Alex, searching for the source of Maria's concern, asked cautiously, "Did Isabella put you up to this?" Maria, with a hint of surprise, replied, "What... no. I haven't even seen her since all this went down." "Okay... looks like she's really moving on," Alex mused, a mixture of emotions playing on his face. Maria reached out, gently holding his hand."You'll be okay," Maria assured him. "Yeah... sure," Alex responded, his tone betraying a touch of skepticism. Maria, sensing his inner turmoil, continued, "So what are you doing here?" Alex explained, "You know, just to cool off some steam." Maria raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but I thought you said you do that with your boys."Alex sighed, "Yeah, most of them are married, so I let them be." "Right. Listen, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here," Maria offered. "I know, thanks Maria, you're a good one," Alex acknowledged, appreciating the genuine concern in her words. Maria stood up and hugged him, saying, "And take it easy on the drinks.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the room where Isabella found herself. The unfamiliar surroundings sparked a momentary confusion as she blinked away sleep, trying to make sense of her location. A serious headache throbbed at her temples, adding to the disorientation.Pushing herself up, Isabella surveyed the room, her gaze taking in the subtle luxury and elegance that hinted at a different environment from her own. She cautiously stepped out of the room, encountering Ruben's maid in the hallway. "Where am I?" she inquired, her voice a mix of bewilderment and concern.The maid, respectful but composed, replied, "Mr. Oscorp's house, ma'am. Do you need me to get you something?" Isabella's eyes widened with realization. Ruben's house? Disbelief and regret flooded her thoughts. "Can I get water?" she requested, needing a moment to collect herself.The maid nodded and hurried off to fulfill Isabella's request. Alone in the hallway, Isabella couldn't fath

As Alex savored the rich aroma of his morning coffee, the butler entered the kitchen with a respectful greeting. "Morning, boss." "Good morning," Alex replied, taking a sip of his coffee. The butler, with an air of concern, inquired, "How was your night?" "Not bad," Alex responded casually. Sensing a deeper inquiry, the butler continued, "Well, I came to check in on you last night. You were not in your room. Everything okay?""Of course," Alex reassured him, a slight smile on his face. "Had to take care of some things last night." The butler nodded in understanding. "Okay. Your mother wants to speak with you about the company." "Alright," Alex acknowledged. "Tell her I'll join her in a few, and please, be present there." "Very well, sir," the butler replied, then promptly left the kitchen. As Alex took another sip of his coffee, he couldn't help but marvel at the contrast between his current life and the one he had known before.In the elegant living room, Grace, Alex, and the butler

Maria couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions—relief that Alex was safe and on his way, yet a lingering sense of curiosity about the events that had unfolded. "Is he okay?" she asked, unable to conceal her concern. Zac nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "Yeah, he's on his way here. Said he called the guys too."As the door swung open, revealing a rain-soaked Alex, Zac greeted him with a hearty welcome. Pleasantries exchanged, Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Maria in the room. "Hey, Maria! Good to see you. What are you doing here? Are you two...?" he trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air.Maria, her hands slightly raised in a defensive gesture, responded with a chuckle, "Oh God, no. I mean, he's not bad, but not what you're thinking." Alex nodded, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Right."Curiosity lingering, Maria got straight to the point, "I've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now. Everything okay?" Alex reassured her with a

As they arrived at the hospital, the atmosphere was tense with worry. Alex wasted no time and sought answers from the butler, his concern evident. "What happened?" he asked urgently.The butler, a look of genuine concern on his face, shared, "I just met her in her room, on the floor, passed out." Anxiety tightened its grip on Alex's chest. Just then, the family doctor entered the scene, providing a glimmer of reassurance. "She's stable. Thank God you brought her in the time you did," the doctor said.A visible sigh of relief escaped Alex's lips. "Thank God. So, what happened to her?" he inquired, anxious to understand the cause of his mother's sudden health scare. The doctor, adopting a professional demeanor, explained, "It's a heart attack, and your mum won't exercise. You really have to convince her to."Alex, fully aware of his mother's stubbornness, nodded gravely. "You know how she gets. I'll try my best." Eager to see his mother, Alex asked, "Can I go see her now?" The doctor, a