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  “I guess so,” Alice sighed as she wiped her tears away once more.

  “So what is your young man’s name?” Sophia asked as Alice finally calmed down.

  “Parker,” Alice replied as Parker’s face filled her mind. “He is a sweet guy, just a little lost.”

  “And are you sure that you two can’t work this out?” Sophia asked.

  “We are just too different, Gram,” Alice replied honestly. “He is rich and successful, and I… I am just me.”

  “You are so much more than that,” Sophia said as she took her granddaughter’s face in her hands and looked into her eyes. “The value of a person isn’t the size of their bank balance, it’s the size of their heart, and that makes you the richest person I know. You have a beautiful soul, Alice, and your heart is filled with so much kindness and love. If this boy, this Parker doesn’t see that, then he isn’t worthy of you.”

  “Thanks, Gram,” Alice replied as she hugged her grandmother tightly. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Sweetheart,” Sophia replied.

  It was almost three o’clock before Alice said her goodbyes to her grandmother. She had decided that it was for the best that she didn’t mention anything about the money. It was easier to let her grandmother believe she had a relationship with Parker that just didn’t work out.

  Just as she left the nursing home, it started to rain lightly. When Alice looked up at the sky, she sighed when she saw the dark clouds rolling in. She quickly zipped up her summer jacket and pulled up her hood, then hurried along the street.

  As she walked back towards Jenny’s apartment, her mind was full of Parker and the mess they had created. Alice wished that things could have ended differently. She wished that she and Parker could have found a way to make it work, but it was too late now. She had told him to leave her alone, and he had. Now she needed to move on and let it go.

  “Alice,” a voice called out suddenly from behind her, startling her and pulling her from her thoughts. Alice turned to see who was calling her, but as she did, a sudden flash of a camera almost blinded her.

  Before Alice could regain her focus, there was another bright flash in her eyes, as a wave of panic washed over her.

  “Alice, is it true that you’ve left Parker already?” The voice behind the lens called out, as he snapped once again. “Is it true he is still seeing other women?”

  Alice’s heart raced in her chest as she turned and tried to get away from the photographer as fast as she could, but he was not giving up that easy.

  “Come on, Alice,” he called as he continued to follow her and photograph her. “We just want to hear your side of the story.”

  “Leave me alone,” she cried out as she tried to cover her face. Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder rumbled overhead, and the rain came down heavier.

  “Alice,” the photographer called out. “Are you going to take half of Parker’s fortune?”

  Alice spun around, having heard enough, but as she did another flash blinded her, and she lost her footing, sending her crashing to the ground, as her head hit the sidewalk with a bang, and then there was nothing but blackness.

  “Alice,” a voice crashed into the darkness, pulling her back from where ever she was. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted with a smile from a man in his thirties, wearing scrubs and shining a light into her eyes. “Hey, welcome back.”

  “Where am I?” She asked as she instantly tried to sit up, but the room spun, and she quickly lay back down.

  “You’re in the emergency room. My name is Doctor Green; I need you to relax,” he said and smiled once more. “You’ve had quite a bump to the head, but you’re going to be just fine.”

  “What happened?” She asked as she looked up at the doctor.

  “I was hoping you could tell me,” the doctor said. “The lady that called for the ambulance said that there was some guy chasing you with a camera and that you were trying to get away, but you slipped and hit the ground.”

  Alice reached up and went to touch her forehead.

  “It probably feels worse than it is,” the doctor said as he continued to check her eyes. “You needed a couple of stitches, but the cut was right on the hair line, so you won’t even notice the scar.”

  “I got stitches!” Alice said as she looked at the doctor.

  “Four,” the doctor replied. “And you have a mild concussion, but you’re going to be fine.”

  “Okay,” Alice said not really sure she believed him because her head felt like it was going to explode.

  “You are going to have a headache for a couple of days,” the doctor continued. “But I don’t see any reason your husband can’t take you home.”

  “My husband?” Alice asked, surprised by the doctor’s remark.

  “Yes,” the doctor replied. “He got here a little while ago; he just stepped outside to make a call.”

  As if on cue, the door to the room opened, and Parker appeared in the doorway.

  “Hey, you’re awake,” Parker said with a relieved smile, as he made his way towards the bed. Alice could see he was unsure of how she would react to him being there.

  “I will leave you two alone,” Doctor Green said as he picked up Alice’s chart and walked out of the room. “I will be right back with your discharge papers.”

  “Why are you here?” Alice asked once they were alone, feeling completely stunned to see him standing there next to her bed. Once again, she went to sit up properly, but she was still feeling a little woozy.

  “Well, I’m still down as your next of kin,” Parker explained as he took the seat next to Alice’s bed and watched her closely. “When they called me, and told me you’d been brought in, I had to come down to make sure you were okay.”

  “I see,” Alice replied still stunned that he was sitting there next to her.

  “Alice, I’m so sorry that this has happened to you,” Parker said as suddenly his whole expression changed. “This is all my fault. I should have never dragged you into my problems…”

  “This was not your fault,” Alice insisted, stopping him mid-sentence. “It was that asshole’s fault. He just came out of nowhere, shoving his stupid camera in my face…”

  “He will never come near you again,” Parker replied adamantly. “I have spoken to my attorney, and this will never happen again.”

  “Thank you for that,” Alice replied with a smile. Just then the doctor returned with her discharge papers.

  “Okay, Alice,” The doctor said as he walked towards her bed. “I have some information for you regarding head injuries. What you should and shouldn’t do, and what to watch out for. I would prefer to keep you here overnight, but your husband has assured me that you won’t be left alone, so I suppose we can let you go home.”

  Alice looked at Parker in surprise, and his face flushed a little as he gave her a quick glance.

  “If you have any concerns at all,” the doctor continued, turning his attention to Parker. “Give us a call here, anytime.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Parker replied, and he stood up and shook the doctor’s hand.

  “You will need to come back in five days to have your stitches taken out,” Doctor Green said as he turned back to Alice. “I have already made you an appointment.”

  “Thank you,” Alice said, giving the doctor a grateful smile.

  When the doctor left the room, neither Alice nor Parker spoke for a moment. Alice knew Parker was waiting for her to speak first. She just didn’t know where to start.

  “Why did you tell him I wouldn’t be left alone?” She asked finally, as she watched him closely.

  “Because you won’t be,” Parker replied, as he slipped his hands into his pockets and watched Alice nervously. “And you won’t be going back to Jenny’s either.”

  “Says who?” Alice exclaimed with a nervous laugh.

  “Says me,” Parker replied as he pulled his hands from his pockets and walked towards her. “You were hurt today because of me. Jenny’s apartment i
s not safe. I can’t protect you there. But I can protect you in our home.”

  “Your home,” Alice corrected him instantly.

  “I don’t want to fight about this, Alice,” Parker sighed. “Like it or not, you are still my wife, and it’s my job to keep you safe.”

  Alice’s mind raced with so many responses, but she couldn’t seem to find the right words at that exact moment.

  “Please,” Parker said as he sat down on the edge of her bed. “Give me another chance to get this right. I promise, there will be no more women turning up at the apartment. There will be no more stories in the newspaper. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, and when everything settles down, I will let you go and I will never bother you again.”

  Alice stared at Parker for a moment. She knew the right thing to do was to say no, then get away from Parker O’Neill as fast as she could; but something stopped her. There was something in his eyes that told Alice he meant what he had said.

  “I will give you one more chance,” Alice sighed, knowing she was probably making the biggest mistake of her life. She had no idea why she was agreeing to this, but she was.

  “You won’t regret it,” Parker replied and rewarded her with the most beautiful smile Alice had ever seen.

  I hope not, she thought to herself. I really hope not.

  Chapter 13

  Parker

  Parker glanced nervously at Alice as they rode up in the elevator together, and he felt confused. He was feeling so many emotions at once; his head was spinning.

  He was beyond angry that this could have happened to Alice. Angry with the scumbag that did this to her, but also angry with himself for putting her in this position in the first place. He was sad that she was hurt and concerned that bringing her back to his place was the wrong thing to do. But as he watched her and saw how pale she was, he was overwhelmed with the need to protect her.

  This feeling seemed strange to Parker. In the past, the only one he ever really felt like this for was Nicole, his little sister. From the moment she was born, he felt this immediate feeling that he would protect her at any cost.

  Now, as he looked at Alice, he felt exactly the same.

  When he got the call from a nurse in the emergency room that Alice had been hurt, he could barely breathe. Without even thinking if she would actually want him there, he headed straight to the emergency room, desperate to see her and make sure she was okay.

  When she woke and saw him there, he was sure she was going to tell him to go to hell, but she hadn’t. If anything, she seemed relieved somehow, but Parker was still unsure.

  Still, they were now standing side by side on the elevator, headed back up to his penthouse, and Parker was surprised how happy this made him feel.

  “I asked Maria to stay behind today,” Parker said as the elevator came to a stop and the door slid open. “I thought you would need some help, and I thought you might be more comfortable with her.”

  “Thank you,” Alice said as she gave him a faded smile. “But there is no need. I will be fine…”

  “I want to make sure you’re okay,” Parker insisted as he stopped at the door, and looked at Alice. “Please don’t fight me on this. It’s my fault you’re hurt, and I need to make it right.”

  Alice looked at him for a moment, and Parker knew she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she just smiled.

  “Thank you,” she said and smiled again.

  Suddenly she leaned against the wall as she tried to steady her balance.

  “Alice!” Parker exclaimed as he dropped the bag he was carrying belong to her and took hold of her. “What is it, what’s wrong?”

  “I just feel a little dizzy,” Alice replied as she closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.

  Without hesitating, Parker quickly scooped her up in his arms, just as the door to his apartment opened.

  “Mr. O’Neill!” Maria exclaimed as she opened the door. “What’s happened?”

  “Alice is dizzy,” Parker replied as he carried her into the apartment and made his way straight down to his bedroom, followed closely by Maria. “I need you to call Doctor Lewis, tell him I need him here immediately.”

  “There’s no need,” Alice insisted as he set her down carefully on the bed. “I’ll be okay.”

  “He is coming,” Parker replied as he removed her shoes, then pulled the blanket from the end of the bed, and covered Alice. “I don’t want any arguments.”

  “But…” Alice began to protest but stopped. Parker couldn’t help but smile to himself. Over the last two weeks, as he had gotten to know Alice better, the one thing that surprised him was just how strong and independent she was. He knew it was hard for her to allow him to care for her, and he knew that she was biting her tongue not to fight with him about this.

  “Thank you,” he said as he looked down at her. “I know the doctor in the emergency room said it was normal for you to feel a little dizzy, and that you would have a headache for a couple of days, but I just want to be sure that you’re okay.”

  “Okay,” she smiled up at him.

  “I will leave you to get some rest,” Parker said as he slowly moved back towards the door. He stopped when he reached the door and stared at Alice for a moment before he spoke. “Alice, I give you my word, I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe from here on in. This will never happen again.”

  “I know,” Alice replied and rewarded Parker with another smile.

  He stared at her for a moment, then smiled too before he turned and headed out of his room, closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment and stared at the door as he realised what he had just done. Parker had no idea why he had taken her to his room; he had done it without thinking. He was surprised she hadn’t argued with him about it, but she hadn’t said a word.

  He smiled again as he thought of how he had finally gotten her to let him help her. She was so stubborn and strong willed, but she had allowed him to take care of her. Parker had no idea why, but this made him feel happy.

  Now he just needed to keep her safe. He headed down to his office to call his lawyer once more. He needed to know that the scum that got her hurt would never be allowed to hurt her again.

  Parker paced up and down the hallway outside his bedroom as he waited for the doctor to finished checking Alice over. He had no idea why, but a sick feeling had settled in his stomach. He just wanted to hear that she was okay.

  Finally, the door opened, and Doctor Lewis stepped out into the hallway.

  “How is she?” Parker asked the moment the doctor had the door closed.

  “She took quite a bump to the head,” he sighed as he looked at Parker. “Personally, I think a night in the hospital would have been the safer option, but she is okay. She needs peace and quiet, and plenty of rest for the next couple of days.”

  “But she will be okay?” Parker asked, needing to hear the words again.

  “Yes,” the doctor nodded and smiled. “I will come back tomorrow and check on her again.”

  “Thank you, Doc,” Parker said with a sigh of relief as he shook the doctor’s hand.

  “If you need me before that,” the doctor said as he began towards the door. “You have my number.”

  “Thank you,” Parker said once more as he walked with the doctor to the door.

  When the doctor was gone, Parker made his way back along the hallway to his bedroom. He felt better that the doctor had assured him that Alice was going to be okay. Still, he wanted to see her and check for himself.

  When he reached his room, he tapped softly on the door, before he slowly opened it.

  “Hi,” he said as he popped his head around the door and smiled at her warmly.

  “Hey,” Alice replied as she shoved herself up in the bed.

  “How are you feeling?” Parker asked as he stepped nervously into the room.

  “Tired,” Alice yawned. “The doctor gave me a shot for the pain. He said it might make me sleepy.”

  “The
n you should try and get some rest,” Parker said as he watched her closely. “I will be about if you need anything at all.”

  “I should go back to my own room,” Alice said as she pushed back the bedclothes and went to climb from the bed. Before she could, Parker quickly closed the distance between him and the bed and stopped her.

  “You’re going nowhere,” Parker insisted, as he pulled the covers back over her. “I don’t want you getting up and getting dizzy again. Please, just rest.”

  “But this is your bed…” Alice reasoned.

  “And it’s just for a night or two until you’re feeling better,” Parker said with another smile. “Now, get some rest. I will check back on you in a little while.”

  “Okay,” Alice nodded and smiled back at Parker. She seemed unsure, but she didn’t argue with him.

  Parker headed for the door and left Alice to get some sleep.

  As he made his way back down to his office, the doorbell sounded, and Parker sighed. He hurried to the door and opened it before the bell sounded again.

  “Parker,” Robert said the moment Parker opened the door.

  “Dad,” Parker said, surprised to see his father standing there. “What are you doing here?”

  “I heard about what happened to your bride today,” Robert said as he walked into the hallway.

  “Alice,” Parker instantly corrected him. “Her name is Alice. And how the hell did you hear what happened to her.”

  “Does it matter?” Robert asked giving Parker a strange look. “Is she okay?”

  “No,” Parker sighed as he led his father through to the living room and they both took a seat. “She is badly shaken up. She had to have stitches…”

  He stopped when Maria walked into the room and greeted his father with a warm smile.

  “Mr. O’Neill,” Maria said as she stopped at the door. “How lovely to see you again.”