"He's not Steven," Alex interrupted gently but firmly. "I saw the way you stared at him in the hospital—your concern ran deeper than that of an assistant." He paused. "They may look alike, Isa. But Chris isn't Steven."
Isa took a step back, turning away. Her throat tightened, a burn rising as tears threatened. Her heart ached in a way she couldn't explain. Placing a hand to her chest, she tried to breathe through the pain.
Alex's voice softened, steady and resolute as he broke the silence. "After your father died, Steven had an accident. He didn't make it."
Isa's breath hitched. "What?"
He took her trembling hands softly. "I know how much you cared. But Steven wasn't the one who saved you that night."
Isa shivered, her lips quivering. "What do you mean?"
"He lied to get close to you."
Isa yanked her hands away, scoffing.
"That's nonsense! Steven wouldn't lie. Not him."
Without a word, Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a bracelet. He held it up—silver, familiar, glinting in the blue lights.
"Your bracelet."
Isa snatched it from his fingers, her hands trembling. Her breathing grew heavier as her stomach twisted.
"How… how did you get this?" she demanded. "This is mine! Where did you find it?!"
"I saved you," Alex said, stepping forward. Isa instinctively stepped back. "That night, when you fell into the pool… I pulled you out. I found the bracelet on the ground where I laid you before others arrived."
Isa shook her head, eyes wide with disbelief. Alex exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
"You look at me like I'm the villain here," he muttered.
Isa turned away, gripping the edge of the gazebo railing as her whole body trembled. Her eyes fell to the bracelet clenched in her hand, and she stared at it for several seconds.
Did he really lie to me? Did he deceive me?
She remembered how Steven had scratched his neck and given her that silly smile when she thanked him for saving her.
But why didn't he tell me I was wrong?
Her chest clenched with a sharp ache. She squeezed her eyes shut as a single tear slipped free. Fingers trembling, she wiped it away, but a ragged sob still clawed up from deep inside her.
The way her heart pounded against her ribs, the way her chest ached with every breath, the way it broke her to learn Steven had never been her boss… and the way her hope died the moment she heard he was gone—every bit of it led to one truth.
She loved him.
She hadn't just wanted answers. She had wanted him. The boy with laughter in his eyes, the boy who had made her feel seen. She had wanted to be near him, to relive the moment they shared.
Isa wanted to burst into tears, but instead, she pressed both hands over her mouth. Her shoulders trembled, breaths catching in ragged gasps as the sobs threatened to spill free.
Then she heard Alex's footsteps approaching. His hands rested lightly on her shoulders, cool and distant — as if chilled by a long, lonely night.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice tight and shaky, as if the words were hard to speak.
Isa turned toward him. His eyes were red with tears, and his hands shook where they touched her shoulders.
Her eyes dropped to his quivering hands, a pang of pity tightening her chest.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, voice barely above a whisper. "I hurt you. I must… I must be a bad person."
"No," Isa choked out. Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, shaking her head as tears spilled freely. "I'm sorry," she cried, gripping his shirt tightly. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I made you feel awful."
Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. He buried his face in her hair, smoothing it with one hand.
"It's my fault," he murmured into her hair. "I hurt you. It's my fault."
Then Alex's phone rang.
He ignored it the first time, whispering softly to Isa. But when it rang again, Isa pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
"You should answer it," she said in a hoarse voice, turning away as she continued to dry her cheeks.
Alex exhaled and pulled out his phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Dr Alex."
It was Sophie.
He sighed, already sensing another hospital emergency.
"Mr Adler is here. He's had an accident."
Isa's head snapped toward Alex. Her eyes widened as her heart thundered in her chest.
"What?"