Chapter 701 Painful Memories
"She cares about me?" Alexander laughed, but it was a bitter, hollow sound.
'She cares about William. When it came down to it, she chose him. Does she really care about me?'
'What a joke.'
The thought made him feel sick.
Mia watched Alexander's unsettling laughter and felt a knot of worry tighten in her chest. "What happened? If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know?"
"You don't need to know. No one does."
Alexander clammed up.
'I don't want Ava to get blamed,' he thought. 'I can pretend it never happened.'
'I don't want Ava to be a disappointment to the Mitchell family.'
'She's like an angel to them.'
'Her parents died because of the Mitchell family.'
He couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Seeing Alexander's silence, Mia knew he wouldn't spill the truth.
"Ava's coming to see you today," Mia said. "She told me last night, and I gave her the address."
Alexander's fists clenched. "I want to transfer to another hospital."
"Alexander," Mia said, her voice rising with anxiety, "why are you avoiding her? Even if there are issues, you need to talk. What's the point of running away?"
"Leave. I want to be alone."
Alexander didn't want to say more. 'They won't understand.'
'I can't tell the truth, so they'll never get it.'
'I have two choices: let them know Ava abandoned me, or say nothing and seem cold and indifferent.'
'And I'd choose the latter without hesitation.'
'I've always been blamed, and I don't mind continuing that way.'
'But Ava is different. In the Mitchell family, she's loved by everyone, like a pure gardenia, untouched by any filth. And I won't let her be touched by filth.'
Mia stood up. "Fine, I'll go, but don't transfer hospitals. Ava's coming today, and I promise, she has something important to tell you."
'Alexander would soon find out he's going to be a father.'
'This needed to come from Ava, not me or anyone else,' Mia thought.
Alexander forced a wry smile, thinking, 'What else can she say? That she loves William deeply?'
Before leaving, Mia finished peeling an apple and cut it into pieces, placing them on a plate.
She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"Alexander, call your grandma. We've told her you're on a business trip abroad, but you need to contact her. If you don't, she'll get suspicious."
"Alright, I'm leaving. If you change your mind or want to talk, call me."
With that, Mia left the hospital room.
Alexander lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his mind filling with painful memories.
He closed his eyes, reliving each painful moment, each detail, each frame.
He felt trapped in the pain of Ava abandoning him. He wanted to let go, but no matter how hard he tried, the memories kept replaying.
After a long time, he opened his eyes, enduring the pain in his chest, struggling to sit up, and reached for the phone beside him.
After hesitating, he dialed a number.
The call connected. "Hello."
"Grandma, it's me," Alexander said hoarsely.
"Alexander, aren't you abroad?"
Hearing Scarlett say this, Alexander realized the landline showed a local number.
"Grandma, I just got back. As soon as I returned, I wanted to call and check on you."
