Chapter 14
1070words
"We need to be strategic," she said without preamble. "Jonathan has allies on the board. If he learns Alexander is conscious, he might take drastic action."
"What kind of action?" I asked, alarmed.
"Legal maneuvers. Medical 'experts' who would dispute the findings." Her eyes hardened. "Or worse."
The implication chilled me. "What's our plan?"
"First, we need irrefutable proof of Alexander's consciousness. Dr. Morgan is arranging specialized tests with equipment brought here, to avoid hospital gossip."
I nodded. "And second?"
"We need leverage against Jonathan." Victoria's gaze was calculating. "Something to keep him in check while we prepare."
Our meeting was interrupted by my phone buzzing. I glanced down, surprised to see Ethan's name.
"Excuse me," I said, declining the call.
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Your ex is persistent."
"He claims Sophia lied about her illness," I explained. "He wants me back."
Something flickered in Victoria's eyes. "Interesting. Perhaps we should look into this Sophia person."
"Why?"
"Information is power, Olivia. And we need all the power we can get."
***
That afternoon, I visited Alexander as usual. His room felt different now that Victoria knew our secret. More hopeful, somehow.
"Your mother is quite the strategist," I told him, arranging fresh flowers by his bed.
Squeeze.
"She's organizing new tests here at home. And she thinks we should investigate Sophia."
Two squeezes.
I paused. "You don't agree?"
Squeeze.
"Why not? If Sophia lied about being sick, that's important information."
Using our letter system, Alexander spelled out: FOCUS ON JONATHAN.
"You're right," I admitted. "Jonathan is the real threat."
Just then, my phone buzzed again. Ethan, for the third time today.
"He won't stop calling," I sighed.
Alexander's fingers tapped on my palm, spelling: ANSWER.
"You think I should talk to him?"
Squeeze.
I hesitated, then answered the call, putting it on speaker. "What do you want, Ethan?"
"Olivia, finally!" His voice sounded desperate. "We need to talk. It's about Sophia."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Please, just meet me. One hour. It's important."
I looked at Alexander, who gave me one squeeze.
"Fine. One hour. The café near the park, 4 PM."
After hanging up, I turned to Alexander. "Why do you want me to meet him?"
INFORMATION, he spelled.
"About Sophia?"
Squeeze.
"But you just said to focus on Jonathan."
CONNECTED, he spelled slowly.
I frowned. "You think Sophia and Jonathan are connected somehow?"
Squeeze.
***
The café was busy with afternoon customers. I chose a table in the corner, my back to the wall, watching the door. Ethan arrived exactly at four, looking disheveled and anxious.
"Thank you for coming," he said, sitting down.
"One hour," I reminded him. "What's so important?"
He leaned forward. "Sophia's been lying about everything. Not just her illness. She's been meeting with someone from your husband's company."
My heart skipped. "What?"
"I found messages on her phone. She's been meeting with a man named Jonathan Blackwood for months."
The shock must have shown on my face.
"You know him?" Ethan asked.
"He's Alexander's uncle," I said slowly. "But why would Sophia be meeting him?"
Ethan pulled out his phone and showed me photos he'd taken of Sophia's messages. There they were—dozens of exchanges between Sophia and Jonathan, dating back six months.
"They were planning something," Ethan said. "Something about Alexander's company."
I scrolled through the messages, my mind racing. Most were arrangements for meetings, but one caught my eye:
"Once you're married to E, we move to phase 2. The vegetable's wife is the final obstacle."
I felt sick. "The vegetable" could only be Alexander. And "the wife"—that was me.
"Why are you showing me this?" I asked Ethan.
His eyes were pained. "Because I was a fool. Sophia used me. She never loved me. And I threw away the one person who did."
I handed back his phone. "It's too late for that, Ethan."
"I know." He looked down. "But I thought you should know. You might be in danger."
As I left the café, my mind was spinning. Sophia and Jonathan were working together. But why? What was "phase 2"? And how was I an obstacle?
***
I returned to the mansion and went straight to Victoria's office. She listened intently as I relayed everything Ethan had told me.
"This confirms my suspicions," she said grimly. "Jonathan is planning a hostile takeover of the company."
"But how does Sophia fit in?"
"Your ex-boyfriend's company has developed technology that Blackwood Group wants to acquire. Jonathan likely promised Sophia wealth and position if she helped secure the merger."
"By marrying Ethan," I realized. "And what about me? How am I an obstacle?"
Victoria's expression was grave. "As Alexander's wife, you have certain legal rights. If Alexander is proven conscious and you support him, Jonathan's plans collapse."
"So I'm a target," I said, the reality sinking in.
"We both are." Victoria stood and walked to the window. "We need to move quickly. The new tests are tomorrow. If they confirm Alexander's consciousness, we must be ready."
That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about Sophia and Jonathan, plotting against Alexander, against me. Eventually, I got up and went to Alexander's room.
He wasn't alone. A nurse was checking his vitals, but she smiled and left when I entered.
"I couldn't sleep," I told him, taking his hand. "I'm scared, Alexander."
Squeeze.
"Sophia and Jonathan have been working together. They see me as an obstacle."
His grip tightened, and his heart monitor showed increased activity.
"It's okay," I soothed. "Your mother and I are prepared. The new tests are tomorrow."
I sat with him in silence for a while, drawing comfort from his presence. Eventually, I felt my eyelids growing heavy.
"I should go back to bed," I murmured.
His fingers held mine, not letting go.
"You want me to stay?"
Squeeze.
So I stayed, falling asleep in the chair beside his bed, our hands still joined. For the first time since learning about the conspiracy against us, I felt safe.
Because despite everything—despite the fact that our marriage began as a business arrangement, despite the danger we now faced—I knew one thing with certainty: Alexander and I were in this together.
And somehow, that made all the difference.
