It was someone in the family.
The words kept ringing in Alex’s head.
He didn’t know how he left the Richardson mansion.
One moment, he was standing there, staring at his father, trying to process the weight of what he had just been told.
The next, he was outside, the cold air hitting his face, his steps unsteady but urgent.
His mind was blank and overwhelmed at the same time, thoughts crashing into each other without forming anything clear.
He got into his car almost on instinct.
The engine roared to life, but it is like he is brain-dead.
Only the way his heart beat that made him seem alive.
He drove absentmindedly.
The city blurred around him—traffic lights, passing cars, people on sidewalks—all reduced to meaningless shapes and colors.
His mind was somewhere else, stuck on those words, replaying them over and over again.
Someone in the family.
Who?
Why?
How long had it been like this?
And then, without realizing how he got there, he found himself parking in front of the café where Maria works.
It was a miracle that he didn’t have an accident.
And reason he found himself there, he didn’t know but one thought flash his mind.
Maybe my heart longed for her.
He smiled at the thought and He stepped out of the car, the door shutting behind him with a dull thud that felt distant.
His movements were slower now, more deliberate, as if being here grounded him just enough to function.
He walked into the café ignoring everybody around.
His eyes scanned the room.
He expected to see her behind the counter, or moving between tables, or even just catching a glimpse of her from across the room.
But she wasn’t there.
He frowned slightly, his gaze sharpening.
A flicker of unease crept into his chest.
He approached one of her colleagues, his steps quickening just a little.
“Maria,” he said, his voice tighter than he intended.
“Is she here?”
The colleague shook their head.
“She hasn’t come in today.”
The words hit him harder than they should have.
“She hasn’t… come in?” he repeated, as if saying it might change it.
“No.
We thought maybe she called in sick or something.”
Alex nodded, but his mind was already racing again.
She hadn’t come in.
Why?
A cold thought slipped in, uninvited.
What if something had happened to her?
His chest tightened sharply.
No, nothing must happen to her.
He didn’t say anything else.
He turned and walked out of the café, faster this time, urgency taking over completely.
By the time he reached his car, his calm was gone, replaced by a rising panic he couldn’t ignore.
This time, he was aware of every second.
Every red light felt too long.
Every car in front of him felt like an obstacle.
His fingers tapped restlessly against the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tight.
He didn’t want to think the worst but he couldn’t stop himself.
What if they got to her?
What if she was already—
He cut the thought off, gripping the wheel harder.
No.
He pressed the accelerator.
When he finally reached her apartment building, he didn’t waste a second.
He got out of the car quickly, almost slamming the door behind him, and hurried inside.
His footsteps echoed in the hallway as he made his way to her door.
Then he knocked and when there was no response.
His heart pounded.
Then—
The door opened.
Maria stood there.
Safe.
Completely unaware of the storm he had just walked through.
Before she could say a word, Alex pulled her into his arms, lifting her slightly off the ground as he hugged her tightly.
The suddenness of it caught her off guard.
“What is it, Alex?” she asked, her voice filled with confusion.
But he didn’t answer immediately.
He just held her tightly.
As if letting go would somehow make her disappear.
“I’m happy you are safe,” he finally said, his voice low, almost strained.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
“Okay… Alex,” she said slowly, clearly trying to understand.
“Come in.
Come in and talk to me.
What’s bothering you?”
She gently pulled away from him, guiding him inside before closing and locking the door behind them.
He stepped in, his eyes scanning the room briefly, as if confirming she was truly okay.
Maria watched him carefully.
Something was wrong.
She could see it in the way he moved, in the tension in his shoulders, in the way his eyes didn’t quite settle.
Without saying anything else, she went to the kitchen.
The familiar routine of preparing coffee filled the silence between them.
The sound of water pouring, the clink of a cup, the quiet hum of the machine—it all created a small sense of normalcy in the middle of something that clearly wasn’t normal.
She brought the cup to him and held it out.
“Take it,” she said gently.
“Calm yourself down.
Explain to me what’s wrong.”
Alex took the cup, his fingers brushing against hers briefly.
The warmth seeped into his hands, grounding him just a little.
He exhaled.
“Something is wrong,” he said.
Maria sat across from him, her attention fully on him now.
“I just found out that my mother’s death was not ordinary,” he continued.
“It was someone in my family.”
Her eyes widened.
“That must be so hard on you.”
He nodded slightly.
“Yes, it is,” he admitted.
“And I’m scared they might come after you.”
She shook her head quickly.
“They won’t.
They will not,” she said firmly, trying to reassure him.
“My father said to protect me,” Alex continued, his voice tightening again.
“I won’t inherit any fortune.”
Maria stared at him for a moment, processing everything.
“Wow,” she said quietly.
“This is getting more complicated.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“But no matter what,” she added, her voice steady, “I will stay by your side.”
Something in Alex softened at that.
“Ah, Maria,” he said, almost under his breath.
“Do you know how to calm me down?”
He pulled her into another hug, calmly, breathing in her scent as if it was the only thing keeping him steady.
Somewhere mysterious, far from the warmth of that apartment, a man spoke.
“Boss, I think the Richardsons have already found out that the corporate spy is around… the mansion.”
A pause.
Then a voice answered.
“Oh, they found out.”
It was impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman.
“Yes,” the first man replied.
“They found out and how he was able to know is what I can’t tell.”
“Then it is time to strike.”
The words were quiet, but final.
“We have to take down the head of the Richardson Corporation.
Do it now.”
“Yes, boss.
Yes, boss.”
Footsteps followed as the man left.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then the mysterious voice spoke again, softer this time.
“Hmm.
Eric Richardson… soon, what you’ve built so far will be destroyed.
I will make sure you generation is buried alongside you.”
The mysterious person laughter echoed in the darkness.
Alex stayed with Maria the whole day.
Time passed differently there.
Alex found himself again with his composure returned and he feels better.
Thanks to Maria chatting.
He planned on spending the night at her place and Maria couldn’t find the heart to chase him away.
Everywhere was peaceful until his phone rang.
The sharp sound cut through the quiet instantly.
He glanced at the screen before answering.
“Hello, is this Alex?
Is this you speaking?”
“Yes,” he said.
“I’m calling from Livewell Hospital.
Your father just got into an accident.”
“What?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Please—come quick if you’re related.”
“Oh no,” he said, already standing up.
“I’m coming.
I’m coming!”
“What’s wrong?
What’s wrong?” Maria asked, rising to her feet as well.
“My father… my father,” Alex said, his words stumbling over each other.
“He’s in the hospital.”
“Let go Alex but take it easy, I am with you” Maria hold his hand assuredly
“Take a deep breath, okay?” And Alex nodded exhaling, he together with Maria rushed to the hospital.