I'm sure it's nothing, Axel." Donald tried to assure him while speeding down the lane."My mother screamed, Donald." Axel gave him a cold stare. "In a very unladylike manner. That's not nothing.""Okay." Donald looked out the window. "But being anxious won't help. We'll be there soon."Axel sat back in his seat. He hated leaving Claire alone, but he had panicked when he heard his mother's voice. So he called Jubril to the office and asked him to take the ladies home, and drop off Myla at her apartment. He wondered what was wrong, and considered possible worst case scenarios. Maybe his father had died. He shook the thought off immediately. He had seen the old man a few hours ago. He didn't look like he would drop dead any time soon. He tried thinking about some other possible reasons, but he didn't find any, so he gave up. Donald was already going as fast as he could in heavy traffic, and he did not want to urge him on any more than he wanted to get into an accident. When they finally

Axel looked at Donald, and Donald looked at Axel."Don't even think about it." Axel warned.Donald raised his hands. "I've just got to say it, Axel. If she's right, and all of this is nothing but a huge misunderstanding, you're fucked, you know that?"Axel's brow turned down. "I'm going to follow her. I bet she's going to that man of hers." He clenched his hands into fists. "If I could just know who he is, I would crush him."Donald sighed. "I'm coming with you. I can't believe Claire would do something like this, but I'm coming with you."They left the suite together. As they were stepping into the elevator, Danielle ran towards them. Axel hid the hand he held the photos with behind him."Hey Axel, is Claire okay?" Her forehead was pinched with worry. She barely glanced at his hand. "Jenise mentioned she had very terrible cramps. She usually does, and I'm worried she might have passed out."Axel and Donald exchanged looks. "Claire stepped out for a bit." Donald said a little too hur

Axel's mother stared at him for a long time, before moving in to hug him."I'm so sorry, son. I had no idea the photos were doctored." She released him and looked up hopefully. "They are not the reason she was in an accident, right?"Axel saw the sadness in her eyes, and it made his blood boil. He shifted away from her and glared at the wall above her head."Why did you hate her so much, mother? You didn't even get to know her."A hurt expression flashed on her face, but it was gone as soon as it had come."I just wanted to be sure you had not chosen wrongly." She rubbed her temple. "Besides, there were so many stories flying about, and I didn't want it all to come back on you and the company."Axel's mouth thinned out. "Exactly. You were afraid of anything taking away your wealth and social status."His mother looked affronted. "That's not…""Don't even think about denying it." He raised his voice. "You shouldn't be here. Claire won't be happy to see you here."She inclined her head

The doctor rushed into Claire's hospital room."I heard the alarm. What's going on?" He asked calmly."Her finger moved just now!" Axel pointed and shouted. "I swear I saw it move."The doctor checked Claire's pupils and the reading on the machine. "I'm sure you saw it move, Mr. Lysander." He said in a disbelieving tone. "We'll take a scan to check her brain activity."Axel heaved. "You don't believe me, do you?""Mr. Lysander, I'm sure you are very eager to see your wife wake up, but it is possible that your mind is just playing tricks on you.""Why would I make something like that up?" Axel yelled. "The reading on the machine spiked, and she moved. She…""It's true." A little voice said quietly.It was one of the residents who entered with the doctor."Look." He picked up her hand. Claire's fingers were still. The doctor glared at him."I don't see anything. What do you think you are…"Her fingers closed around the resident's. The doctor glanced at the beeping machine."Get her do

Danielle sighed. "You manipulator. Fine, you win. But you're a married woman, Claire. You should stay at your husband's home."Claire looked at her empty finger. She must have lost that band of gold that tied her to Axel."Not any more, D. And I don't care about the contract. I would rather go to jail for breach of contract than stay any where near him."Danielle folded her arms. "He really messed up this time, didn't he?"Claire yawned and pulled the sheets over her head. "I need to sleep, D. When I wake up, please make sure all the arrangements are in place."She fell asleep pretty easily. The hardest part was staying asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was him. In the kitchen, in the men's suite, in the office, in the car. The imagery kept recurring in her dreams. She desperately wanted to fight it, but it was too strong for her.She slept fitfully and woke up too frequently for someone who was supposed to be resting. Once when she woke up, she found the docto