บท 14: Midnight I

"Once I attend the press conference I would have no more weakness than anyone would use against me so it's fine," Dunice said, assuring herself.

"Everyone can go to sleep," she said as she stood up from her seat.

But as she was about to leave Alex stood up and was headed towards the exit door when Dunice asked.

"Where are you going Alex, it's midnight already,"

"Home," he said simply.

"Why?" she asked in a confused tone.

"I have to go take my sleeping pills, I can't get five minutes of sleep without them," he said and stepped out of the mansion.

Dunice was lost for a moment, "why is he taking sleeping pills?" she asked herself.

Come to think of it when they were still together Alex hardly sleeps, he's always on his laptop all night long. All this while she thought it was work, little did she know that he had insomnia.

Everyone stood up from their seat and followed Madison who was going to show them the guest room.

Dunice quickly opened the door and ran after Alex. Luckily he was still in the compound

"Alexander!" She called out and Alex stopped in his tracks

"Come here," she said and he walked towards her.

"Do you have anything to say to me?" he said in a soft tone."

"I think you should stop taking those sleeping pills," Dunice suggested.

"If you keep using it I fear you might get addicted to it and you won't be able to sleep anymore without them," she explained further.

"Even with those slipping pills, I have never had a good sleep Dunice," Alex said in a frustrated tone.

"For how long have you had insomnia?" Dunice asked Alex while staring intently at him.

"Since I was ten," He said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"What!" Dunice gasped.

"How could he be battling insomnia since he was ten?" She thought internally to herself.

She imagined how stressful it would have been for a young boy. She looked at Alex and saw how tired and baggy he looked. He still looked handsome but the tiredness is still evident on his face.

"Can we go inside? I mean to my room, let's talk" Dunice suggested.

Alex was More than happy to accompany Dunice to her room and have a chat with her. He promised himself that hell answer whatever she asked honestly.

He is ready to right all his wrongs and make it up to her no matter what it takes.

They walked in silence through the mansion, their footsteps echoing in the hallways. When they reached Dunice's room, they both sat down on the edge of the bed.

The room was quiet, the only sound was the rustling of the curtains in the breeze. The smell of Dunice's perfume hung in the air, filling the room with a calming scent.

"Thank you for calling me back," Alex said, breaking the silence.

"I know I don't deserve it, but I'm glad you did."

"So, what's causing your insomnia?" Dunice asked, her voice soft.

Alex shifted uncomfortably, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.

"It's...I have post-traumatic stress disorder," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Dunice nodded, her eyes full of compassion.

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it," she said. "But I'm here to listen if you need me."

There was a long silence, the air heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Alex spoke. "I...I don't know if I"I-Dunice, I can't say it, I don't want to remember it," he said calmly.

"I won't force you," she said in an understanding tone.

"But I have one more question to ask and I need a good answer, an honest one," Dunice specified.

"Your answer would determine whether I would forgive you or not, I really want to stop holding grudges for the sake of Alix but I can't just bring myself to do that," she said in a frustrated tone.

"Thank you for reconsidering," Alex said," please ask away."

"Why did you sign a contract marriage with me?" She asked, narrowing her gaze at him.

Taking a deep breath Alex replied.

"Rumors were circulating about me," Alex began, his voice breaking slightly.

"People said I was gay because I hadn't been in a relationship for a long time. There were even articles written about it. My father was furious. He told me I had to get married within thirty days or he would give the company to my stepbrother. I didn't want that to happen, but I didn't want to get

married either. I felt trapped."

He let out a deep breath, his eyes downcast.

"I just didn't know what to do, a contract marriage seemed to be the only solution."

"So why look for a woman when Charrisa was available and she would marry you willingly?" she asked again and Alex swallowed.

Why does he feel like he is a criminal being interrogated?

"I didn't like Charrisa and if I got married to her I know I'd be trapped and I might never be able to divorce her, sooner or later my father would start asking for a son which I I'm not ready for. That's why I decided to sign a contract marriage without their knowledge. But Charrisa found out and she threatened to tell my father if I didn't date her after we broke up," He said in a frustrated tone.

"So you married me?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, it looked like you needed money then so I thought I was just perfect," he said calmly.

"It was a contract marriage so I didn't expect any form of love to bloom, but why were you so distant and cold to me, I understand your family's hatred against me, it was because I was poor and they probably wanted a rich bitch," she said.

"But what I don't understand is your hatred towards me, Alex, what was the reason you acted cold all those times? Was it because I was poor and pathetic back then?" she asked.

"No, No" Alex quickly shook his head.

"I was only trying to protect you," he said between gritted teeth.

"Protect me? From who? How?" She asked him all these questions as she fought back the tears that were falling from her eyes.

"At a point when we got together, even if I was cold to you you still came to me with your warmth, I started to care for you. I didn't know if that feeling was love but all I knew was that I wanted to see you happy back then."

My uncle came around and saw you, he took a liking to you and he talked to me about it. He said he wanted you and I refused.

****

"Alex, it's been ages," Douglas said to Alex with a smirk.

"What do you want from me?' Alex asked, his gaze hardening.

"What a rude way to greet your uncle after all these years," Douglas said, faking a sad expression.

"Anyways I don't care about how you see me, I saw a lady leave your office and I want to believe that's your fake wife? Or is she not?" Douglas teased.

Alex glared at him.

"What?" Douglas asked innocently.

"Everyone in this family already knows that she's fake," Douglas laughed hard.

"So, I want her for myself immediately after your divorce," Douglas said in a serious tone.