บท 9: Baseless Rumors
At Meta Doctors Hospital
"Brother, Alexander, I got great news!" Rock Lancaster's sister Ava burst into the hospital room, holding out invitations along with food. Alexander blinked as his aunt shoved a gilded card into his face.
It was a wedding invite. Apparently, his cousin Lyndon was getting married.
"Congratulations," Alexander said. He didn't even know his cousin was dating someone.
His aunt beamed at him, delighted. "Thank you! Don't forget, you're invited to the stag party tonight at the Gentleman's Club. Lyndon wanted me to remind you, in case you forgot."
"Aunt Ava, you know I hate going to gatherings, especially events like those," Alexander plainly replied while handing his father the plate of peeled and cut apples he was working on. He had forgotten about the outing invitation, the message most likely buried in the mountain of emails he had to answer.
Ava clicked her tongue and directly snorted at him. "No wonder there are rumors about you being impotent. It's been five years already since Carla left you, and you're still not getting involved with another woman."
Her eyes then landed on Tyron who was currently sitting on the sofa casually playing with his mobile phone. "I wouldn't be surprised if the next rumor that pops out would say you prefer men like your assistant, who's always with you like a wife."
Rock almost spit out the piece of apple he had just eaten. "What an absurd rumor! My son is already married," he blurted out with a red face. "Those fools don't know anything!"
Ava's eyes widened as she turned to Alexander. "You're already married? To who?"
"Aunt Ava, can you keep it a secret for now?" Alexander nonchalantly stated. "You know I hate people talking about my private life."
"Of course, but when did that happen?" Ava asked curiously.
"This brat got married without even telling me! I only found out about it yesterday! I've never even met the woman, since my son hasn't brought her to visit me," Rock interjected with a sulky look. "Both of my sons are such scoundrels… William hasn't visited me yet and my oldest disobeys me…"
Alexander tuned out his father's grumbling, but then his father pointed at him.
"You have to go to your cousin's stag party and show your support if William won't be available to attend. Show them how much of a stag you are to dispel these nonsense rumors!"
Alexander remained passive despite the constant needling. With a straight face, he answered, "Fine, I'll go to the stag party, but don't pressure me to bring you my wife and introduce her to you. I'll decide when to do it."
"You…! How could you be this heartless, bargaining with your sick father like this?" Rock grumbled.
"Then I won't go tonight. You'll meet your daughter-in-law soon enough," Alexander responded with a stoic expression on his face.
Rock inwardly sighed. This son of his always had the same expression unlike William. Sometimes, he wondered if his eldest was a robot devoid of emotions.
"Brother," Ava interrupted his brief reverie with a nudge to his arm. "Your daughter-in-law can wait, but my son's stag party has to be held tonight."
Shrugging, she continued, "Lyndon's friends are all present, and you know how he and all his guests are looking forward to meeting your aloof son. It will also boost Lyndon's morale if Xander shows up. It would mean that he has Xander's support. Can you wait a bit to meet your daughter-in-law and let Xander attend the stag party tonight first?"
Rock let out an exasperated sigh and mumbled, "Fine, make sure to attend Lyndon's stag party tonight. And for goodness sake, loosen up a bit, son! You're too stiff!"
"Shouldn't you be used to it by now?" Ava chuckled. "He and William may look alike, but their characters and personalities are worlds apart, aside from their eye colors, of course."
Ignoring the exchange in front of him, Alexander glanced at his wristwatch before standing up. "I have to go now. I need to drop by Hydra Shipyard first."
Rock simply nodded before watching his son leave. Tyron gave them a curt nod before quickly following his son.
Meanwhile, Ava shook her head and mumbled, "Doesn't he know that Sunday should be a rest day?" She then turned to Rock and added, "I guess he takes after you for being such a workaholic. I wonder who the woman he married is though. I'm not sure if I'd call her lucky, given Xander's personality."
A brief silence passed, and Ava's eyes sparkled as she then asked, "So, Brother… Tell me, who is this sudden daughter-in-law of yours?"
Once more, Rock let out a heavy sigh before speaking to Butler Ben. "What did Rosa find out about Rain Clayton?"
"Rain Clayton?" Ava suddenly asked.
"Why?" Rock curiously asked. "Do you know her?"
"Oh… I'm not sure if it's the same woman, but this morning, I heard the mayor talking to my husband during our golf game. He was cursing Tim Clayton and his daughter, Rain Clayton, for embarrassing him and his family last night," she recalled. "I didn't hear the whole story though. Do you want me to ask Mark about it further?"
"No need. I'll look into it myself, Ava. You know I hate baseless rumors…" he dismissed. He then raised his eyebrows at her and reminded her, "Also, didn't I tell you to keep your family from getting too close to the Mayor? Richard is very dangerous…"
"I know. I'll remind Mark about this. Besides, we're both members of Meta Golf Club, so the meeting this morning was just coincidental," Ava answered with a pout. "Anyway, is she the same Rain Clayton?"
Rock simply nodded. "Remember not to disclose this marriage to anyone unless Alexander introduces her to us," he reminded her.
"I understand, Brother. I'll keep it to myself…" Ava nodded back before her expression turned curious once more. "So, how do you plan on meeting her? I know you too well. I'm sure you're going to meet this Rain yourself without Xander knowing."
"I'll see her as soon as I'm out of the hospital. I want to find out what kind of woman my son suddenly married," Rock firmly remarked. "I won't let any of my sons fall into the hands of women who don't deserve them."
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