Chapter 11

Lauren's POV

The office was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken words and tension I couldn’t bring myself to confront. I wanted to leave, to vanish from the shadow of his penetrating gaze, but time had other plans. The director excused himself without a second thought, leaving me alone with Alexander.

The man I had run from for 5 years was just a few steps away, a whirlwind of emotions all trying to push to the surface at once, leaving me frozen.

“Lauren,” he breathed my name like a reverent prayer, his voice carrying an ache that pierced through the fragile shield I’d built around myself. His eyes—those deep, stormy eyes—shone with something raw and unrestrained, a mixture of joy and disbelief that made me flinch. “I thought you were dead… This is… unbelievable.”

He moved toward me as if afraid I might vanish, like a ghost he couldn’t bear to lose again. The sheer intensity of his gaze sent an involuntary shiver coursing through me.

I straightened my spine, willing my heart to stop pounding against my ribs. “Sir, you have the wrong person,” I said coldly, summoning every ounce of composure I had left. “I’m Ava,” I lied, wielding the name like a weapon. “And I won’t agree to your request for Own. I have responsibilities at Hailsing’s Hospital and can’t stay here long-term.”

The words sounded firm, detached, but they felt brittle. My pulse betrayed me, racing wildly as his presence closed in, his disbelief unwavering.

Alexander moved with purpose, his stride devouring the space between us before I could even take another breath. He reached for me, pulling me into his arms with a force that stole the air from my lungs. His towering frame loomed over mine, overwhelming and towering, like a storm swallowing the sky.

The contact was searing, his touch igniting memories I’d locked away so deeply I thought they could never surface.

“Lauren,” he murmured against my hair, his voice trembling with something close to desperation. His fingers splayed against my back, holding me as if letting go wasn’t an option.

Every nerve in my body rebelled against him and betrayed me all at once. The familiar scent of him, the sheer magnetism of his presence, made my knees weak even as fury sparked in my chest.

“Let me go!” I twisted in his hold, pushing against the solid wall of his chest. “Sir, this is harassment!” My voice cracked, panic and anger warring inside me. “If you don’t release me, I’ll call the police!”

His grip loosened just enough for me to break free, but the anguish etched into his face nearly undid me. His expression was devastating—a storm of pain and longing, as though he couldn’t reconcile the coldness in my eyes with the woman he once knew.

“No,” he whispered, his voice raw. “Lauren, don’t you remember me?”

I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. For half a heartbeat, my resolve faltered, memories flickering to life like embers fanned to flame. Then I steeled myself, forcing the walls back up.

“I’ll say it again: I’m not Lauren.” My words came out sharper this time, a desperate attempt to cut through the tension crackling between us. “Please, be mindful of your actions.”

Alexander’s eyes roamed over my face, searching for something—recognition, truth, a crack in the facade. His confusion gave way to something fiercer, a determination that made my stomach twist.

“You’re not?” he asked softly, his words filled with disbelief, his gaze darkening with unspoken emotions.

Before I could retreat, before I could take another breath, he closed the distance between us again.

His lips crashed against mine.

The kiss was a collision of anger and desperation, of passion and frustration. It wasn’t gentle or cautious; it was raw, demanding, and electric. His hands cupped my face, holding me in place as his lips moved over mine with a fire that threatened to consume me.

My first instinct was to resist. I pressed my hands against his chest, intending to push him away, but the warmth of his skin beneath my fingers unraveled something deep inside me.

His lips were firm and familiar, his touch igniting a storm of emotions I wasn’t ready to face. Anger, longing, regret—it all swirled together, overwhelming my senses.

But then reality came crashing back. And a rage burned through me like the sun.

How…dare he.

I yanked myself away, my palm connecting with his cheek in a slap that echoed in the silence. His head snapped to the side, his breathing ragged, but the look in his eyes was anything but defeated.

“Don’t you ever—” My voice shook, my chest heaving with the effort to steady myself. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again, sir!”

Alexander’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver racing down my spine. His cheek reddened where my hand had struck him, but he didn’t flinch.

“You can lie to me,” he said, his voice low, dangerously calm. “You can tell me you’re not Lauren, that you don’t remember. But you felt that too.”

“I felt nothing,” I snapped, my voice sharp as a gunshot. “I don’t know you!”

I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the office, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely think.

The cool air outside felt like a slap to my overheated skin as I hurried to put as much distance as I could between myself and Alexander. My lips still tingled from the force of his kiss, and I cursed myself for even letting it happen.

This couldn’t happen again. It wouldn’t happen again.

But as I walked away, I couldn’t shake the memory of his touch—the way he’d looked at me, like I was his world and he’d been starving for air.

My breaths came shallow and fast, and I gripped the strap of my bag so tightly my knuckles turned white.

What had just happened?

This was the same man who had once wanted me gone, who had looked at me as though I was nothing more than a stain on his otherwise perfect life. He had hurt me—hurt my child—and now he had kissed me.

It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a declaration, a plea, and a battle all at once.

What was going on?

Shoving the thought away, I quickened my pace, my mind racing as I pieced together my next steps.

By the time I walked through the door, I was a bundle of nerves barely held together by sheer willpower. Abigail met me in the living room, her eyes lighting up as they always did when she saw me.

“Mommy!” she exclaimed, running into my arms. Her warmth grounded me, anchoring me in the present even as my mind swirled with doubts.

I hugged her tightly, breathing in the comforting scent of her shampoo. Abigail, my little everything—the reason I endured, the reason I ran, the reason I survived.

She unknowing calmed part of the storm in my chest, her little arms around my neck saving me.

Later that night, when Abigail was tucked into bed, Daphn was quick to my side in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner. She knew something was wrong again, but she didn’t press this time. Only gave me a knowing look and waited, waiping down the counter.

“Alexander recognized me,” I said, my voice trembling as I tried to steady it. The weight of the day pressed heavily on my chest. “I denied it, but I know he’s not going to let it go. He’s relentless. I’ll recommend another doctor for Owen, someone who’s a better fit, but I can’t stay here. I need to leave. Abigail’s safety comes first.”

Daphne leaned against the counter, her brow furrowing as she listened. She was quiet for a moment, her fingers drumming lightly on the surface. Finally, she said, “You know, Alexander and Sophia never actually got married.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked at her. “What?”

“There’s a rumor,” she continued, her tone laced with curiosity, “that it’s because he’s still hung up on his late wife—”

“Enough. Why bring that up now? Besides, that’s impossible,” I cut her off, tossing a hand. The suggestion sent a chill through me, and I shook my head quickly.

“Whatever their situation is, it doesn’t matter. It has nothing to do with me. I just want to live a quiet life with Abigail, far away from Alexander and his mess!”