Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 147: Alec Walks Away

"What are you doing?" I asked, my panic going into overdrive.

"Going for a walk before I say something I’ll regret," Alec said as he opened the car door and stepped out of the vehicle.

"I can’t let you do that. Alec, please. You don’t even have a phone on you."

"I’ll manage. I’ll see you at home, Teela."

Alec slammed the door in my face and walked off.

I waited a minute and then followed him at a distance. Alec let me for a couple of blocks before he stopped in his tracks and yelled at me from over his shoulder.

"Get lost, Teela, or I will. I told you I will see you at home."

"Alec, please, don’t be like this."

"One...two...three..."

I backed away, putting distance between Alec and me as I called the car to pick me up.

Alec was still wired. I could monitor him while I called back up to shadow him.

He was right again. Sheesh I hated when he was right. When CK refused to run and hide, I respected his decision. When Alec tried the same thing, I fought him. I wasn’t respecting Alec’s right to choose how he lives his life out of fear for his safety, but no. Worse than that. I did it for purely selfish reasons. I did it because I was afraid of losing him. I’d do almost anything, including stomping on his basic human rights.

I stared at the laptop screen, watching the GPS map as the dot representing Alec made a beeline toward the apartment.

"Driver, take me home."

I arrived ahead of Alec. It had been a long day. It wasn’t a good day for him. I hadn’t helped make it any better, but I would now. I headed into the kitchen to prep salmon for dinner. Once it was grilling, I sliced strawberries on top of a bed of spinach. I added candied pecans, a feta cheese crumble, and a few onion slices.

I was in the process of making a citrus vinaigrette when I heard Alec at the door. I left him to make his way to the kitchen as I finished preparations.

Please let him come to me. Please let him hear me out. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

When I heard the shower start, I knew Alec wasn’t ready to listen yet, so I dished up the salmon onto the salads and set the table. I poured a glass of wine and waited.

An hour later, Alec joined me. His hair was down and still wet. We ate in silence as I gave Alec a chance to take control of the situation.

It was the least I could do after trying to make him into my puppet.

Alec asked, "Can I borrow your phone? Mine is packed in my luggage. It hasn’t arrived yet."

"Sure." I handed him my phone.

Alec called Eugene. "Dad, I’m home safe."

"No, Dad. I’m more comfortable at home.

"My home, Dad, and I’m staying here. I’m sorry Teela got your hopes up." Alec gave me a pointed glare of disapproval.

My face flushed. I deserved that. I didn’t like it, but I deserved it.

"I’ll call in a couple of days. We’ll have lunch."

Alec ended the call and handed the phone back to me.

I said, "I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t make decisions for you."

"That’s right." Alec took a bite of his dinner, but he didn’t look like he was tasting it.

"Will you at least agree to a security detail?"

"Will they be better skilled than the two idiots you put on my tail after you left me?"

"Yes. You can select your own men if you like."

"They aren’t allowed in the apartment, inside The Red Dragon, or in my private office at the facility."

I nodded.

"And no surveillance equipment in those three places either. If you want to know something, ask me like a normal wife."

"Wife?" That got my full attention. "We aren’t married yet."

"I think of you as my wife."

"So, I’ve not ruined everything?"

"No. If I had to be honest, I’d feel the same way you do. I’d want to do everything I could to protect you, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it or cooperate any more than you would with me."

"I know. I’m sorry."

Alec said, "Stop saying I’m sorry."

"Okay. Is there anything you’d prefer I say?"

Alec motioned for me to come to him. He sat me across his lap and held me close, nestling his head against my chest. "No. Just let me hold you like this for a little while. I need it more than air. You scared me, Teela. I knew you would be upset with me. I never expected you to try to put me in a cage."

"I didn’t think of Eugene’s place as a cage. You seem to be on such good terms with him."

"I’m on good terms with him because I fought for enough autonomy to breathe."

"And it felt like I was taking that away. I understand. It won’t happen again," I said.

"Good." Alec let out a long, deep-felt sigh. "You are home. I’m home now."

The doorbell rang, but Alec didn’t release his hold on me.

"I should answer the door, Alec. It could be your luggage with your phone." I urged him.

Alec grunted and slowly let go of him. "I suppose I’ll miss the phone."

Only it wasn’t luggage delivery. It was King. Why was King at Alec’s place? How did he know where Alec lived? Oh, right, he was here when he helped with Bea’s rescue. So much happened that day that I had forgotten.

"King, what’s wrong?"

"I called Alec. He didn’t pick up, so I came in person."

"You could have called me."

"I could have, but I didn’t. Is Alec here?"

"Come in," Alec said from over my shoulder.

We settled in the living room with coffee and a platter of strawberries, cheese, and crackers.

King said, "I apologize for disturbing your homecoming, but I think I found a donor for the boy. Unfortunately, he’s dropped off the grid. Do you know how to find him? Time is essential."

Alec looked to me. "I need my phone. Kahlil’s information is on the phone."

"Give me a minute."

I went to my office and contacted Stiff, who put a trace on Alec’s luggage while I traced Micah’s location. It appeared the boy was in transit to his new hospital. I called the ambulance service and had them provide me with direct contact with the EMTs in charge of his care.

By the time King and Alec lost patience and joined me in my office, the ambulance had gone from traveling at the speed limit to flashing lights and siren blaring as they sped along with a police escort to the hospital.

King passed on the information to the donor facility, but we faced one additional problem. Micah needed a parent to approve the procedure. His parents were both under arrest. Stiff was working on contacting Amber and patching her through to my phone.

"Hi, you don’t know me," I said to the woman, "but your husband is a friend to the man I love. As soon as I found Micah’s life was in danger, I put resources onto finding a way to save him."

"Who is the man you love?"

"Alec Crest."

"He’s the man who destroyed my son’s chance at survival." Her voice was hard as a rock.

"No, that isn’t true. Bright Future planned to take a little boy’s life to save your son. He couldn’t allow that. I couldn’t allow it, but we have a legal donor for Micah now. Micah is on the way to a new hospital. The heart is in transit as well. We are working to have you released from FBI custody. You’ll need to sign the permission forms for the procedure. Will you trust me to help?"

Amber sobbed. "I don’t even know where to find either of my boys right now."

"But I do. I can have you picked up in less than an hour and transported by helicopter to Micah’s side. Your older son is safe with a social worker. I’ll have him brought to you as well."

"What about Kahlil?"

I shook my head. "Amber, I can’t. Kahlil is complicit in so many crimes against children. Horrendous crimes."

"He did it for our son!"

"That doesn’t condone destroying lives."

"He is my husband. I will always be on his side."

I wasn’t sure what to say to her to convince her to focus on Micah’s transplant, but I had to try. "Amber, I admire how much your love your family, but Kahlil is a grown man who can protect himself. Micah can’t. Please, take my help. I don’t expect anything in return."

"Do I have a choice?"

"If you want Micah to live, no."

"Then I will do what I must do. I’ll accept the aid of the enemy, but if my son dies, so will you."

Joy. Nothing like a little pressure.