Dressed in her scrubs, Beth stood outside the OT. It was three days since Christmas. Three days since she had left Alec.
She was living with Lucy. She had refused to let Beth stay alone in her apartment.
Alec had not tried to contact her till now. She had not called him. It was clear their relationship was over and all she was waiting was for her marriage to end.

She pushed open the water tap to scrub her hands and mentally revised her case, in hope to forget about everything that was going on her personal life.
Age 43, female, the plaque was on right coronary and - Suddenly she felt her hands burning. She noticed a cut on her hand. This wasn't good. She didn't have one until she started scrubbing. Then she noticed few more began appearing. She couldn't understand what was going on.
The cuts just began appearing more and more on their own. Then she noticed, her right elbow was covered with a plaster. She tried to move her arm but it was stuck in the plaster. But it couldn't be possible, she didn't have any injury, especially the one which would cause her to wear a plaster.

She tried using more force but her hand wouldn't move. She tried scratching it off but the thick plaster just wouldn't budge. She couldn't possibly perform a surgery with a plaster on. Then she heard the beeping noise, the familiar rhythmic tone of heart rate monitor. The monitor was attached to her, showing her heart rate and blood pressure. She couldn't understand why it was showing her reading, or why she needed to get a reading in the first placr. But then she realized, she was not in her scrubs. She was in a hospital gown, lying on a hospital bed. The IV fluid entered through her left hand. The scratchy sheets and blankets were covering her. The nasal tube provided her with fresh oxygen. And her cuts were fresh wounds from the shattered glass of the car. The car Noah was in.

And from the distance she heard someone calling her name. Then a hand on her shoulder pulled her back into the reality.

"Beth? You okay? Everything okay?"
Grace asked.

"Yes. I am fine." She lied.

"You don't look fine. You look pale." She looked concerned. Beth cursed on her body. It was giving away her lies.
"I am fine, Grace."

"Okay but if you don't feel well you don't have to do this. I can ask someone else-"

"I can do this, Grace. Don't worry." She finished her washing and went inside the OT. The bright lights greeted her. Blinded for a minute she tried to regain her lost momentum. "Can someone please fix these lights?" She snapped. Her residents quickly obeyed her while the nurse helped her wear the robe. When she wore her gloves, she saw the scars on her hands again.

She shook her head and picked up her scalpel. Her hands began trembling. The scalpel started to slip from her hand. She could feel herself hyperventilating.
"Ma'am everything okay?" Her resident asked.

"Yes, everything is fine. " But everything wasn't fine. Because now she couldn't see her patient. Instead she saw a road in front of her. She saw Noah looking worried next to her. And then that animal, it crossed the road. Her car toppled and with it, she felt herself falling.

The OT lights shined brightly as her eyes closed.

•

Alec looked in his watch, it was three in the morning. Three in morning of thirtieth December.

Another year was going to come to end and with it his marriage too.

He was going to divorce Beth and that was final. He knew the repercussions of this decision but he couldn't just keep up the whole charade that his marriage had become. Marrying Beth to get his inheritance matter was a mistake. He knew then and now he had decided to fix everything. It was also going to fix his problems with Hosley.

He was still after him and after Christmas Alec was expecting a visit from him. As expected two days back, Alec entered his office only to find Hosley enjoying the cushioned couch of his office.

°

"Mr. Mason, how are you?" The sly grin appeared when he greeted. Alec had already called for his lawyer. He reached within five minutes. 

"Mr. Hosley, how can I help you?" He asked with a authoritative voice as he took his seat across the table.

"We both know what happened on Christmas Mr. Mason, let's not keep pretending anymore."

"What do you want counselor?"

"I just wanted to tell you how things are going to go about from here. I have proof that you have tried to sabotage your grandfather's will and that is not good for you, I hope you understand that."

Alec maintained his passive look.
"So now," Hosley continued, " I am willing to make with you."

Alec knew where this was going. "I am going to show the proof of your offense which will land both you and Ms. Richards in jail or you can send me little gift and all this will be forgotten."

°

Alec knew Hosley's reputation very well, little did Hosley know that Alec wasn't one of those men who had created his empire by giving bribes. And he still wasn't going to. Instead he was going to end his marriage. He didn't want that property anymore. He didn't care anymore if his mother wanted it or not. All he wanted was to release Beth and himself of the bondage they had found themselves in.

Beth, her face appeared in his mind again. The woman he loves. Yes, he still loves her. After everything, he just couldn't stopped loving her and he hated himself for it.

Beth, she hadn't returned home since the Christmas morning. He didn't know where she was. He wanted to know but he didn't. He didn't know Beth had been living with Lucy, he didn't know she had an anxiety attack during an operation she was performing, he didn't know it was almost twenty four hours since Beth had gone missing.

Beth was missing and everyone was trying to find her except him. He hadn't spoken to anyone except Hosley, his lawyer and his secretary since Christmas. Mrs. Norris and Roger, both had been given few days off and every time his mother called him, he would ignore it. Lucy had also tried to contact him but he didn't pick up.

Beth, he thought about her again, oblivious to her current state.
He thought of  her face when he had found her sleeping in her over sized t shirt and underwear. When they both had danced, when he had kissed her and she was coloured pink.

He remembered the hug she had given when he told her about Melissa. He needed a hug like that again. He wished she could give him a hug like that again, the one that made him forget about his troubles. He missed her when he slept because his nightmares had only grown worse. He missed her healing hand in his life.

He missed her but he missed Melissa more. And he knew he wouldn't be able to love Beth again the way he was beginning to and now it was time for them to part ways.

He picked up his phone and dialled his lawyer's phone number. "Are the papers ready?" He had asked him to prepare them yesterday afternoon itself.

"Yes, sir." He replied in a groggy voice.  "but I haven't been able to contact Ms. Richards yet."

"What do you mean?" What if she want to still stay with him? A voice inside his head said.

"Sir, I haven't been able to connect to Ms. Richards since yesterday. The hospital staff said she was on a leave and is currently with her friend Ms. Lucy. Ms. Lucy hasn't reverted my calls back."

"Okay thank you. I will speak to her." Alec knew he now had to do one thing he was dreading to do.

****
Hello there,
I am back. Sorry for late updates but let me just put it this way, my life too had become as messy as my characters. Sorry for the delay again.

I know the chapter is a little messy so forgive me for it. What do you all think about this chapter though? Should Alec really leave Beth or should he apologize? And where is Beth? What does had gone missing mean?
To know what happens next, keep reading! (Yes, you guys I have managed to write two chapters this time!)

Send me your reviews in comments. It feels good to be back. Vote and share of you enjoyed.

Love you peeps and thank you for waiting for so long.

Cheerio.

Love,
Alice.

****