do what exactly? How many laws did you brake for your friend?"
"I would do anything for him. I owe him my life and he knows that, so he took advantage of it, but as it was only the second time he asked me for a favor, I thought it was important, so although I tried to convince him not to do this, he demanded I did and assured me it was indeed very important."
"What, what did he tell you?"
"At first he told me something about his company's future depending from you, but then only a couple of weeks later he called me and told me he was crazy about you and he thanked me again, telling me we were now more than even, so I thought I was fooled and this was a chick thing after all and I was so upset with him, that I haven't spoken to him since."
"At first, I was so angry with you that I wanted to sue you, but now I am just left with pain. It is not fair to play with people's life Dr. Ronan and that's exactly what you helped your friend do."
"Did he leave you?"
"No, but I found out, so I am not going to stay around for him to leave me."
"Claire, Alexander is a nice man, he is kindhearted and very caring with the people he loves, although he struggles to present himself otherwise. He's been through hell and back and I will always be there for him no matter what. The difference is that I love him that much. You just met him, so I understand what you are saying. Other women in your place, would be extremely flattered by his actions and his persistence to find you, but I guess you only confirm what he said."
"Which is what?"
"That you were different and very special."
I can't hold my tears no longer. My heart was already glued back together, so it was easier for it to brake. I am more confused than before I came here. Why do bad things keep happening to me? What did I do so wrong, to deserve this?
"Claire..."
"Please, don't say anything else, as I've had enough. I don't think I can handle this anymore." I interrupt him.
"I just wanted to say I am honestly sorry."
The moment I exit the hospital, I light a cigarette trying to gather my thought and figure out what's next. My phone rings and I answer. It's Alicia, obviously wanting to inform me about Alexander's schedule for tomorrow.
"Hey Alicia, I am not home, can I call you back please?"
"Claire?" She calls my name and then she starts crying.
"What, Alicia what is it? Is Alexander hurt?"
"Well, not physically..." and she is now unable to speak from crying nonstop.
"Where are you?"
"I am at the office. Please come!"
I take another taxi and I go directly to her, while I call Alexander's phone as I am so worried, but it's off and I am being redirected to the voicemail.
"Alexander, please call me as soon as you get this. I am worried sick about you and the fact your phone is off and I am unable to contact you only makes things worse in my imagination."
I reach Alexander's office and Alicia falls into my arms, sobbing.
"Alicia stop crying and talk to me. Did something happen to Alexander?"
She looks at me in the eyes and tells me everything in fast forward mode. About his father, Mr. Yang, the company, the misleading, the statistics manipulation, the lies, everything!
"Where is Alexander?"
"Mr. Anderson told me that Mr. Alexander knew everything now, so I had to prepare everything, inform Mr Yang and have our lawyer to prepare the contract, but other than that I know nothing else and I have no idea of where he might be. Claire I am worried sick about him. This is just too much. He was betrayed and lied to by everyone he trusted including me."
"What does this mean for him? What does it mean for me and you?" I ask her worriedly.
"Mr. Yang assured me that nothing would change, besides Mr. Anderson's profit and that he would now have to answer to him first, since he was going to be the new CEO, before investing or making any important changes. Also, he said Miss Mingmei would now be his right hand and we would all had to answer to her as well."
"No! Oh my God, this will devastate him and especially today, from all the other days... I have to find him." I desperately say.
"Call his father, he was the last person to see him." She suggests.
I get in another taxi and I am headed home, in case Alexander went there.
"Mr. Anderson, where is Alexander? Is he ok?"
"No he is not and I don't know where he is. He left me at the cemetery 20 minutes ago. Have you checked his apartment?"
"No, but I am headed there now."
I get off the taxi and I ran upstairs to the 40th floor. This damn elevator is taking too long. When the door finally slides open, I literally punch on his door.
"Alexander are you there? Please answer me if you are."
And then the door opens, but I barely recognize him. His eyes are bloodshot red and swollen and he just stands there looking at me, saying nothing. I can't bare to see him like this, as this hurts me even more than his betrayal. It's heartbreaking to see a strong man like him, falling apart like that, because you only realize the volume of what hit him.
"Your phone is off and I was worried about you. I left you a voicemail. I know everything, as I spoke with Alicia earlier. Listen, I am not going anywhere. I promise you I will be there for you, as you were there for me but only as a friend and that is only if you want me to."
He reacts by only offering me an ironic smile but doesn't say anything. He is standing there with one hand broken and the other one holding his head, looking lost, betrayed, and scarred for life. He reminded me of myself.
"Alex, please say something!" I beg him.
"I like that." He says with a soft smile.
"What? What do you like?"
"Hearing the short version of my name from you. I usually hate it!" He covers his face and I know that although I can't hear him, he is crying again.
This is too much for me. He is hurting badly, right there in front of me and I can't take it. My anger, my determination, my doubts, they have all turned to dust. I wrap my arms around him and hold him as tight as I can. He lowers his hands around me closing the hug, kissing me on the top of my head while trying to control his tears.
"Thank you" he murmurs.
"This doesn't mean anything." I clarify.
"It means the world to me." He sighs, making my broken heart skip a beat.