AFTER I WAS LEFT ON THE ALTAR

CHAPTER TWO: ALONE ONCE AGAIN

(Alexander’s POV)

I downed the eighth glass of tequila and let my head fall against the couch behind me.

Everything around me felt hazy, yet strangely light. The loud music no longer irritated me. The flashing lights no longer burned my eyes. For the first time in months, my thoughts felt distant enough to ignore.

My phone kept vibrating nonstop beside me.

Calls. Messages. More calls.

I turned lazily toward the screen and saw Julian’s name appear again. Groaning softly, I reached for the phone, fully intending to press the red button, but my vision blurred badly and I accidentally answered instead.

“Where are you?” Julian’s voice blasted through immediately. “Alex, we’re worried about you. I know it hurts, man, but it’s going to be fine.”

I tried replying, but the words tangled together on my tongue.

“You’re drinking?” His voice sharpened instantly. “This has to be a joke because you cannot handle alcohol at all.”

I frowned slightly.

“What do you mean? I’m just a little tipsy,” I muttered, trying to sound normal, though I could even hear how slurred my voice sounded.

“Okay. Stay where you are,” Julian said quickly. “I’m coming to pick you up. Where are you?”

I blinked slowly, staring at the chandelier above the VIP section.

“I’m at that pretty club downtown,” I murmured. “The one with the giant twinkling chandelier.”

“Okay, stay there. Do not move—”

“I want to go outside,” I interrupted quietly.

“No, Alex, don’t—”

I ended the call.

The music suddenly felt suffocating.

I pushed myself upright, gripping the table when the room tilted violently around me. My legs nearly gave out beneath me, but after a second attempt, I managed to steady myself.

The cold night air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside.

I inhaled deeply.

For the first time all night, I could breathe properly.

The streets were quieter than I expected. A chilly breeze swept past me as I walked aimlessly down the sidewalk, my hands shoved into my pockets.

Then I noticed a tiny dog curled beside a bush of purple hibiscus flowers.

The poor thing trembled against the cold pavement.

I crouched slowly and picked it up carefully, feeling its tiny body shaking against my palms.

My gaze drifted toward the flowers beside us.

To the purple hibiscus before me. A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

There was a time those flowers meant everything to me and a time I thought they meant forever.

---

Six Months Ago

“Sir?”

A gentle tap against my shoulder jolted me awake.

I inhaled sharply as my eyes flew open, my chest rising unevenly. The dim cabin lights of the private jet glowed softly around me.

A flight attendant stood beside my seat, concern written all over her face.

“Are you alright, sir?”

I blinked a few times before waving her off with my hands.

“I’m fine,” I muttered quietly.

The woman nodded politely before walking away. The moment she left, I leaned back against the leather seat and shut my eyes briefly.

Then my gaze dropped to the velvet ring box resting inside my palm.

A smile spread across my face instantly.

Two months ago, Timia started getting sick out of nowhere. I remembered panicking so badly that I drove through the city late just to take her to the hospital.

Then the doctor said one word that changed everything.

Pregnant.

And believe me when I say I don’t think I have ever felt happiness like that before.

Everyone kept teasing me, saying I treated her like she was carrying the entire world inside her.

Which was not true. Maybe just a little.

I carried her around the mansion despite her complaints. I listened and adhered to all her demands. I spent hours searching baby names online at three in the morning. I even argued with interior designers over nursery colors.

“The baby is going to love having such a handsome father,” Timia had whispered one evening, guiding my hand gently toward her stomach.

Back then, I truly believed that the pieces in my life were slowly coming together.

---

Rain drizzled softly by the time my plane landed.

The cold night air brushed against my face as I stepped out while my driver loaded the luggage into the SUV.

“To the penthouse, sir?” he asked.

I shook my head immediately, unable to stop smiling.

“No,” I replied quietly.

“Take me home.”

Earlier that morning, I made arrangements knowing I would definitely meet up. Candles lined the pathway leading into the estate. White roses decorated the entrance. Golden lights wrapped around the staircase railings inside the mansion.

Everything was going to be perfect.

The mansion felt unusually quiet when I stepped inside.

I loosened my tie slightly and walked quietly to the bedroom, making sure my footsteps wouldn't be heard. I finally opened the door but to my surprise the room was empty.

My brows furrowed.

Then I noticed light spilling from one of the guest rooms farther down the hallway. I heard voices coming from the other side of the door

I slowed my steps and stopped right in front, deciding to listen before entering.

Something cold settled heavily in my stomach.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t check on you earlier, baby,” a man’s voice said softly.

Then came the words that made my entire body go numb.

“How’s our baby doing?”

Our baby?

My grip around the ring box tightened painfully.

“It’s okay, baby. I know you were busy.”Mia replied, laughing softly.

The pieces I thought were coming together suddenly cracked.

“But I missed you,” the man continued. “Especially our nights together.”

The ring box nearly slipped from my trembling hand.

My breathing became uneven as images flashed violently through my mind of me kissing her forehead before work. Falling asleep together on late-night calls. Resting my hand against her stomach while talking to the child I thought was mine.

Then I heard it.

A moan.

The pieces I desperately grabbed onto finally shattered completely.

I slammed the door open so hard it crashed against the wall.

“Mia.”

I couldn't even recognize the sound of my own voice.

Timia froze instantly.

Her eyes widened in horror as she scrambled away from the man beside her.

“X-Xander…”

The stranger stepped back immediately.

I stared at her silently.

“Timia,” I said quietly, my voice terrifyingly calm, “what exactly is going on?”

“I can explain—”

The velvet ring box slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.

Her eyes dropped to it immediately as guilt flooded her expression.

“Xander, please—”

She rushed toward me, but I stepped back immediately.

Her touch suddenly felt unbearable.

And utterly disgusting.

My gaze slowly turned toward the man beside her.

“Why,” I asked softly, “is there a stranger in my house?”

The man opened and closed his mouth repeatedly without answering.

My chest burned violently.

“WHY IS THERE A STRANGER IN MY HOUSE?”My voice echoed through the mansion.

Footsteps rushed toward the room almost immediately as guards and maids flooded inside in panic.

One of the guards lowered his head nervously.

“Miss Timia said he was her cousin, sir.”

I laughed softly. I would rather let out a sound meant to be a laugh

“Get him out of my sight.”

Chaos erupted instantly.

The guards grabbed the struggling man roughly, dragging him toward the door. But the moment he passed me, all the rage I had been holding exploded violently.

My fist collided with his face hard enough to send him crashing backward.

Some maids gasped loudly.

“Xander, please!” Timia cried desperately. “Please calm down—”

I shot her a glare that made her swallow her words.

Silence filled the room.

Then I looked around slowly at every single person standing there.

And once again…

I felt completely alone.

“Everybody,” I said quietly, my voice shaking slightly,

“get out.”