HER FACE, MY WIFE'S SHADOW

Chapter 16: Unknown Alexbella

Alexander's POV

I leant against my car, my eyes fixed on the woods surrounding the building.

The sound of footsteps shattered both the silence and my thoughts. I didn't have to turn around to know it was Williams. He was the only man who dared to approach me when I was in this state.

“Alex.”

He stopped just a foot away. I could feel his gaze scanning my appearance.

“How did it go? Did they say anything?” He asked at almost the same time.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Those bastards are hiding something from me. And they think they're smart.”

James came out. "Sir".

“Any news?”

“We're unable to trace the boss.”

“The number the boss used to contact your personal phone was blocked immediately after the call ended.”

“That sneaky rat.” I clenched my fists.

“Release them and have them followed. Make sure only the leader survives the attack. That animal will think he miraculously escaped death, not knowing he will lead us to the boss.”

"Noted, sir.” He disappeared into the building.

“Isabella has always been the boss's favourite disciple. Do you think he will easily give up on her?" Williams said.

He was right.

Isabella was one of his people, doing his dirty work for him. She was a world-class sniper, an elite spy, and a master hacker capable of infiltrating any mainframe on the planet.

And sadly, no one knew the truth about her dark side except me, Williams and James.

I knew people would wonder why an international billionaire would willingly tie himself to a kind of person like that. To be completely honest, I didn't know the answer either – not until the day she was contracted to finish me off.

But it was already too late; I was already married to her… and my heart had gradually, stupidly begun to beat for her.

I couldn't throw her out or divorce her.

At first I thought she was a criminal, not knowing she was a woman carrying wounds no one could see.

Her mother died when giving birth to her, while her father abandoned her at ten years old. It was the boss who found her and raised her as his own.

As soon as Lucas Grey discovered that the daughter he abandoned years ago was married to me, he suddenly wanted to be part of her life again, but Isabella shut him out completely.

…

When I witnessed Aria fighting my security guards in the hospital – even if her form was sloppy and lacked Isabella’s flawless skills. I knew the memory was there, buried inside her head.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself back together. "I made a deal with her.”

Williams raised an eyebrow. “A deal?”

“Yes. I gave her two months to prove that she’s Aria Bennett.”

"And what happens if she actually succeeds? He studied my face. “What then? “Will you seriously let her go?”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the car door.

“Because the way Aria behaves, thinks and acts is totally different from Isabella.” Williams pressed on. “Who would have imagined Aria would orchestrate something like this, just to escape from you? If it was Isabella who lost her memory, she wouldn't have acted that way.”

For a fleeting second, a doubt pierced through my instinct.

“I know you're desperately trying to give yourself a ray of hope. But it's better not to get too attached to her yet.”

“Did you see her actions…”

"Yes, I did.” He cut in, heaving a sigh. “Anyone can mimic basic self-defence when they are desperate for survival.”

My mind flashed back to what happened yesterday when Aria tried to escape. The fear, the desperation, the way she looked at me as if I were a monster.

Her life had been in danger more than two times since she arrived, so her anger was justified.

“Something else doesn't sit right, Alex,” Williams said, bringing my attention back to him.

“They’ve tried to take Aria twice from you. First at your house, then during her escape attempt.”

“Both times, they knew exactly where she'd be.”

“But Alex, how did you know they were going to attack your house? You weren't even fully prepared for them.”

I kept quiet.

“Get inside the car. Let's grab a drink.” I said, throwing the flashback from my mind as I unlocked the car.

I walked towards the driver’s side, holding the handle.

Williams stopped in his tracks, his jaw dropping. “No way!”

He practically sprinted around the hood, cutting me off before I could open the door.

“Don't tell me Alexbella is the one who hacked the security mainframe and alerted James about the intruders.”

I scoffed. “Alexbella?”

I slipped into the low-slung leather driver's seat, avoiding his gaze.

“Ah, see! So I'm actually right,” he groaned, tossing his hands in the air before jogging around to climb into the passenger seat.

Williams strapped his seatbelt on, shaking his head. "C'mon, bro, you know he's completely different from others.”

He leaned forward. “Hold on…”

“What?”

“That means he knew about Aria through the cameras he hacked before the viral news.”

I didn't say a word. I just slammed my foot on the clutch, twisted the ignition, and let the engine roar to life.