Chapter 12
Alexander could barely breathe. His chest tightened with frustration as he yanked off his tie and stormed away.
“Alex! Wait up!” Sarah stumbled after him, her voice shrill with panic.
She’d never seen him this angry before.
Her own frustration simmered beneath the surface, but she bit her tongue and chased after him in heels that weren’t meant for running.
Meanwhile, Alex was desperately trying every single one of his credit cards.
None of them worked.
Not one.
Without an ID or proof of identity, he couldn’t book a flight, reserve a hotel, or even get a rental car.
They tried checking back into one of his favorite luxury hotels he was denied at the front desk.
After hours of going in circles, exhausted and starving, he finally broke down and called one of his old friends.
“Jason,” he said casually, as if everything was normal. “Wire me five hundred grand. I’ll pay you back once I’m back in the States.”
Silence.
Then again, “Jason? Come on, man. Just send it over.
A pause
“I can give you ten grand,” Jason said slowly, like every word hurt.
“What? Ten?” Alex’s voice snapped. “I used to throw you deals worth ten times that!”
Jason’s voice dropped. “Those days are gone. Rockwood’s finished. Even if I wanted to help, five hundred K? No chance. That ten grand….consider it the end of our friendship. Don’t call again”
He hung up.
Seconds later, the ten thousand showed up in Sarah’s Venmo account?
Alex nearly threw his phone at the wall.
He called five more people. Some Ignored him. Some hung up mid–sentence. One laughed and said, “Good luck out there.”
It was humiliating
Sarah watched him, pale–faced and trembling
“What’s going on? Why are they all acting like this?” Her voice cracked. “Is it true? You… you’re really broke?”
“I’m starving,” she added quickly. “Can we at least eat something?”
Alex didn’t answer.
Out of habit, he led her into a restaurant–a high–end bistro with white tablecloths and crystal glasses.
By the end of the meal, every
very cent of Jason’s money was gone.
Sarah’s own cash wasn’t enough for even a basic hotel. They ended up in a budget roadside motel
No windows. Stale air. A broken A/C.
The room felt like a prison.
Chapter 12
“Alex, we can’t live like this!” Sarah paced the tiny room, panicking. “If we don’t figure something out, we’re going to starve!”
She spun to face him. “Let’s just go home. Tell everyone it was fake. I’ll be your mistress i
But Alex wasn’t listening
His mind was spinning with what Jason had said. The money. The company.
Could the Rockwood empire really be gone?
Was that even possible?
“Are you listening to me?!” Sarah screamed, grabbing his arms and shaking him.
I have to, just–just end this already!”
He shoved her off, snapping. “Shut up! If it weren’t for you and your brilliant idea to fake my death, none of this would’ve happened!”
She staggered back like he’d hit her, her eyes wide.
“You’re blaming me?” she whispered, stunned. Tears welled instantly.
Normally, that would’ve gotten a reaction out of him.
Today, he felt nothing but exhaustion and regret.
How had he given up a fortune–and a wife like Allison–for this?
He stood up abruptly. “Sell your designer crap. We’re going back.”
He grabbed her bag and started pulling out handbags and jewelry boxes.
Sarah shrieked and threw herself in front of him. “Don’t you touch my stuff! Are you even a man? You’re seriously gonna sell my things?!”
Alex’s eyes darkened. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
“You think those bags were free? I paid for every damn thing you own.”
Without another word, he grabbed two purses and a few jewelry cases and headed for the door.
But just as he reached it, Sarab slammed a heavy glass ashtray into the back of his skull.
Pain exploded through his head. Blood poured down his neck. He staggered, eyes wide with disbelief, before collapsing onto the floor.
“You made me do this!” Sarah screamed, her voice shaking. “You made medo this!”
She dropped the ashtray and bolted, dragging her suitcase out the door without looking back.
Alexander reached out wealdy, his voice barely a whisper. “Don’t leave me… take me to the hospital… Sarah…”
“I don’t want to die…”
His trembling hand reached for the empty air–then slowly dropped.
All that remained was the blood, the silence… and the crushing weight of his regret.
