Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 132: The Anti-Alec

"We could hang a climbing rope here," Eugene suggested, pointing out the dining room picture window to the back porch. "You like climbing, so you can work on your upper body strength while your foot heals."

"Dad, I don’t want a climbing rope. I want everyone to stop treating me like a baby." Alec pushed his plate away, the sandwich half-eaten and the soup untouched.

"He’s not," Doctor Mark said. "Until the swelling goes down, I can’t cast the injury."

"It’s just a sprain," Alec said.

Doctor Mark said, "In my professional opinion, you likely have tendon damage. I could confirm that diagnosis if you would agree to go to the hospital."

"No," Alec said. "I’m not leaving Teela."

I rolled my eyes. "Alec, I told you that I’m not going anywhere. Go to the hospital. Take care of your health. Come back when you are ready, but call first next time."

"You don’t have a phone, remember," Alec reminded me.

Estelle said, "Out here in the middle of nowhere? Oh, that won’t do. Eugene, order her a phone."

"I already did," Alec said. "It was supposed to be here yesterday. I suspect the mudslide stopped the delivery."

Eugene looked up from his phone. "I had the road cleared. From now on, a road crew will check that the road is clear and in good condition monthly and again after each storm."

"Eugene, thank you, but that isn’t necessary. I’ll be fine," I said.

"Estelle, would you bring my phone? I’ll have Teela’s new phone redelivered." Alec said.

"I’ll get it." I was up and out of the room before Estelle could get up.

Mostly, I needed an escape. Alec was pissing me off. I wasn’t worth him taking a chance with his injury. And I really didn’t like his attitude. This Alec was night and day different from the Alec I knew.

What could possibly have happened in his life to contribute to his personality change?

Alec’s phone was sitting on the dresser next to the ring box. Next to the box was the ring I’d given Alec. I was glad I was seeing this side of him before I agreed to marry him. I wasn’t sure it was bad enough to keep me from agreeing to marry him, but it was enough to make me doubt my ability to adequately parent children.

I mean, if I couldn’t handle one childish man for a couple of days, what were the odds I could handle children who had every right to act childish twenty-four-seven?

Estelle joined me. "You okay?"

"People seem to ask me that a lot."

"You tend to be involved in intense situations more often than the average person."

"Sorry."

Estelle rubbed my back. "Honey, you don’t need to apologize. You have a big heart, and usually, you don’t walk away when you see a problem.

"Tee, look at all the people you’ve helped since leaving the Heavenlys."

"And all the people I’ve hurt."

"You can’t save everyone."

"Can I save Alec? What happened to him for Alec to behave like this?"

"Why don’t we take Alec his phone and then take a walk and talk?"

Estelle wasn’t dressed for a hike, so I walked her down the road toward the clearing where the helicopter landed.

"Alec had a difficult childhood. It started at birth. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. Both he and his mom almost died. Alec ended up in the neonatal intensive care unit for the first six weeks of his life.

"From then on, the family watched him like a hawk for fear he might find his life endangered again. It didn’t help that he had asthma and was slow to develop. He was slow to speak and to walk, and when he did walk, it was with a limp. One leg was growing faster than the other. They were also worried about a slight curvature of the spine.

"The child was in and out of doctor’s offices, physical therapy, and hospitals until he was almost twelve. He hated it. He hated the way his mom pampered him. But, thanks to Eugine’s connections and money, Alec came out on the other side healthy and capable of keeping up with the kids his age.

"But it cost Alec, too. He paid with his freedom, a lot of pain, and so many people telling him what he couldn’t do.

"As you’ve seen, he works hard to eat healthy now and exercise. He is determined never to be that sick little boy again. So, when anything threatens to put him back in a doctor’s care, he strikes out.

"We’ve tried to get him help and to explain everyone is weak sometimes, but it hasn’t helped. He still acts out. Honestly, I’m surprised he’s listened to you as well as he has."

"Terrific. This is as good as it gets," I said.

"No, honey. This is as bad as it gets. If you can handle Alec the way he is now, you can handle the worst he will likely ever throw at you."

It would have been nice to have all this information upfront. I could have handled the situation differently. Maybe I could have found ways to empower Alec instead of controlling him.

I thought I was helping him. Instead, I was sending Alec to his own personal hell.

Estelle turned back toward the cabin. "Is it always so chilly up here?"

Until Alec arrived, it had been, but since his arrival, I hadn’t noticed the chill. All I noticed was the amount of heat he and I generated together.

"I’m sorry. I should have grabbed your coat for you."

"Teela, I’m a grown woman. I should have thought of it myself. You shouldn’t shoulder so much responsibility for others."

"But you’re my guest."

Estelle laughed. "Guest is a kind way of describing our impromptu appearance. Come on. Let’s go back to the cabin. Eugene and I have an event to attend this evening. We should be going soon."

"I’m thankful we had this chance to talk, Estelle. It helped a lot."

"Anytime. Hopefully, we will have many chances to chat in the future. And, with any luck, you can take over some of these social obligations we seem to be loaded down with these days."

"I’m not sure how much good I’d be at it. I didn’t socialize much when I was married to King. None really."

"That is too bad. You are such a personable young lady, intelligent and astute enough to know what to say and what to keep to yourself. Really, that is everything you need."

"Is that really how you see me?" I asked.

"Since the first day you showed up in my office."

How did the Heavenlys, including King, see me so differently for so many years, and yet this woman who had met me a handful of times found me worthy?

Who was I really? Sometimes, usually when I had a keyboard in front of me or when I was in Alec’s arms, I felt valuable, but a lot of the time, especially since Bea’s death, I fell back on my conditioning.

Shit. Alec wasn’t the only one who needed therapy.

I could choose to believe the toxicity I had married into or I could aspire to be the best me I knew how to be. I could be someone worthy of being seen next to Alec Crest.

When we returned to the cabin, the men had moved to the back porch overlooking the mountain side. They had apparently made some peace pact Alec was neither snapping at people nor flashing the evil eye.

I walked up behind Alec and put my hands on his shoulders. "Beautiful, isn’t it?"

"Yes. Sorry."

I leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I won’t say it is okay, but I understand now, I think."

"Estelle told you?"

"She did."

"I should have been the one."

"True, but I know now. I’ll adjust how I handle these situations in the future."

"I’d rather there weren’t any."

"Me, too. But we are human, and you are a sportsman. Not many professionals win without some injuries. You can’t expect to perform as well as they do without chancing damages."

"I guess."

"So, what is the compromise you can live with, Alec? Keep in mind that if you are in pain, so am I. What are you willing to tolerate to keep me out of pain, Alec?"

"What Doctor Mark said. He’ll drop by once a day to assess the ankle and the swelling. When the swelling drops enough, he’ll cast it. In the meantime, Dad’s people are bringing me a wheelchair and crutches. Until I can be outfitted with a cast, I’ll stay off the foot."

"I can live with that."

"Very good. Compromise," Eugene said. "The backbone of all relationships. Now that is settled, Estelle and I need to get back to the city. Teela, call us if you need anything, and don’t take any shit off this asshole son of mine. He’s been told if he wants to keep you in his life, he has to treat you like a princess."