Chapter 7
Lily Evans turned as Alexander Kane approached. "I came to give you this," she said, extending the contract toward him. Alexander glanced at the document, his expression unreadable.
"I instructed you to hand it to Clara," he stated coldly.
"She might be busy, so I decided to bring it myself," Lily replied, trying to maintain her composure.
Alexander stepped closer, making Lily’s heart race. He took the contract from her hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Did you bring it yourself intentionally?" he asked, his tone probing.
"Huh?" Lily looked puzzled by his question, her mind racing to understand his intent.
Seeing her confusion, he frowned. "You can leave now." With that, he turned and walked into his study, shutting the door behind him without another word.
Lily sighed, feeling the weight of his dismissal. She turned and walked away, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. That evening, Alexander requested his meal to be brought to his study, leaving Lily to dine alone in the grand, echoing dining room. The solitude was palpable, emphasizing the chasm between them.
The next morning, Lily dressed for work, her resolve firm. Her coffee shop had been closed for two days due to unforeseen circumstances, and she was eager to resume. As she hurried downstairs, skipping breakfast in her rush, she was surprised to see Alexander reading a newspaper in the living room.
He looked up as she passed. "You will never understand why," he said, making Lily's eyes widen in surprise.
Had she spoken out loud?
Alexander lowered the newspaper, studying her from head to toe. Despite her modest attire, she carried herself with an elegance that was hard to miss. He stood up, his movements smooth and controlled. "Let’s go," he commanded.
"You mean us?" Lily asked, glancing around the room in confusion.
"Is there someone else here, Miss Evans?" he replied, his tone edged with impatience.
Realizing he was speaking to her, she asked, "Where are we going?"
"No questions," he replied sternly, his gaze sharp.
"But I need to go to work. I haven’t—"
"Did you forget you signed a contract, Miss Evans?" He walked towards her, his tone growing harsher with each step. "One thing I detest is repeating myself. Don’t make me do it again." His icy glare sent shivers down her spine, but she tried to remain composed.
"You are coming with me," he ordered, grabbing her wrist and dragging her outside. He released her only when they reached the waiting car. "Get in," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Lily obediently entered the car, sitting calmly as it drove away from the mansion. She stared at her bruised wrist, biting her bottom lip in frustration. She glanced at Alexander, who was engrossed in his laptop, his face devoid of any emotion. When he seemed about to look her way, she quickly turned her gaze to the window, wondering where they were headed.
After what felt like an eternity, the car pulled into the garage of one of the most prestigious hospitals in the city. The grandeur of the building was intimidating, its reputation was well known. She couldn't ask why they were there, remembering his strict no-questions rule.
A bodyguard opened the door, and Lily stepped out, following Alexander to the elevator. They ascended to the 14th floor and walked into the gynecology department. Realization dawned on Lily about the purpose of their visit. She knew their marriage and the contract involved having a child but didn't expect him to act so swiftly.
"Mr. Kane," a doctor greeted them with a smile.
"Dr. Williams," Alexander acknowledged.
"It's been a while," the doctor responded, smiling warmly. Lily observed their interaction, noting the familiarity and ease between them.
The doctor led them to his spacious office. Alexander sat on one of the couches, exuding authority. The doctor finally noticed Lily. "And who might this be?" he asked, his curiosity evident.
"Lily Evans," Alexander introduced her succinctly.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Evans. I’m Richard Williams."
"Nice to meet you too, Dr. Williams," Lily responded politely, trying to mask her nervousness.
"Call me Richard," he said, smiling. "For Alexander to bring a woman here, you must be special." He glanced at Alexander, who was preoccupied with his phone.
Richard noticed her hand and remarked, "No ring. Does that mean we can go out for lunch sometime?"
"Emmm..." Lily hesitated, looking at Alexander, who now regarded them with an emotionless expression.
"So, that’s a yes?" Richard continued, his tone light and teasing.
Alexander interjected, "Why don’t you get to the point of our visit, Richard? I’m a busy man."
Richard nodded. "Alright then," he said, taking a seat. "What brings you here today?"
Alexander explained their purpose, and Richard listened with growing surprise. When Alexander finished, Richard burst into laughter.
"Really! Your grandfather was a smart man," Richard chuckled. "And you picked a beautiful lady in just 48 hours." He smiled at Lily, who returned the gesture.
Richard turned serious. "You have only a year and six months to have a child?"
"Yes, which is why we’re here for IVF," Alexander confirmed, his tone devoid of warmth.
"IVF?" Richard was taken aback. "Why IVF?"
"Just do it," Alexander insisted. "I freed my morning for this, so let’s proceed."
Richard sighed, leaning back. "IVF involves extensive procedures and time. It can take weeks or even months. Considering your timeline, why not conceive naturally? It’s quicker."
Lily glanced at Alexander, whose cold expression indicated he had no intention of following that suggestion.
"Do not ask me questions; I had to free my morning schedule today because of this, so do not waste my time and go ahead with the necessary tests or whatever you need to do." Alexander said it straightforwardly, his impatience clear.
Richard relaxed his back on the chair, then sighed deeply. "IVF is a medical procedure that takes days and weeks of running tests and fertilizing the egg, and the first cycle of IVF will take between four and six weeks, and then the second one will take about four to six weeks before she can conceive, in some cases even up to three rounds, which take months. If I remember correctly, you said you have just a year and six months for her to have a child, and when she does give birth, she has to nurse her baby for six months at most."
"So what are you saying?" Alexander’s patience was wearing thin.
"You both are married; why not do it the natural way since it won't take a lot of time?" Richard suggested, smiling slightly.
Lily looked towards Alexander, seeing how cold his face was. There was no way he was going to agree to them sleeping together. His demeanor was as icy as ever, his eyes hard and unyielding.
Alexander's voice was a low growl. "We’re doing IVF."
Richard glanced at Lily, then back at Alexander. "Alright, if that's your decision. But understand the commitment involved. It’s not a simple process."
Alexander nodded curtly. "Understood. Proceed."
Richard sighed again, standing up. "We’ll start with some preliminary tests. Miss Evans, if you’ll follow me."
Lily stood, feeling the tension in the room. She followed Richard out, leaving Alexander alone in the office. The corridor was silent, the air heavy with unspoken words.
"This way," Richard guided her into a smaller room, where a nurse awaited.
The tests were routine, yet invasive, each step reminding Lily of the enormity of what lay ahead. Richard was kind, explaining each procedure gently. Despite his professional demeanor, she sensed his disapproval of Alexander’s cold approach.
After what felt like hours, they returned to the office. Alexander was still there, his focus now on his laptop.
"Everything is set. We’ll proceed with the IVF treatment as discussed," Richard said.
Alexander nodded, closing his laptop. "Good."
Richard hesitated. "Just remember, this process requires patience and cooperation from both of you."
Alexander stood up, ready to leave. "We’re aware."
Lily followed Alexander out, her mind a swirl of thoughts. As they entered the car, she couldn't shake the feeling of being a pawn in a larger game, her life now entwined with Alexander's cold ambitions.
The drive back to the mansion was silent. Lily stared out the window, her mind racing. What had she gotten herself into? This contract, this marriage, it all felt surreal. She glanced at Alexander, who seemed lost in his own world. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: her life had irrevocably changed.
When they arrived back at the mansion, Alexander spoke finally. "Prepare yourself. This is just the beginning."
Lily nodded silently, stepping out of the car. She watched as he walked ahead, his figure imposing and unyielding. She followed, feeling the weight of her decision pressing down on her shoulders.