Chapter 4 Alexander Wolfe

Rain lashed down in relentless sheets as Alexander Wolfe stepped out of the luxurious hotel lobby, his tailored suit unwrinkled despite the storm. His assistant, Liam Cross, held up a large black umbrella, shielding them both from the downpour. They were heading toward the underground garage when Alexander suddenly stopped. His piercing gray eyes locked onto a figure crumpled on the pavement just beyond the hotel's glow.

Liam frowned. "Sir, the garage is this way. Where are you going?"

Alexander ignored him, his long strides carrying him toward the collapsed figure. His leather shoes splashed through puddles, rain soaking the edges of his trousers. "Don't you have a sense of humanity?" He asked. Liam sighed, mumbling something about Alexander's penchant for unpredictability, and followed reluctantly.

As Alexander approached, recognition flickered across his sharp features. His lips curved into a humorless smile, a mixture of amusement and intrigue.

"Do you know her?" Liam asked, struggling to keep the umbrella steady against the wind.

Alexander let out a soft chuckle, crouching beside the unconscious woman. "Oh, I know her, all right. She's Ethan Smith's greatest pawn-and now, mine."

Before Liam could protest, Alexander slipped his arms under her soaked frame and lifted her effortlessly into a bridal carry. Rain dripped from her hair and clothes, pooling around his polished shoes.

"Sir, we're going to be late for the meeting with your ," Liam said, exasperation evident in his voice.

Alexander didn't respond. He turned and began walking toward the garage, the woman's limp body in his arms. "Tell them something came up."

Liam stood there for a moment, drenched despite the umbrella. "Unbelievable," he muttered before jogging after Alexander.

As they reached the car, Liam opened the back door, still trying to understand his boss's sudden decision. "Should I call the doctor?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Alexander said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He climbed into the car with the woman, positioning her carefully against him. Her head rested on his shoulder, her pale face turned toward his chest.

Liam slid into the front passenger seat, glancing back with a frown. "Why save her?" he asked as the car pulled onto the road. "Especially considering what Ethan Smith did to you?"

Alexander's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "Because she isn't Ethan. She's his discarded wife, and now, she's my pawn in a much larger game."

Liam opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it. Alexander's tone left no room for further discussion. Instead, he turned to face the road, silently hoping that Ethan Smith had enough lifeline to face Alexander's wrath.

---

The Next Morning

Mia stirred as sunlight streamed through the heavy curtains of the unfamiliar room. A soft groan escaped her lips as the brightness assaulted her swollen eyes. Her head ached, and her body felt heavy, as though weighed down by the emotional toll of the previous night.

She blinked, taking in her surroundings. The room was opulent, with dark wood furniture, plush carpets, and a massive bed that felt too luxurious to be real. Confusion clouded her mind until flashes of the storm and Ethan's cruel betrayal resurfaced.

Her chest tightened, and tears welled up again. She lowered her head, clutching the blanket to her chest.

"How could I be so stupid?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should've listened to Mom. She warned me about him. She begged me not to marry him."

Her shoulders shook as the weight of her blind loyalty crushed her. "Five years," she sobbed. "I gave him everything-my love, my trust, my life. And for what? To be thrown away like garbage?"

Lost in her grief, she failed to notice the faint sound of breathing until it grew louder. A chill ran down her spine as she lifted her head, her eyes darting to the source.

Seated in a leather armchair by the window was none other than Alexander Wolfe, his intense gaze fixed on her. He was dressed impeccably in a dark suit, his presence commanding yet unnervingly calm.

Mia gasped, clutching the blanket tighter. "Y-you..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander's lips curled into a smirk. "Good morning, Mrs. Stone-or should I say, ex-Mrs. Stone?"

Her heart skipped a beat. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," he said, his tone casual yet laced with amusement. "You're no longer Mrs. Ethan Stone. That chapter of your life is closed."

Mia's eyes widened. "How... how do you know about that?"

Alexander leaned back, steepling his fingers. "Let's just say I make it my business to know everything about Ethan Stone and everyone associated with him."

Mia's breath hitched. "You... you've been watching me?"

"Not you, specifically," Alexander admitted, his smirk deepening. "But you've always been on my radar. Ethan made sure of that."

Mia's mind raced as she processed his words. "Why am I here?" she demanded, her voice shaky.

"You collapsed outside a hotel last night and I happened to passby," Alexander said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I simply did what any decent person would do."

Liam on the other hand made a face as he thought, "You didn't pass by, sir. You walked to her!"

"You're lying," she snapped, her fear giving way to anger. "You don't do things out of kindness. What do you want from me? Why did you help me even after knowing Ethan was my husband, your nemesis. "

Alexander chuckled, the sound low and almost menacing. "Smart girl. Let's just say your presence is... advantageous to me. Ethan Stone wronged me in ways you can't even begin to imagine. And now, fate has delivered his greatest weakness straight into my hands."

"I'm not his weakness," Mia's stomach churned. "And i'm not a pawn in your games," she said, her voice firm despite her trembling hands. "If you have a problem with Ethan, sort it out with him. Don't involve me!"

"Oh, but you are," Alexander said, his gray eyes glinting with calculated intent. "Whether you like it or not, you're part of this now."

Mia's fists clenched, her mind screaming for her to run, but she was trapped, trapped in a game she didn't understand, first in a loveless marriage and now, with a man who saw her as nothing more than a tool for revenge.

And yet, deep down, a small part of her wondered: Could Alexander Wolfe be her salvation, or was he simply another storm waiting to destroy her?