Questions Without Answers
1229 Words
The Hayes family estate was quieter than Alexander remembered.
The sprawling manor stood against the evening sky, elegant and imposing as always. Every detail reflected generations of wealth and influence, from the manicured gardens to the marble pillars framing the entrance.
Alexander stepped inside without ceremony.
A maid greeted him politely before leading him toward the dining room.
His parents were already waiting.
Richard Hayes sat at the head of the table, reviewing documents even during dinner. Eleanor Hayes, graceful and composed as always, sipped a glass of water while scanning a tablet.
Neither looked surprised by Alexander’s arrival.
“You’re late,” Richard remarked.
Alexander pulled out a chair.
“I was working.”
Richard raised an eyebrow.
“As always.”
The conversation shifted naturally toward business.
Quarterly reports.
Investments.
Upcoming projects.
For a while, nothing personal entered the discussion.
Then Eleanor set her tablet aside.
“What about the young woman?”
Alexander glanced up.
Eleanor smiled slightly.
“Alicia.”
The room grew momentarily quiet.
Richard folded his hands together.
“She made quite an impression at dinner.”
Alexander continued eating.
“Did she?”
Eleanor laughed softly.
“She was polite.”
“Genuine,” Richard added.
“Most people spend the entire evening trying to impress us.”
Eleanor nodded.
“She didn’t.”
Alexander said nothing.
His silence only made his parents more curious.
Finally Richard asked,
“Will she be attending the gala?”
A brief pause followed.
Alexander placed his fork down.
“Yes.”
That was all he said.
Yet somehow it felt significant.
Eleanor noticed immediately.
For someone who rarely involved others in his personal affairs, Alexander seemed remarkably certain about Alicia’s presence.
She exchanged a glance with her husband.
Neither commented further.
But both were thinking the same thing.
Something about this situation was different.
Later that evening, after dinner ended, Eleanor and Richard remained in the sitting room.
Alexander had already left.
Eleanor poured herself tea.
Richard loosened his tie.
For several moments neither spoke.
Then Eleanor smiled faintly.
“He’s changed.”
Richard looked up.
“Alexander?”
“A little.”
Richard considered the statement.
“I’m not sure changed is the right word.”
“He keeps bringing her around.”
That alone was unusual.
Alexander rarely tolerated unnecessary company.
Yet Alicia had appeared more than once.
Richard leaned back.
“Perhaps.”
Eleanor stared into her cup.
“For someone who dislikes people, he seems surprisingly comfortable around her.”
Richard didn’t disagree.
And that was perhaps the most interesting part.
Across the city, Alicia stepped into the Eden house carrying a bag of groceries.
The familiar smell of home greeted her immediately.
For a brief moment, everything felt normal.
Then she noticed Daniel and Samuel sitting together in the living room.
Waiting.
The moment she saw them, she knew something was wrong.
Daniel looked entirely too serious.
Samuel looked entirely too curious.
Alicia immediately became suspicious.
“What?”
Neither brother answered immediately.
Daniel gestured toward the empty chair.
“Sit down.”
Alicia groaned.
“That never leads to anything good.”
“It won’t take long.”
She reluctantly sat.
Samuel exchanged a glance with Daniel.
Then Daniel finally spoke.
“Do you know Alexander Hayes?”
Alicia nearly choked.
Fortunately, years of surviving difficult situations had taught her how to hide panic.
She quickly recovered.
“What kind of question is that?”
Daniel folded his arms.
“A simple one.”
Samuel watched carefully.
Alicia forced a laugh.
“Why would I know Alexander Hayes?”
Daniel wasn’t convinced.
Recently, very little escaped his attention.
“The hospital bills.”
Alicia froze internally.
“The upgraded room.”
She kept her expression neutral.
“The new treatment.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Things don’t just happen, Alicia.”
Her heart pounded.
Thankfully, her face revealed nothing.
“You’re overthinking.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Samuel sighed.
“Daniel, maybe you’re taking this too far.”
Daniel ignored him.
“The rumors are everywhere.”
Alicia forced herself to remain calm.
“Rumors are rumors.”
“People keep linking your name to his.”
“People also think aliens built pyramids.”
Samuel laughed.
Daniel didn’t.
Alicia immediately knew she wasn’t winning.
Still, she had one advantage.
No photographs had been released.
No public confirmation existed.
Nothing connected her directly to Alexander.
Not yet.
So she continued denying everything.
“I don’t know why people keep talking.”
Daniel studied her carefully.
Searching for cracks.
Searching for hesitation.
Searching for anything.
But Alicia held firm.
Eventually Samuel stood.
“Can we stop interrogating her?”
Daniel sighed heavily.
For now, he let it go.
But Alicia knew better.
He wasn’t finished.
Not even close.
Later that night, Alicia sat alone in her room.
The house was quiet.
Outside, distant traffic drifted through her window.
She stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
The conversation with Daniel replayed endlessly in her mind.
For the first time, guilt settled heavily in her chest.
Daniel trusted her.
Samuel trusted her.
Her mother trusted her.
And yet she had lied.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she didn’t know what else to do.
The truth felt impossible.
How was she supposed to explain any of this?
Even worse…
The lie had an expiration date.
Soon.
Very soon.
Alexander Hayes would stand before reporters, business leaders, influential families, and countless guests.
And he would officially announce her.
The thought made her stomach tighten.
She wasn’t ready.
Her family wasn’t ready.
Nobody was ready.
For the first time, Alicia wondered if she had stepped into something much bigger than she could handle.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Her phone lit up moments later.
Unknown Number.
Frowning, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Good evening, Miss Eden.”
Alicia immediately recognized the voice.
“Henry?”
“Yes.”
She sat up straighter.
“Is everything okay?”
“Perfectly.”
That answer rarely reassured her.
Henry continued.
“Mr. Hayes would like your attendance at an event later this week.”
Alicia frowned.
“The gala?”
“No.”
That surprised her.
“A smaller event before the gala.”
“What kind of event?”
“A charity fundraiser.”
Of course it was.
Alexander never did anything halfway.
Alicia rubbed her forehead.
“Do I need to prepare anything?”
“Only yourself.”
She sighed.
Nothing involving Alexander Hayes was ever simple.
Before ending the call, Henry spoke again.
“Miss Eden.”
“Yes?”
“The Hayes Gala is approaching quickly.”
Alicia’s grip tightened around the phone.
“I know.”
“Mr. Hayes believes attending smaller events beforehand will help you become more comfortable.”
Comfortable.
The word almost made her laugh.
How exactly did one become comfortable entering Alexander Hayes’ world?
Henry wished her a good evening before ending the call.
The room fell silent.
Alicia slowly lowered the phone.
A charity event.
Then the gala.
One after another.
The timeline suddenly felt terrifyingly short.
There would be no more hiding.
No more pretending the rumors didn’t matter.
No more convincing herself that her worlds could remain separate.
Because the closer the gala came, the faster those worlds seemed to be colliding.
And deep down…
Alicia feared the collision was inevitable.
- Writer
