New beginning: Billionaire love story novel Chapter 301

Joan sat nervously beside Alexander’s hospital bed, forcing a smile. She wasn’t ready for the first thing out of his mouth.

“Where’s Claire?” Alexander’s voice was weak, but his question was clear.

Joan tried to brush it off. “You should rest. Don’t worry about that now.”

But her son wasn’t letting it go. “Where’s Claire?” he repeated, this time with a more disappointed look.

Joan took a deep breath. She didn’t know where Claire was, and truthfully, she didn’t want to know. But she couldn’t dodge the question forever. “I... I don’t know.”

“Oh,” Alexander sighed, his face falling. He had hoped Claire would be here when he woke up. “Can you call her? Ask her to come?”

Joan hesitated. She didn’t want to. Not after what had happened. But she smiled softly at Alexander and tried to change the subject. “What happened? How did you get hurt like this? Did... did Claire have anything to do with it?”

Alexander’s frown deepened. “No, Mom. Claire didn’t do anything.”

Joan blinked, surprised. “What do you mean?”

With a tired sigh, Alexander explained. “It was Lisa. She hurt Abigail. Then me. She was going to go after Claire too.”

Joan gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. That wasn’t what she expected to hear at all.

Alexander narrowed his eyes, watching his mother closely. Something wasn’t adding up. “Mom,” he said slowly, “did you... did you do something to Claire?”

Joan couldn’t hide it, not from him. She looked down in embarrassment and nodded.

Alexander’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”

Joan looked up, guilt written all over her face. “I... I thought Claire was responsible for all of this. I was so emotional, Alex. I—" she hesitated, "I slapped her.”

Alexander tried to sit up, wincing as pain shot through his body. “Mom! Why would you do that?”

“Don’t move!” Joan cried out, rushing to keep him lying down. “You’ll hurt yourself more.”

But Alexander wasn’t letting it go. “Why did you think it was Claire?”

Joan sighed, trying to make sense of her own actions. “I thought... I thought she hated you, Alex. She was there at the hospital, and when I saw you like that—hurt and needing surgery—I just lost it.”

“You should’ve asked her first,” Alexander said softly but firmly. "I know that Claire and I don't have a good relationship, but I know that she wouldn't hurt me physically."

“You’re right,” Joan admitted, rubbing her temples. “I don’t know what got into me. Claire’s not a bad person, but you always seem to be around when things go wrong with her. Like that fire at the fashion show. You were with Claire then too.”

Alexander sighed, tired of trying to explain. “Mom, that was Lisa’s fault too. Claire had nothing to do with it.”