Ch. 181..185: OMG My Crippled Husband is a Hot Powerful CEO Chapter 181-185

Chapter 181: Chapter 181 – I want you to trust me until...

I was in high school at the time and used to work part-time jobs. One day, I got home late and couldn’t wake up early the next day," Joanna began her story.

"I decided to take a shortcut, which my mom usually didn’t allow because she said only rich people used that route."

"I ran as fast as I could, fearing someone might stop me and force me to take the normal way when I heard a girl screaming. I looked around and saw a playhouse, so I thought the sound was coming from there and jumped the fence."

"Honestly, I thought I might get arrested for trespassing, but when I reached the playhouse, I heard the scream louder, coming from a mansion nearby."

"I was terrified when I saw smoke coming out, and without thinking, I ran in. By some miracle, I reached the girl, but she was scared, and so was I. I was afraid of getting arrested but also afraid the girl would get burned."

"The path I used was already on fire, so there was nowhere else to go," she said, tears welling up in her eyes but for some reason, she didn’t stop so Alex didn’t notice how emotional she had gotten.

"The girl was so beautiful, reminding me of my sister Nancy, who was killed by Salvador’s men a few months ago. I couldn’t help her," Joanna sobbed.

Alex comforted her, realizing the depth of her pain. He also knew that sooner or later, he had to arrange for Joanna to meet her sister, whether Nancy liked it or not.

She was alive and yet, her family was hurting and Salvador’s name was being dragged in the mud. "You can take your time and continue whenever you’re ready."

Joanna wiped a tear from her eye and continued her story. "It’s okay. Maybe sharing this will help ease my pain."

Alex sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders for support. Ever since he picked up Dion from the hospital that day and after she told him all that happened, he decided to find that brave girl who saved her but failed terribly at it.

However, as fate would have it, Fiona refused his proposal and the woman he searched for all this while stood in front of him, asking for his hand in marriage.

"I was determined to help the girl, but she kept crying. So, I sang a song to her, and she began to sing along. The heat was getting intense, and I didn’t hear any emergency sirens, so I called the emergency line and reported the situation."

"Then I noticed a window and urged her to use it as an exit, but she refused until I promised to shield her with my body.

The jump was successful, and the emergency services arrived promptly. The girl was limping after falling from the second story, which worried me.

The ambulance arrived, and I realized I was late for school, but it was worth it. She wanted me to accompany her while the firefighters were handling the fire, but I declined, promising to visit her at her house since I knew the way.

After the ambulance departed, I was suddenly stabbed in the stomach by an unknown woman who seemed to regard me as a threat and warned me to stay away from her daughter."

Alex froze as he recalled Monica leaving the city because of his mother before returning. His mother must have made out from Joanna’s resemblance to her mother that she was her rival’s daughter but stabbing the girl who saved her daughter was heartless.

How Alex wished her mother was still alive to pay for her sins. No wonder his father maltreated her. During that time, Alex walked into his father abusing his mother and he attacked his father.

As young as he was, he sent his father to his early grave through that fight but only if he had known that the evil flying around was his mother, he would never have attacked his father.

"Can you describe her?" he asked trying to find a way to wipe his guilt but Joanna’s description confirmed it.

"She had dark brown hair and gray eyes," she replied. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the hospital. I feared for the safety of the little girl with a woman like that around, but I never saw her again."

The confirmation paralyzed Alex. No wonder his brother hated him. The women who birthed them was so evil but her pretense made Alex feel their father was the bad one.

"Do you want to see her?" Alex asked, Joanna chuckled and retorted.

"What a silly question?"

Alex smiled, missing this side of her. "You are right but the question is, will you recognize her if you see her?"

Joanna nodded, certain she would. "I’m sure."

Alex removed his phone, scrolled through his album and retrieved Dion’s picture, showing it to her.

Joanna stared at the image. "This girl looks older and her hair is longer but the eyes are the same. She looks like her but can I see her?" Hope resonated in her eyes, as she stared innocently at Alex.

It made it difficult for him to believe she was the same woman who had been bold enough to demand that they make love that night.

"You will, but you have to get better first. Let me call the doctor to check on you."

Joanna capitalized on his softness and asked worriedly. "Can I see Colton too? I have to apologize to him. After his proposal, I had an argument with a girl and with fought but I don’t remember anything else."

Alex recalled Monica telling him that Joanna had lost her memory after a fight when she hit her head so it confirmed everything but the mention of Colton, arose Alex’s jealousy.

"Please Joan, there is indeed a lot you don’t remember including me but I’m your husband and I want you to trust me until you regain your memories."

Joanna did not look convinced, feeling that this man had done something to Colton. "You think Colton is bad? He’s not."

"Angel please. Think about the pregnancy," Alex was saying when Joanna interrupted.

"What did you just call me?"

Alex wondered if she remembered something but at the same time, his phone rang and seeing Aiden’s caller ID, he answered.

"Alex, Dion has refused to come with me and will not speak to you on the phone. She insists that you come."

Chapter 182: Chapter 182 - Leave My Husband?

Alex did not seem surprised by Aiden’s report. Dion was always determined whenever she wanted something, and since Alex had good news waiting for her, he wasn’t disturbed by her stubbornness.

"Thanks for trying. I will handle it myself. Let me talk to her," Alex calmly responded.

On the other side, Dion was visibly upset, not allowing Aiden to comfort her. She only allowed her old nanny to be close to her because she didn’t like the new nanny, as it was always difficult for her to warm up to new people.

"Okay," Aiden said and gave the phone to her. "Your brother wants to talk to you."

She stared at the phone, but then looked away. "No. Tell him to come over."

There was a lot she wanted to tell Alex, especially since Mabel hadn’t visited in a while. The duration Alex gave her for the divorce had elapsed, yet everything was quiet around her, with neither Mabel nor Alex making a move.

Dion was disturbed that the woman who saved her was somewhere else, while another one enjoyed what she should be enjoying.

Alex waited, but the voice that met his ear was still Aiden’s. "Alex, she won’t talk to you on the phone. Should I tell her about Joanna?" he asked, feeling helpless about the situation.

Alex thought through the question. If he allowed Aiden to inform Dion that Joanna was the woman she was claiming to have saved her, she would be even more upset, thinking Aiden and Alex were trying to force her to accept Joan as her savior.

"No. I have to do that myself." He knew that with Dion not being under the influence of what Mabel used before, she would know the moment she met Joanna that she was the one she was looking for.

Back then, she had refused to watch the wedding pictures or videos the moment she found out Alex was married.

However, Alex was determined to bring her as soon as Joanna got better, but Aiden was still concerned.

"How about I stay with her for a while?"

Alex thought about Violet but recalled her saying she was going to bring Monica with her.

"That would make me happy, and I will make sure to keep an eye on Violet for you. She said she was going to bring Monica," Alex informed him. Aiden was curious and asked,

"She called you?"

Alex chuckled, wondering what was going on in his best friend’s mind. Did he think that Alex would leave his wife and steal his best friend’s woman?

"Jealous? Did you forget it’s her best friend here?"

Aiden realized his mistake. "I’m sorry. This world of relationships is just so new to me."

Alex did not blame him. "I understand, but you have to learn to trust your partner." As soon as the call ended, his attention shifted to Joanna, but there was a faraway look on her face, showing she wasn’t paying attention to his conversation on the phone.

"Angel, are you alright?"

He realized that whenever he mentioned Angel, something would tickle in her eyes.

"Why do you call me that?" She asked with a confused expression. Alex explained,

"That’s what I call you because you saved me a lot of times, and now we are going to have a baby."

The mention of a baby made Joanna self-conscious, as she couldn’t imagine herself having gotten intimate with such a man.

He looked handsome and powerful, as if he was out of her league. "You mean, we have done it before?" She asked innocently. Alex laughed.

"You are even the one who proposed to me, but don’t worry. As soon as you are discharged, I would show you proof of everything."

Joanna’s cheeks were stained by Alex’s words, wondering how in the world she had approached and proposed to such a man. Alex added, "I used to be a cripple."

She froze, and as she began to imagine him as a cripple, strange familiar images began to form in her mind, lacking clarity.

"You? A cripple?"

"I faked it, but you loved me through it, Angel. That’s why I say that you saved me. I know how undeserving of you I am, but I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world."

The more Joanna thought about his words, the greater her confusion, as she couldn’t pin together how she won the love of such a great man.

A knock was heard, followed by the door being pushed forward, and the excitement on Joanna’s face was evident.

"Mom!" She echoed at the sight of Monica, who rushed over and embraced her.

"I’m so glad you are fine, Joan. Why did you have to leave your husband?" Monica cried, and Violet stared helplessly at Alex.

"I’m sorry. I explained the situation to her and didn’t know she would say it so directly."

Alex sighed and couldn’t blame her. "It’s alright. She’ll still know about it after regaining her memory, so don’t worry yourself about it."

"Leave my husband? What are you talking about?" Joanna asked after Monica pulled away, adding, "Isn’t Colton the one I was supposed to marry?"

Monica realized the severity of the problem, and having begun her treatment again herself, she was getting better.

"You lost contact with Colton when we came here, and seven months ago, you married Alex."

The sincerity in her mother’s eyes left no doubt in her mind. "I hope you remember everything soon. You two were a very beautiful couple, and everyone envied you. A lot of people tried to tear you apart, but it was just impossible," Monica narrated, and Joanna was wide-eyed.

The turn of events caused Alex to send a text message to Dario. ’End Colton now.’

He wanted to avoid a situation where Colton might escape to cause them trouble.

There was a response after a few seconds. ’I was just about to inform you that he passed away in his sleep. Perhaps his sister’s death must have caused a cardiac arrest we didn’t know of.’

Satisfied with the news, Alex texted back. ’Good. Now, focus on looking for Logan.’

’On it,’ Dario responded.

"And who is she?" Joanna pointed at Violet. The fact that she could remember her mother caused her to believe everything the latter said.

"That is your best friend, Violet. You two were inseparable, and she was with you before the accident that caused the memory loss."

Joanna could not remember anymore but felt exhausted. "I should sleep."

Nobody stopped her, and Alex stared at Monica. "You look better. I hope you have been taking your medications on time."

Monica pinched him playfully on the cheek and replied. "How would I not take my medications when you’ve paid enough people to ensure it?"

The three of them laughed as Alex recalled Dion and informed Violet. "Aiden is taking care of my sister, so I want you to move in with us until he returns."

Violet smiled. "Sure, but I miss my family, so I’ll go and say hi. Also, I would return to the company."

Her mention of her family’s business reminded Alex of something important. "I was thinking of a partnership between your company and that of the Kings. You know Joanna’s company is already a subsidiary of ours because she’s my wife, so we shall all be under the same umbrella."

As Violet listened to his words, it felt like a dream. Their company was doing well, but partnering with the Kings would give them a boost that could increase their profit by three times.

If her father heard this, he might just die of excitement. "Are you sure about this?" She asked with wide eyes, and Alex smiled at her. "I don’t find anyone as worthy as one who would leave behind everything just to be with my wife."

Violet was so emotional that she opened her arms to embrace him but paused midway. "Sorry, I got carried away, but thanks a lot."

Alex chuckled and embraced her. "Come here, you deserve it, and Aiden is so lucky to have you."

Pulling away, Violet wiped a tear from the corner of her eyes. "I’m gonna call my dad, but you should be ready to hear from him. He never stops talking when excited."

"Trust me, I can handle it."

Ike drove Monica to her home later, but Violet stayed behind after sending the news to her family.

Her father, who used to complain about her behavior, now labeled her as the best child of the family.

Her brother, Travis, was so proud of her and so happy with the new partnership, but as for their mother, her tears were uncontrollable when she spoke on the phone to Alex.

Days turned to weeks before Joanna was discharged from the hospital with painkillers for the surgical wounds, but she was sure she wouldn’t need them because of how she was feeling.

Reaching home with Violet and Alex, an image dropped in her mind, and her question blew Alex and Violet’s minds.

 

Chapter 183: Chapter 183 – I am Salvatore Black

"Where is Grandpa? It’s as if I’ve been here before and he was right here," Joanna said, pointing at the sofa on which Grandpa sat with Agnes on the day they arrived from their honeymoon.

"You remember that?" Alex was thrilled, gently massaging her shoulders. He was hopeful for her to remember something but not such keen details and that was a massive improvement.

However, he still wondered how she could not remember him as her husband. Joanna felt a slight headache as she took in the appearance of the mansion.

Alex had pre-informed Betty not to change anything in the house, so everything was pretty much the same as it was when Joanna left.

"Yes I remember, so where is Grandpa?" She asked, recalling the old man who dotted on her so much. Alex smiled and responded, "He doesn’t live here."

"What?" Confusion brewed in Joanna’s mind once again as she gazed around. Memories scattered in her mind, and she didn’t know which was which.

"Welcome home, sir and Madam," Betty said politely. Joanna felt like the voice sounded familiar, but the face looked foreign.

"Me? Madam?" She asked. Betty stared at Alex with a confused expression as Alex explained, "She had an accident and lost her memory. Don’t refrain from telling her the things she used to do in the past."

Betty nodded eagerly in understanding and said to Joanna, "Madam, your favorite place in this house was the kitchen. You loved to cook for sir and to watch him eat."

Joanna’s cheeks pinked at Betty’s words, wondering the kind of wife she had been to such a powerful man.

Alex’s good looks could not cover the aura he exhumed, making her certain that he was indeed a very powerful man.

Alex led her up the stairs and Violet, knowing her way around, did not feel like a third wheel as she informed Betty.

"Alex intended for Joanna to have a romantic dinner at home so you can inform the chef to make every dish she liked best. We have to work together to help her regain her memories."

Betty was nodding, ready to help. "Thank you, Violet, we shall do everything in our power to help her remember. But if I may ask," she forced a smile and leaned in, covering one side of her mouth with her hand.

"You know that sir and madam were divorced before she left. I’m wondering if we should remind her of that too," Betty said, but Violet did not see the need.

"From what Alex told me, we left before they had the chance to formalize it, so legally, they are still married."

A sigh of relief escaped Betty, glad that things would not be as complicated as she thought.

Violet made herself comfortable as she called Aiden on the phone. "We just got Joanna home and she remembers a few things. I hope she recovers soon."

Aiden was happy to hear the good news and replied. "Dion is also asleep. If things get better, then Alex could come and transport her back to the mansion."

After that, they spoke more about themselves until Violet felt the need to end the call and rest.

Upstairs, Alex was trying everything possible to make his wife remember the few bits and pieces.

Luckily, as soon as they entered the bedroom, Joanna felt overwhelmed with so many memories, it made her dizzy.

Alex was right by her side when she staggered slightly and carried her to the bed before bringing her a glass of water.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, Joanna sipped the water, and returned the glass to him.

"Alex, we are divorced, so what am I doing here?" She asked sternly with clarity of mind.

Memories of that passionate night flooded her mind, pinking her cheeks, as her desire for Alex that night, coupled with her intention to just carry his child when he insisted on the divorce.

"So, you remember now, but you also forgot that I said I didn’t want a divorce right before I fell asleep," Alex hinted, a cloud formed in Joanna’s mind.

She didn’t remember that part. "I don’t remember."

"I know," Alex responded, his face inches from her. "And how dare you leave me for a whole month? Don’t you know it’s illegal?" He vexed the anger and pain he concealed all this while.

Joanna gently pushed him away and rose to a sitting position, her anger burning since she remembered everything clearly.

"You are the one who asked for the divorce even when I begged you." A tear rolled down her cheeks, Alex felt guilty.

"I’m sorry."

Joanna shook her head. "It’s not enough, Alex. We are divorced, and I deserve to be free."

She was afraid his reason for being with her was because of the pregnancy, but Alex chuckled.

"Divorce? You think that signing a few papers was enough to get us divorced? Think carefully, Angel, we never formalized our divorce in court."

Joanna froze with Alex’s words as his fingers trailed her back. Familiar erotic sensations began to flood her body. Alex pulled down the shoulder of her dress, his lips pressing against her exposed shoulder.

A moan escaped Joanna, but then, memories of Alex’s stance and that woman named Dion. The one who claimed to be the one Alex was supposed to marry took over her mind.

She abruptly shifted, stood up, and began to adjust her clothes.

"Weren’t you supposed to marry some woman called Dion?" Joanna remembered how that woman wanted her baby dead, but Alex sighed frustratedly.

"The woman you saw. The one who caused your accident isn’t Dion. She was impersonating you," Alex explained. Joanna felt like she was in dreamland.

Since Alex sat on the bed, she chose the sofa to avoid her body’s betrayal of his seductive touch. "I don’t understand."

"Dion is my sister and the one you saved. She has been looking for you all her life, resulting in her having mental abnormalities. I asked you before, but you said you never remembered anything about a fire, but that was because you had lost your memory before."

Joanna was taking a lot of time to digest Alex’s words. "You mean the woman I saw wasn’t the one you constantly reminded me of being in your life?"

Alex stood up and walked up to her. With his hand stretched towards her, she reluctantly joined hers as he pulled her gently to a standing position, his hand wrapping safely around her slender waist.

Joanna didn’t know how she was going to have clarity of mind in this position and intentionally avoided his gaze.

"Angel, I made a promise to Dion to marry the woman who saved her, and that woman is you. I searched all my life for you without knowing what you looked like, but your proposal that day changed everything."

The honesty of his words caused something to move inside her, but then she wondered where the woman was and what if she came back to harm her baby.

"But where is she? She was so enraged and threatened to kill my baby," she murmured. Alex corrected her. "Our baby, Angel."

He pulled slightly away and knelt in front of her. "I’m so sorry for everything. Please give me another chance for us to make this work. I can be a very good husband and father to our unborn child," he pressed his head against her stomach, her fingers caressed his hair as a pool of memories flooded her.

"Alex, I believe you, but where is that woman?"

Alex lifted his head, and their eyes met. Slowly, he rose to his feet and gently led her to the bed.

"Angel, I killed her for what she did to you," he said honestly. Joanna tensed up.

"You what? What if you went to jail?" She expected charges to be pressed against the woman for her to pay for her mistakes, but taking a life was not something that crossed her mind.

"I can’t go to jail, Angel. It’s not as if I’m above the law, but I have the license to kill by terming it as self-defense."

He was being honest because he didn’t want to lie to her anymore, but Joanna caught something. "Are you some kind of mafia?"

Alex swallowed tightly. "I will come to that, but I want you to know something else. The woman who impersonated you is called Tess, and she was Colton’s sister. She wanted me, and Colton wanted you, and I got rid of both of them."

Joanna shifted slightly, feeling hot all over as the news was too heavy for her. She remembered that when she dated Colton, his sister was schooling in another state so they never met.

"The only person whose name caused me to fear was Salvador, but now, I’m even more afraid of you than him," she said nervously, but Alex dropped the next bombshell.

"I am Salvator Black." Joanna rose to her feet and staggered, her eyes widening in fear. "You?"

Chapter 184: Chapter 184 – I can never trust you

Joanna not only had her present memories but also her past memories. Everything seemed put together, but she couldn’t help being afraid of the man before her.

While others solved problems peacefully, he got rid of them by his own authority, which was the mafia style.

As much as she tried to see beyond that and maintain the picture she had of him as the man she fell in love with, who was also her husband, the worst happened.

"I am Salvatore Black," Alex announced. Joanna rose to her feet and staggered, her eyes widening in fear. "You?"

She recalled the number of times Logan had mentioned it, but Alex denied it. Not only that, Joanna had supported him all through.

As she thought about all the crimes pinned on Salvatore and his men, including murder, extortion, and all the heinous crimes committed by mafia organizations, she felt that she had made a big mistake.

Nancy’s screams from when she was taken from the family flooded Joanna’s mind, worsening her perception of Alex.

At first, he presented himself as a cripple and an IT officer, then became the CEO of Kings Multinational.

Now he was revealing he was Salvatore Black, so what other identity could he be hiding from her?

"Angel..." Alex was saying when Joanna cut him off, completely irritated. "Don’t call me that. You destroyed my family. You killed my sister and all those innocent people. I can never trust you."

She was already headed for the door when Alex blocked her path. It hurt him so much that everyone believed the image painted by the media about Salvatore and his men.

However, this was his wife, and he didn’t want to lose her. There were things he couldn’t tell anyone, but Joanna had to know.

"Those are lies, Angel."

His answer infuriated her even more. "I said don’t call me that and stop lying to me."

Her fury blazed like a volcano, but Alex was calm, as he expected and was prepared for this.

If she could accept him from this moment, then he would be able to have her in his world and business.

Besides, she hadn’t healed from both surgeries, still having a plaster on her head.

"I’m not lying to you. You told me before that you loved me, and yet you can’t trust me." Pain shone in his eyes as he knew that had Joanna known the truth from the onset, she would have never allowed herself to fall for him.

But Joanna equally felt betrayed, not willing to accept that after saving his sister and taking a stab for it, he was the one who killed Enzo and Nancy.

Even if she wanted to stay, she would only be betraying the last memory she had of Enzo and Nancy by marrying their murderer.

Oops, she was already married to him, so the only thing she could do was to seek a divorce.

"How can I trust you when you never wanted me to know anything about you?" Joanna pointed out, feeling saddened. "If you hadn’t found out that I saved your sister, would you have claimed to love me now?"

For all she knew, Alex never loved her, his heart belonging to that mysterious woman. What if it wasn’t her? She and Alex would have completed their divorce by now.

However, Alex could not remember when he fell in love with her but knew how hard it was to sign those divorce papers and accept to let her go.

It only happened that she asked for something that helped him to accept whatever feelings he was trying to forgo from the beginning.

"Yes. The moment I took your virginity, I was determined to make you mine." Alex was disheartened and tried to pull her to his chest, but she wouldn’t let him.

He smiled bitterly. "I even said it that night, but you just didn’t hear me, and you were gone before I woke up."

Joanna was stunned to know that he didn’t want her to leave, but what he did to Nancy and her father was unforgivable.

"It still doesn’t change the fact that you are Salvatore. You kill innocent people like my stepfather and half-sister."

Alex was about to reveal the truth when they heard a knock on the door. He went to see Violet.

"Not now, Violet. We are in the middle of something important."

Joanna was rather excited to hear Violet’s voice and walked to the door, embracing her best friend. "Violet, I remember you now. Thanks for everything."

Violet’s heart warmed as she embraced Joanna back. "I guess there’s indeed some kind of magic in this bedroom," she said teasingly, adding, "I only came to inform you both that food is ready."

Joanna was too saddened to eat. "I’m not hungry. Can we go back to Florida?"

"No, you won’t," Alex said seriously, not willing to let her out of his sight again, especially when Logan was still out there. His dominance scared Joanna as she glared at him.

"But I don’t want to be with you."

Alex was helpless and stared at Violet. "Give us some time. We shall be downstairs in a while."

Violet did not counter, sensing the tension in the atmosphere. What she hoped for with Joanna regaining her memory was a peaceful and happy couple and not this.

"Sure, I will wait for you guys, but Joan, you don’t have to stress yourself, and Alex is a very good man."

Joanna forced a smile but did not respond. If only Violet knew what she just found out, she would not have a false image of Alex in her mind.

"Joan, ninety percent of the news about Salvatore isn’t true," Alex said as soon as he closed the door.

Joanna remembered their sweet moments and wanted to trust him, but it was just too difficult.

"Let’s just say I don’t believe the news. Nancy was taken in front of me and my mother a few days after they killed her father, so what do you have to say about that?"

Chapter 185: Chapter 185 - It’s all for you, Joan

Alex sighed, knowing it was time to let her in on everything, including the things the media didn’t know.

"Okay. I will give you proof of everything, but you have to eat first," he said seriously, but Joanna had no appetite.

"I’m not hungry. Why don’t you show me the proof first?"

Alex was concerned about her recovery and insisted. "I won’t tell you if you don’t eat, and neither would I allow you to go anywhere with Violet. You are my pregnant wife, and I need to take care of you."

Joanna had more questions to ask, but her eagerness to see whatever proof Alex had stripped her of taking her stand.

"Alright, but if your proof isn’t convincing enough, you have to let us go through with the divorce. This marriage was a contract," she suggested. Alex hesitated. His mouth opened, but since he didn’t want to lie again, he kept it shut.

He wasn’t going to make the same mistake of letting her go. "Let’s go and eat."

"It looks like we are having a party," Joanna commented as she gawked at the food as if they were having a feast.

"It’s all for you, Joan," Violet commented, happy that Joanna finally remembered her.

Joan was not too excited because of her beef with Alex, so she smiled and began to dig in, amazed by how much she had eaten. She had no idea she was so hungry.

No one spoke at the table, so attention was not drawn to her until everyone had had their fill.

"Alex, Joan, I will take a stroll in the garden and chat with Aiden," Violet said casually. Joanna was stunned. "Aiden?"

Violet stared apologetically at her. "You can’t blame me. You couldn’t remember a thing after Tess attacked you in the restroom, but yes, Alex sent Aiden over when I was arrested for assault. Trust me, I would have killed the bitch for what she did to you if the cops had not arrived," Violet was narrating. Joanna was in a daze.

Everything about what happened in the restroom with Tess settled on her mind, and suddenly, she wasn’t so apprehensive about what Alex said that he killed her.

If Violet wanted her dead, then Alex did the right thing, so could it be that Salvador was not as bad as she thought? Perhaps Violet’s perspective would matter.

After clearing her throat, she asked Alex. "Does Violet know about your other identity?"

Knowing what she was driving at, Alex curtly replied, "No, she doesn’t. Go ahead and tell her."

Joanna reminisced over his words, not feeling it was right for her to tell Violet about it. "Shouldn’t you be the one to tell her who you are?"

Violet felt uncomfortable with their banter, feeling something was wrong, but Alex was not going to be the one to announce himself.

"I told you, and I gave you permission. If you want her to know, then go ahead and tell her."

"What’s going on?" Violet asked worriedly, not liking the looks in the eyes of the couple. The maids cleared the table as soon as they were through with dessert, so all that was left before them was the matter at hand.

"Violet, Logan was right. He’s Salvatore," Joanna revealed. Violet felt her breath hitch but could not believe it.

"Are you?" She asked, recalling what Aiden told her about his job being dangerous. "Of course, you are. It all adds up in the way you escaped the fire and how Salvadore’s men were there to protect Joan the moment I made the call."

Both Joan and Alex were silent as Violet continued to spill her observations. "It indeed makes sense by the way Aiden easily got me out of jail when I expected things to be complicated."

Her gaze landed on Alex as she began to recall the first time she met him. "How do you pull all this off? Are you indeed guilty of all the crimes accused of Salvatore’s men?" She asked. Alex glared at her and asked.

"Will you believe anything I tell you?"

A frustrated sigh escaped Violet as she stared at him again. A part of her was afraid, but a part of her wanted to believe it was all a misconception.

"From the way you take care of Joan, I will believe you. Besides, most of those people were not as innocent as the world thought. There were still some innocent ones, so can you explain?"

Joanna expected Violet to be upset and stand by her to divorce Alex, but with the way things were going, she felt disappointed.

"You are gonna believe everything he tells you? Okay. You are afraid of him," she concluded, but Violet smiled and explained.

"Joan, I’m more experienced with men than you. If Alex is indeed Salvatore, then I think he has his reasons for the things he does. Also, since he admitted it, I doubt he would hide anything from you anymore," she shrugged and stood up.

"Like I said, I need I’ll take a walk through the garden. It’s so beautiful there."

Joanna was disappointed that Violet gave up on her like that, making her question herself.

’Am I overreacting, or am I the only person seeing things from the right perspective?’

"Can we go and talk now?" Alex asked. Joanna was slightly nervous. This was Salvatore, so what if he abused her? What if everything was just a lie?

Then she remembered that Alex never abused her, except refusing to answer her questions.

"Yeah, let’s go."

Alex led the way, but when they reached the stairs, he stopped. "After you."

Joanna nervously took the stairs one at a time, but Alex was right behind her. When she entered the bedroom, he followed her, locking the door behind.

"I love you, Joan. I just wish you could trust me without knowing everything."

Alex sounded deflated. Joanna pitied him but was determined. "I want proof. Maybe if you had been honest with me from the start, I would not have doubted you."

When Alex took a step, she quickly took two backward. "Stop approaching," she warned. Alex sighed frustratedly and revealed, "We have to go to Asia."