In the charged atmosphere of the living room, Alex, reluctant to open past wounds, attempted to steer the conversation back to the present. "Mum, can we just talk about what is important?" he implored, hoping to redirect their focus.Grace, however, seemed unwilling to let go of the underlying tensions. "What is important? So Dave wasn't important to you, is what you're saying?" she retorted, her words carrying a sharp edge.Alex, sensing the conversation veering into familiar territory, responded with a hint of frustration, "Are you making this about Dave? Need I remind you about everything that happened to this day, how you both treated me like I'm not a member of this family?" Grace, defensive, countered, "How did I treat you, hun? All I did was to make sure you kids get along just fine, but you always, always make flimsy excuses to reject your role.""Mum, before you start blaming, please find your facts well," Alex urged, his patience wearing thin. Grace, feeling the weight of th
After the emotional storm in the porch, Alex, feeling utterly miserable, made his way upstairs and collapsed onto his bed. Thoughts swirled in his mind, a chaotic whirlwind of broken dreams and shattered illusions. He lay there, staring at the ceiling, grappling with the harsh reality of his life.Amidst his contemplation, a gentle knock echoed through the room. "Come in," he called out, the weariness evident in his voice. Grace entered the room, her presence somehow both comforting and unsettling. "You have a minute, son?" she inquired, her voice carrying a tone of both concern and authority. Alex sat up, looking at her with a mix of exhaustion and apprehension. "What is it, Mum?"Grace walked up to him, taking a seat on the bed. Alex mirrored her actions, waiting for her words. "Have you been crying?" she asked, her gaze searching his face for an answer. Alex remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the evidence of his emotional turmoil. Regardless, Grace continued, "Anyway,
Alex's gaze fixed on the distant horizon as if contemplating the unfolding plan. "Well, while considering that, I want to bring in new people," he declared, his eyes reflecting determination. "What?" Grace inquired, setting down her pen."They are capable, Mum. I can assure you of that," Alex replied confidently. Grace raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Who are these people?" "Just leave that to me. I won't do something to harm us, you know that, Mum," Alex reassured her.Grace sighed, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "I won't even allow that." "So, that's a yes?" Alex pressed, hopeful. "Not inherently. I will need to see these people of yours and know their qualifications before I can say yes," Grace insisted, unwavering. "Okay, Mum, but while I do that, I'm not taking no for an answer," Alex asserted, a glint of stubbornness in his eyes. "Just do what you have to do," Grace conceded, her tone softening.Alex nodded, appreciating the concession. "You won't be disappointed, Mum.
As Maria introduced Alex to her friends, he greeted them with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you all," he said, acknowledging the new faces around him. The atmosphere was lively, and the group seemed to be enjoying their time together. Just then, Chloe, a member of Maria's circle, eyed Alex with recognition. "Aren't you Fitzgerald?" she asked, her eyes widening with surprise.Alex, caught off guard, nodded hesitantly. "Uh, yeah." Chloe's excitement was palpable. "Oh my God, it's really nice to meet you!" Maria, looking a bit perplexed, chimed in, "Well, Alex, do sit. Let's have a drink together. It's been so long since we caught up."Alex, though appreciative of the offer, hesitated. "I wish I could, but I don't want to interrupt your thing here. I'll just be at the counter there." "Really?" Maria raised an eyebrow. "You know it's totally fine to join us, right?" "I know, but I'll just be there. It's so good to see you, though," Alex replied with a warm smile. With that, he gracefull
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.
Amidst the quiet serenity of the park, Alex, feeling a need to clarify his intentions, insisted, "Look, I just want to be nice to you, is all." Bambi, still processing the unexpected offer, replied cautiously, "Okay, but I don't know you like that."Respecting her hesitation, Alex decided to reveal a bit more about himself. "Okay, you know what, look up REED Group of Company. My dad owns it, and now, I'm the acting CEO. And a position is open for you, if you're interested." Bambi's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and skepticism in her expression. "Who are you?" she questioned.Alex, with a warm smile, revealed, "I'm Alex Fitzgerald." Bambi, realizing the magnitude of the situation, said, "I think I'm gonna have to look you up when I get home." Alex nodded, encouraging her to do so. "You do that." Bambi, feeling overwhelmed, asked, "Okay, but can I at least think about this? It's too much to process right now.""Hey, hey, take your time. You don't have to give me an answer right away,
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 Isabella attempted to find solace in the embrace of sleep, a persistent knock echoed through her room, disrupting the fragile peace she sought. Groaning, she mustered the energy to answer, opening the door to find her mother standing there. "Mum, what's it?" Isabella asked, her voice tinged with a mix of weariness and irritation.Eleanor, unimpressed with her daughter's greeting, entered the room with an air of authority. "Is this how to greet your mother? Rude!" Isabella rolled her eyes but chose not to engage in a morning quarrel. "What do you want, Mum?" Eleanor got straight to the point. "Where did you go last night?"Isabella, quick on her feet, responded, "I slept over at Kia's." Eleanor eyed her daughter with a raised eyebrow. "Wild night, huh?" Isabella, feeling no inclination to share the details, simply replied, "Really wild."Not one to dwell on her daughter's escapades, Eleanor shifted the conversation. "Well, Maria is downstairs to see you." "Maria? What's she doing he