Chapter 484 When Did I Get Married
7 PM.
Outside the ICU.
"Victoria can't just keep this vigil without eating or drinking," Gideon said, anxiously running his fingers through his hair as he watched her through the window. "If Alexander wakes up and finds her collapsed from exhaustion, he'll be devastated."
He had kept Alexander's accident under wraps. Nathan, Preston, and Saskia still knew nothing. Thankfully, Dylan was keeping the company afloat.
Caleb and Garrett had received Grant's call immediately after Alexander's accident and had rushed overnight to the hospital, arriving just moments ago.
"Owen, what are his chances?" Garrett asked gravely, his brow furrowed as he observed Alexander through the glass.
For the first time, Owen lacked confidence in his medical expertise. The explosion had been catastrophic—had Alexander jumped into the sea a second later, he likely wouldn't have survived at all. Though he'd anticipated the blast and escaped the flames by diving underwater, the concussive force was unavoidable. Debris from the yacht had created a disaster zone, and even submerged, Alexander couldn't escape the flying shrapnel.
The surgery had been successful, but brain injuries were unpredictable.
"I honestly don't know," Owen replied heavily. "It depends on whether he has something—or someone—to fight for."
They'd known Alexander long enough to understand he wasn't afraid of death. He'd meticulously arranged everything for the Howard family's future. But Victoria was different. Since she'd entered his life, he'd changed. Before her, nothing and no one could affect him. Now, everything had shifted.
"Maybe Victoria should try saying something provocative," Gideon suggested. "Tell him she's leaving him for another man—something to spark a reaction."
Owen gave him a sidelong glance. "You Howards really are cut from the same cloth."
Earlier, while examining Alexander, he'd overheard Victoria's desperate pleas. He hadn't stopped her. Though comatose, Alexander's brain remained conscious on some level. He could hear external voices even if he couldn't respond. And if—when—he woke, he would remember everything.
By 11 PM, with Alexander approaching eighteen hours of unconsciousness and showing no signs of waking, Victoria's briefly calmed nerves began to fray again.
"Alexander, have you really decided to leave me?" she whispered, biting her lip as tears welled up. "If you don't wake up, I swear I'll divorce you and marry someone else. I'll be done with you."
She leaned against his bed, watching him desperately as tears clouded her vision and a lump formed in her throat.
"After the divorce, I'll not only marry another man, I'll have his children. You'll have nothing. I mean it, Alexander. You know how stubborn I am. I'm giving you a chance, but you're throwing it away," she continued.
Her tearful monologue continued until suddenly, the hand she was holding tightened around hers.
She froze for several seconds, watching as Alexander's grip strengthened, as if afraid she might vanish. She bolted upright to see his eyes slowly opening.
In that moment, her eyes flooded with tears that fell like pearls down her cheeks. She pressed the call button by the bed.
Within moments, Owen rushed in with several doctors and nurses.
Twenty minutes later, in the VIP room.
"Thank God," Gideon exclaimed, nearly ready to visit a chapel in gratitude. "Alexander, you lucky bastard. You're awake—that's all that matters."
Everyone relaxed slightly, except Victoria, who sat silently watching as nurses changed Alexander's dressings.
Owen squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. Now that he's awake, the worst is behind us. He just needs time to recover."
After the nurses left, only the close circle remained.
Gideon chattered away like an excited sparrow. "Alexander, you should have seen your wife. When you were brought in covered in blood and unconscious, she was terrified. She's been by your side constantly—from outside the operating room to the ICU—not eating, drinking, or sleeping until you woke up. Your wife was..."
"Since when do I have a wife?" Alexander interrupted, his voice weak but clear.
Gideon was stunned.
The others raised their eyebrows in confusion, looking from Alexander to Owen with expressions that clearly asked, "What's happening? Has he lost his memory?"
Victoria, who had just risen to pour Alexander water, froze. She turned toward her pale, weakened husband who, despite his condition, maintained his aristocratic bearing.
She approached him, swallowing nervously. "You... you don't remember me?"
Alexander lowered his eyes slightly before meeting her gaze with a distant look.
Victoria's heart clenched. Since waking, he hadn't spared her a single glance, except for that initial tight grip on her hand.
She suddenly didn't know how to respond. He was awake, but had forgotten only her. She stood there watching him in silence as he said nothing..
"He remembers everyone except Victoria? Does that seem likely to you?" Caleb said exasperatedly.
Though he couldn't fathom Alexander's intentions, he just hoped his friend wouldn't end up losing his wife in the process.
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