CEO's secret bride

Find her!

Chapter 3

Alexander’s POV

I was deep in sleep when a sharp, searing pain cut through my dreams. My father’s hand slammed hard against my leg, jerking me awake. My heart raced as I shot up from the bed, my surroundings a blur. There, beside me, was the woman I’d brought home for the night—a woman I barely remembered. She was panicked, scrambling to her feet, her eyes wide with terror. She didn’t waste a second before fleeing the room.

“What’s going on, Dad?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, confusion swirling in my mind.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his voice thundered, filling the room with authority. "Is this how you wake up every day? Sleeping like a lazy fool? I’ve been telling you, over and over, to act more responsibly, but you still refuse to listen! You’re my son, my LEGITIMATE son! It’s time you started acting like it!"

I groaned, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "Dad, can we skip the lecture today? I’ve done everything you wanted. I graduated with first class honors. What more do you want from me?" My frustration boiled over, but I didn’t have the energy to argue any further. I had more pressing matters.

"Don’t play games with me," his voice was cold now, cutting through the air like ice. "Get dressed. We’re having a meeting. Now."

I barely had time to pull on my clothes before I rushed downstairs, only to find my stepbrother Jayden sitting smugly next to his wife, Jessica. Across from them sat my stepmother, Karina, glaring at me as usual. I couldn’t understand why my father had remarried. Why bring in someone who could eventually steal everything I was meant to inherit?

It had been ten years since my mother’s death, ten long years of being alone, until my father married Karina and brought Jayden into our lives. Since then, it had been nothing but a constant battle to maintain my place, to hold onto the company that was rightfully mine. But Jayden—he was taking everything from me, inch by inch.

I couldn’t let that happen.

"Why are we all here, Dad?" I asked, trying to mask my growing irritation.

He met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "I’m getting older, Alexander. I need to make sure the company goes to someone responsible. You’re my son, but you’ve shown nothing but disappointment. I can’t trust you with it."

My fists clenched involuntarily. Anger surged through me, but I held it in check. "What do you mean? What does this have to do with marriage?" The confusion was evident in my voice.

"I’m not finished yet," he snapped. "If you can’t prove you can be responsible, then Jayden will take over. I want you to get married—find a woman, bring her here in one week. Show me you’ve made a commitment, and maybe then I’ll consider you to run the company. Otherwise, Jayden’s your replacement."

I couldn’t believe it. "What? You can’t just do this to me, Dad!" My voice cracked with the disbelief that threatened to swallow me whole.

"Oh, I can," he said, his tone final. "You have one week. If you don’t, Jayden will take everything."

His words were like a physical blow to the chest. The pressure of the situation was unbearable. I had one week to find a woman, convince her to marry me, and somehow prove I could be the responsible heir he’d always wanted. There was no way I was letting Jayden take what was mine. No way.

"Fine," I said, gritting my teeth. "I’ll do it. I’ll find someone."

My mind was racing, every second ticking down. How could I find someone in just one week? The weight of it all was crushing, but I couldn’t back down now.

My phone rang just as I stepped out the door. It was James, my secretary, and he sounded excited. "Mr. Alexander, I found her. I found the perfect woman for you."

Confused but desperate, I pressed him for details. "Who is she?"

"I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ll get her to you soon. Trust me, she’s exactly what you need."

I didn’t have time for questions. "Get her here. Now," I ordered.

Days passed, and I followed up with James, eager for an update.

“What about the lady?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, sir,” James replied, his voice apologetic. “The family canceled. It’s off.”

Frustration boiled over. I tried everything I could, but nothing seemed to work.

The final day of the week arrived, and my mind was consumed with the pressure. I had failed.

When my father called us for yet another meeting, the final blow came. "I’ve made my decision," he said, his voice grim. "Jayden will take over."

My heart sank into my stomach. "No. You can’t do this to me. Not like this!" The words escaped me in a desperate plea, but it was too late. Jayden was already at the top, and I was left behind, a casualty of my own failure.

The inauguration ceremony was fast approaching, and I didn’t even want to go.

“You have to attend,” my father insisted.

That morning, I woke up early, determined to go through the motions. But when I checked the time, I realized the cars had already left. My car, which had been in for repairs after an accident earlier in the week, wasn’t available.

“You can ride with me,” Jayden offered, his tone too sweet, too eager. I couldn’t refuse.

But as the car sped down the road, something went horribly wrong. The driver lost control, and in the blink of an eye, everything crashed.

The world spun out of control. Jayden was rushed to the hospital, but I... I was left behind. My body was broken, unable to move, unable to speak. I felt the blood dripping from my wounds, but I couldn’t hold onto consciousness.

I thought it was over.

Then, something—someone—touched my shoulder. Her hand was warm, reassuring. A voice, frantic with concern, reached me through the haze. "Are you okay?" It was a soft whisper, filled with genuine worry. I couldn't see her face, but I saw the pendant on her neck. The was the last thing I saw before everything went blank.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. James, my secretary, was standing over me, his face pale. "Mr. Alexander, Jayden’s condition is critical. And they say it’s a miracle you survived. How did you—"

I could barely hear him. My mind was elsewhere. The woman. Who was she?

"James," I croaked, my voice hoarse. "Find the woman who saved me."

As I lay there, still trying to piece together what had happened, one thing was clear—my survival was no accident. Whoever that woman was, she had saved my life for a reason. But why? What did she want from me?

And more importantly, would I be able to find her before it was too late?