Chapter 16 The Empty Bed
Alexander's POV:
Alexander stirred awake in the guest room chair, his neck stiff from the awkward position. The early morning light filtered through the curtains. He checked his watch: 5:17 AM. He'd fallen asleep in the chair beside Sophia's bed.
"Shit," he muttered, rubbing his face.
He hurried upstairs to the master bedroom. But the bed was empty, the sheets cold and undisturbed. His heart rate quickened.
"Emma?" he called out, his voice echoing through the penthouse.
He checked the bathroom. Empty. The home gym. Empty. The pool, the kitchen, the garden—all empty. With each room, his movements became more frantic, his calls louder.
Back in the kitchen, something on the dining table caught his eye—a yellow Post-it note in Emma's distinctive handwriting:
"Alexander, I don't want to put you in an impossible position. I don't want you to live with regret and guilt over her. While our feelings aren't too deep yet, let's end this hasty marriage now. I'm stepping aside so you can return to Sophia."
Beside the note lay divorce papers, already signed by Emma. The terms were simple—she wanted nothing from him. His black card sat next to the documents, abandoned.
"Fuck!" Alexander slammed his fist on the marble countertop, then grabbed his phone and dialed Emma's number. Straight to voicemail. He tried again. And again.
With shaking hands, he called Bill.
"Sir? Is everything okay?" Bill's voice was alert despite the early hour.
"Emma's gone." Alexander's voice was tight with tension. "I need you to find her. Now."
"Gone? What do you mean gone, sir?"
"She left, Bill. I need every available resource looking for her. Check airports, train stations, bus terminals, the harbor—everywhere. I want the security footage from our building. And get me her phone records."
"Right away, sir. I'll assemble a team immediately."
Alexander ended the call and slumped against the counter, staring at the divorce papers. The signature at the bottom—Emma North, not Emma Sterling—felt like a knife twisting in his gut.
Two days later, Alexander stood in his living room, staring at the New York skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Bill entered, his expression grim.
"Any news?" Alexander asked, though he already knew the answer.
"No, sir. We've checked all transportation hubs, hotels, her known associates. Nothing. And there's another issue—the building's security cameras were disabled for exactly two hours during the timeframe when Mrs. Sterling left."
Alexander's jaw tightened. "She used her hacking skills to cover her tracks."
"It appears so, sir."
Alexander dismissed Bill with a nod and reached for the whiskey decanter on the side table. He didn't bother with a glass.
"Jesus Christ," Jackson's voice broke the silence as he entered the penthouse with Megan. They found Alexander sitting on the living room floor, back against the sofa, a half-empty bottle of whiskey beside him.
"What the hell happened?" Jackson demanded, crouching beside him. "Where's Emma?"
Alexander took another swig from the bottle. "Gone."
"Gone where?" Nick asked, his usual playful demeanor replaced with concern.
"If I knew that," Alexander said flatly, "she wouldn't be gone."
Jackson grabbed the bottle from Alexander's hand. "What happened between you two?"
Alexander stared at the empty space where the bottle had been. "Sophia's back in America."
Megan, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward. "Sophia's back? And let me guess—you spent the night comforting her instead of being with your wife?"
Alexander didn't answer.
"So what are you planning to do?" Megan pressed. "Divorce Emma and get back with Sophia?"
"No." The word came out sharper than Alexander intended. "Emma is the only Mrs. Sterling. No one can take her place."
"But," Megan continued, her voice softer now, "Emma is just Mrs. Sterling, right? Richard North's granddaughter, with money, influence, and status. All very convenient."
Alexander looked up, his eyes narrowing.
"What Emma needs to know," Megan said, "is whether her place in your heart is just as secure as her place in your life."
Alexander's expression shifted as the realization hit him. "You know where she is."
Megan didn't confirm or deny it. "She's definitely not in New York anymore."
"Tell me where she is, Megan."
"Call off your search teams. You won't find her, even if you turn New York upside down."
"Megan—"
"Uncle, listen to me. Until you resolve things with Sophia, finding Emma won't solve anything."
"She's in Italy, isn't she?" Jackson said.
Megan gave Jackson a warning look. "Think about it, Uncle. Don't disturb Emma until you've dealt with Sophia properly."
Alexander stood at the guest room door, watching Sophia doing stretches by the window. Sunlight bathed her profile, reminding him of mornings in Italy when he'd work in his study while she practiced ballet in the living room.
She spotted him and rushed over, throwing her arms around him. "Alex! I missed you."
Alexander gently disengaged from her embrace. "I've arranged for a team of specialists to come to New York for a consultation about your condition."
Sophia's face lit up. "You still care about me."
"Sophia," Alexander chose his words carefully, "I need to understand why you left five years ago."
She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "One day after work, I had a seizure on the street. Someone found me and took me to the hospital, where they discovered the tumor. With my poor diet and high stress, it triggered epilepsy. I heard about a doctor in Paris who could help, so I went to try. I didn't tell you because... I didn't know if I would survive. I couldn't bear to add to your burdens when you were already facing so many company crises."
She looked up at him, eyes glistening. "Can we start over, Alex? I made a terrible mistake leaving you. I can't live without you."
"Sophia, I'm married."
"Marriage can be ended," she said quickly. "I can compensate her. Whatever she wants, I'll give it to her, if you'll just come back to me."
Alexander's expression hardened. "Alexander Sterling belongs to Emma now. For life."
"But you still have feelings for me. I can see it in your eyes."
"Yes," he admitted, "you'll always have a place in my memories. But my heart now belongs to Emma."
Tears streamed down Sophia's face. "If I had come back one month earlier, would you have married me instead?"
"There are no 'what ifs,' Sophia."
She clutched his arm, sobbing. "Why are you being so cruel? My world can't exist without you. If I had known you'd be this unforgiving, I never would have left. I didn't abandon you on purpose!"
"Sophia, calm down," Alexander said firmly. "The specialist team will be here tomorrow. You'll get better. Don't cry."
"What's the point of living if you don't want me?" she wailed.
Alexander sighed. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
In the airport VIP lounge, Alexander checked his watch impatiently. His phone rang—Jackson.
"Sophia checked herself out of the hospital," Jackson reported. "She's gone back to the Rossi family."
Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. "Send the specialist team to the Rossi residence. If they refuse treatment, that's their choice."
"Got it," Jackson replied. "So... Italy?"
Alexander stared at his boarding pass. "I'm going to find my wife."
