"Two weeks."
"Can you hear me, Mr. Vale?" one of the board members snapped, leaning forward with irritation written all over his face. "Two weeks. That's all we're giving you."
Alexander slowly leaned back in his chair.
"And if I don't?" he asked.
Another board member adjusted his glasses. "Then we vote for an acting CEO."
"And trust me," the man added, "we already have a candidate in mind."
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"You think you can replace me?" he asked.
"It's not about replacing you," another voice cut in calmly. "It's about saving the company."
"You've already cost us a billion-dollar deal," Richard Hale spoke up. "And we can't afford more losses because of… personal issues."
"If you are married," he added, "then prove it."
Alexander felt it in his chest as her face flashed in his mind.
"I'm your wife."
He tried to focus on what was happening
"And if you're not,"Mr. Richard continued , "then get married."
"Two weeks, Alexander. That's all you've got." And the meeting ended just like that.
As Alexander stepped out of the boardroom, Victor was already waiting because he left earlier.
"Rough meeting?" Victor asked.
Alexander scoffed. "You were in there. Don't act like you don't know."
Victor chuckled softly, walking beside him. "They're just scared. The company is unstable right now."
Alexander stopped walking.
"And whose fault is that?" he asked, turning to face him.
Victor raised his hands slightly. "Relax. I'm on your side."
Alexander stared at him for a second longer… then looked away.
"I don't know what to do," he admitted quietly.
"Then don't rush," Victor said smoothly. "Focus on your health first. The company isn't going anywhere."
Alexander frowned.
"They can't take it from you," Victor continued. "It's yours. Your father built it."
Later that evening…
Victor stood outside the building, his phone pressed to his ear.
"He's starting to trust me," Victor said quietly.
"Good," the voice on the other end replied.
Victor smirked. "Now is the time," he continued. "Start pushing the board. Make them see me as the best option."
"Yes," Victor added. "If he doesn't fix this marriage issue, they'll have no choice."
He ended the call and his smile widened.
"Game on."
Meanwhile…
Alexander sat alone in his penthouse, staring at the portraits.
Elara. Her name kept coming back. Her face. Her voice. Everything.
"What if she's telling the truth?" he muttered.
He sat up suddenly.
"No… this doesn't make sense."
But still… What if?
He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello? Dr Ethan."
"This is Alexander Vale," he said quickly. "I need to ask you something."
"Of course."
Alexander hesitated for a second. Then…
"Do I have… amnesia?"
Dr. Ethan sighed softly. "Yes. You do."
Alexander's grip tightened on the phone.
"Selective amnesia," Dr Ethan continued. "You remember some things, but not everything."
Alexander swallowed.
"And you're sure?"
"Yes."
The call went quiet for a while.
"Can you come over?" Alexander asked suddenly.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll be there."
An hour later…
The doctor sat across from Alexander, calmly observing him.
"You look tense," Dr Ethan noted.
"I am," Alexander replied bluntly.
"Understandable."
Alexander leaned forward slightly. "How bad is it?"
The doctor folded his hands. "It's not as bad as you think."
Alexander exhaled slowly.
"How do I fix it?"
"Time," the doctor said.
Alexander frowned. "That's it?"
"And treatment."
He leaned back. "You've been avoiding your nurse."
Alexander looked away.
"And skipping your medication."
"That won't help," the doctor added.
Alexander ran a hand through his hair. "How long will it take?"
The doctor hesitated.
"It varies."
"How long?" Alexander pressed.
"A few weeks… months…"
He paused.
"…or even years."
Alexander froze.
"Years?" he repeated.
Dr Ethan nodded. "It depends on your body, your mind… and your willingness to cooperate."
Alexander stood up abruptly.
"I don't have years," Alexander said, his voice low but firm. "I don't even have months."
The doctor sighed. "Then start taking your treatment seriously."
Alexander didn't respond.
The doctor stood up. "I'll send the nurse again tomorrow."
He paused at the door.
"Don't refuse her this time."
Alexander stood there for a long time after Dr Ethan left.
Years? His father's company is at stake and the pressure from the board keeps increasing daily
"This is crazy…"
His mind drifted back to Elara again.
"I'm your wife."
He clenched his jaw.
"Should I just… play along?"
The thought came suddenly.
If she's lying…i could expose her but it if she's telling the truth? Then it solves his problem. Either way… He wins. So he picked up his phone again, as he was about to dial her number, the door opened and Victor walked in casually.
"I saw the doctor leaving," he said. "Everything okay?"
Alexander didn't respond immediately.
His mind was still somewhere else.
"Alexander?" Victor called again.
"Yeah," he muttered finally. "Just… checking something."
Victor studied him but said nothing.
"Get some rest," Victor added. "You look stressed."
Alexander nodded absentmindedly. And Victor turned to leave but he felt it inside him that something was off. It felt like Alexander was hiding something from him.
In the Moore's house, Elara sat on her bed, staring at her phone and Maya walked in, holding two plates of food.
"Eat," she said, placing one in front of her.
Elara didn't move.
"You can't starve yourself because of one man," Maya added.
Elara let out a small laugh.
"One man?"
She shook her head.
"He's not just one man."
Maya softened.
"I know."
Elara picked at her food.
"I just… don't understand anything anymore."
Maya sat beside her.
"You don't have to," she said gently. "Just don't give up."
Elara nodded slowly and suddenly her phone vibrated. She picked up frowning. At the Vale's mansion Alexander's phone vibrated too.
He frowned, unlocking it.
Both of them read the message at the same time.
"Your marriage certificate is ready. Kindly visit the registry for collection."