Chapter 24 – For as long as it takes
Alex
“You’re not paying attention to me.”
Leah’s voice cuts through the silence.
I don’t respond. Just swirl the amber liquid in my glass, watching the way the light catches it.
“You’re distracted,” she presses. “Is everything okay?”
I take a slow breath. Exhale.
“Fine.”
One word. That’s all she gets.
She sighs and picks up a second glass, pouring a drink before handing it to me. I don’t move to take it.
Because she touched it.
The thought sends an uncomfortable itch crawling up my spine. My fingers twitch, resisting the urge to shove it away.
She notices my hesitation, her lips parting slightly before she sets the glass down on the table instead. I don’t miss the flicker of pain concealed in her eyes.
I reach for the bottle and pour myself a new drink.
One untouched.
One clean.
Leah crosses her arms. “Still the same, huh?”
I don’t answer.
She sighs, her shoulders slumping as she sits next to me and tries to hook her arm into mine but thinks twice about it.
Smart choice.
“I’m glad I got to start over, Alex. It used to hurt when they called me the daughter of a homewrecker. Now I’m a good doctor and
that has seemed to erase some of the hatred from people’s hearts.”
Her voice wobbles, eyes filling with tears as she looks at me. “But I can see you struggling, is it because of my family that you
don’t want to marry me?.”
Three years ago, I had my first heart attack and Leah, who was just graduating from med school helped me.
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Chapter 24 – For as long as it takes
We clicked after that and spent more time together. Honestly, her family’s reputation wasn’t that great but I didn’t give a shit about that. I liked her and I wasn’t going to shame her for her mother’s mistake.
When I introduced her to my family, they weren’t very thrilled, but that didn’t stop me. I was going to marry her.
She was beautiful, on her way to be a talented doctor who knew my biggest weakness and didn’t use it against me.
It was perfect.
Until the day I announced my intention to my family. I told them I was going to marry her when Nana had a heart attack. I had to break up with Leah temporarily so she could be nursed back to health. But while I was at it, Leah’s family business went bankrupt
and they had to leave the country.
We promised each other to reunite in three years.
But Granny wouldn’t stop with the blind dates so, I made a deal with their favourite girl.
Athena Dawson.
I’d pay her ten million for divorcing her in three years. We kept this a secret and played the role of husband and wife so well.
It was supposed to be a simple plan. But now it looks like it has gotten very complicated.
I glance at her. “My grandmother is still sick, Leah. You know that’s why I haven’t divorced her. You’re the one who left three
years ago, and I had to make a deal with Athena so I could keep your position as my wife, so as not to break my promise. Is that
still not enough?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just felt frustrated. I’ll wait for the right time. I love you so much, Alex.”
I’ve heard her use that word so many times but I can’t seem to soak in it. I can’t give her what she wants–not now,
she dreams of it. And maybe I never will.
I stay quiet, sipping my drink, the bitterness of it lingering long after it’s gone.
not the
way
She takes a shaky breath, and I look at her–really look at her–and for the first time in a while, I’m aware of how much she’s
changed, how much we’ve both changed.
But I can’t help but wonder if it’s too late for us. If she even sees it the way I do. If I’m too far gone to give her the life she dreams
- of.
“How’s your heart? You haven’t had it checked in a while.” She breaks the silence and I sigh, placing my drink on the table.
“I’m fine Leah. My condition is not as bad as you make it sound.”
“Alex, just two weeks ago-”
“That’s enough.” I cut her off.
Leah flinches, her lips pressing together as she looks down at her hands. I can feel the tension building between us, thick and
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suffocating. I don’t want to argue with her. Not now. Not when everything is already so complicated.
But the guilt gnaws at me, and I can’t help but feel like I’m drowning in it. Every time she looks at me with those hopeful eyes, I
know I’m breaking something inside her.
“I’m just worried about you,” she says quietly, her voice trembling. She reaches out again, but this time, I don’t pull away.
“Don’t, I’m fine. When Nana is better, Athena and I will divorce.” I mutter, not wanting her to see how much her touch unsettles
- me.
Leah nods slowly, though the sadness in her eyes remains. It clings to her like a shadow, a silent plea for something I’m not sure I
can give.
The silence stretches between us again, broken only by the soft clink of my glass against the table. I feel her gaze on me, heavy
and searching, but I don’t meet it. Instead, I focus on the wall, as if the answers to all our unspoken questions lie somewhere on
- it.
“You always say that,” she whispers. “That when Nana is better, you’ll divorce Athena. But… what if she never gets better, Alex?
What if she’s sick for years? What then?”
My jaw tightens. “Don’t say that.”
“But it’s the truth!” Her voice cracks, raw emotion spilling out. “You can’t keep using your grandmother’s health as an excuse
forever. You’re hurting yourself. You’re hurting me.
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The weight of everything pulls at me in different directions. I want to say something comforting, something that would fix this.
But all I can feel is the cold distance I’ve built between us.
“You were so sure about us once,” she continues, her voice barely above a whisper. “So sure you wanted to marry me.”
“I’m not the same person I was back then,” I finally admit, my voice rough. “Things change, Leah. People change.”
I glance at her, and she’s staring at me, tears welling in her eyes. “So what? You’re just going to let everything go because it’s easier? Because you don’t want to deal with it?”
I feel my jaw tighten.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I mutter. “You know the situation. You know why I’ve had to make the decisions I
have.”
Leah looks at me, and I can see the disappointment in her eyes.
“I know,” she whispers. “I know.”
“I’ll wait,” she says softly, “I’ll wait for you, Alex. For as long as it takes.”
I sigh, standing to my feet,
“I’ll call you later.”
