Chapter 54

Sheila’s POV

“Also on hand to give an interview was Dr. A’s mentor, Silas, the current president of the World Healer Association,” the news anchor on the screen said.

Sheila hated everything about her. Her hair was overdone and her lipstick wasn’t bright enough. In fact, all of her makeup looked cheap.

Sheila’s fingers curled into the couch cushions, her long painted nails digging in.

Mostly, Sheila hated that this news anchor was giving Dr. A so much positive attention and praise. She didn’t deserve any of it. Whatever happened in that hospital today had to be a fluke, yet people were treating Dr. A like she was some kind of saint.

The footage switched from the studio back to the outside of the hospital, where an old man, Silas, stood in front of the microphones.

“Dr. A was my apprentice for several years. I personally watched her dedication to her craft. She was a brilliant student who committed so much of herself to her work. She barely left the lab while she was developing the life-extending medicine,” Silas said. “Truly, her skills and commitment should be praised.”

Back in the studio, the news anchor continued, “Alpha King Lucian has mirrored President Silas’s statements. Public opinion on Dr. A has seemed to turn since these events transpired, with many people sending cards and gifts to the hospital for her as apology. The hospital has asked that these gifts be limited, as they are nearly overwhelmed –”

Sheila clicked off the television. It was a new one, wordlessly replaced after Sheila went to her room for a time.

This angered her too. She’d clearly made her point, yet Lucian still hadn’t returned home. Where could he be? No one was telling her anything.

Leaving the room, Sheila walked toward where she knew the head housekeeper’s office to be. She needed a phone, and she wasn’t going to sneak around or risk getting caught in Lucian’s office. Instead, she was going to make a scene until she received exactly what she wanted.

It’d worked before. It would work again.

She started pounding on the locked door.

“Sheila, please,” the head housekeeper said, walking down the hallway toward Sheila. “No one is in there to hear your knocking.”

“I need to use the phone.”

“I have been instructed not to –”

“If you don’t let me use the phone, I will cut myself and say you did it.” Sheila was dead serious and staring straight at the housekeeper, knew that this genuineness was properly conveyed.

The housekeeper’s face paled. “You don’t need to do that…”

“Then open the door. You can tell Lucian I broke in if you don’t want to get in trouble. Just give me access to that phone.”

The housekeeper hesitated, but then, after another stare-down, moved forward and unlocked the door.

Sheila grabbed the handle, flung the door opened, and rushed toward the phone.

Picking it up, she pressed in the number for Caleb’s office at the Alpha headquarters building.

His assistant answered. “Yes?”

“This is Sheila. Put Lucian on the phone.” Was she demanding? Yes. Did she care? No.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but the Alpha King isn’t here right now. Perhaps if you –”

“Don’t lie to me,” Sheila snapped. “I know how you operate over there. He’s avoiding me, right? Tell him if he doesn’t come on, I’m going to start smashing my own head against the wall. He hasn’t been home in days. I need him home right now!”

“B-but, ma’am… I’m not lying. He’s not here.”

“Find him then! Or do you want to be responsible for my suicide?”

“N-no, ma’am. I, uh… Please hold.”

The call clicked as Sheila was placed on hold.

How terribly annoying. Being ignored like this only made Sheila’s rage double and then triple.

This was all Dr. A’s fault, but she was protected in that hospital, more now, likely, after the mob attack.

But, one person who wasn’t protected? Aria.

She was probably even more likely to blame for Lucian’s disappearance. That bitch had always been moving in on Sheila’s property, trying to claim Lucian as her own.

Sheila saw him and claimed him first. No second wife was going to steal Lucian away from her.

Resolved, Sheila turned her plotting toward Aria. All Sheila had to do was think of a way to make her life miserable…

Aria’s POV

The next few days at work were a strange change of pace. Suddenly, I was viewed less like a pariah and more like a valuable member of the community. My office was overflowing with cards, fruit baskets, and other gifts. Some older women had taken to bringing me baked goods. I’d already gained five pounds.

People were thanking me in the hallways. The requests to be seen by me skyrocketed once more.

Buried behind a forest of flowers, Piper was nearly overwhelmed at the phones. Cathy stepped in to help her. Though the most they could do was take messages for me. I was just one person, I couldn’t possibly get to the three hundred messages piled on my desk.

Yet, I wasn’t the least bit annoyed. In fact, I felt rejuvenated by the sudden attention, and when I made it home that night, with my disguise tucked away in my bag, I felt a spring in my step.

This was – until I saw Matt standing on the front porch.

“Aria?”

Not having expected any unannounced visitors, I nearly jumped out of my skin as I faced him.

“Sorry, I won’t stay long, but can we talk for a minute?” he asked.

It was unlike him to ask rather than just come right out with what he wanted. It felt like he was building up to something, which made me a little nervous. Still, he’d been good to me, standing up for me and protecting me.

He was a friend and an ally. If he wanted to talk, I couldn’t really see anything wrong with it.

“Okay,” I said.

Nodding, he walked toward me at a slow pace. Then, when he was right in front of me, he looked up at me for a long time, critically, as if studying my face.

He smiled a little. Voice soft, for my ears only, he said, “I know you are Dr. A.”

All of the blood drained out of my face and my stomach started doing cartwheels. I placed a hand over it, subconsciously worrying about my baby.

Had my scent been off…?

“Luna?” I asked in my mind.

“Nothing is out of place,” she assured me.

Then how?

“Don’t worry,” he promised. “Your secret is safe with me. Here.” Matt lifted a card shaped envelop from his pocket and handed it to me.

I looked at it, entirely dumbfounded for a moment before I thought to reach out and accept it. With it in my hand, I turned it over. On the front was a name, Aria.

“Matt…”

“I have feelings for you,” he said. “The letter says it all more eloquently than I can fumble through aloud. Please read it.”

I swallowed hard, unsure what to say.

“And if you get divorced,” he said, “I hope you will consider me.”

A car door slammed from behind us, down on the street. Turning, I saw Lucian walking toward us, an angry expression on his face.