Chapter 51
“It was just… force of habit. The admission tasted bitter on my tongue.
James shifted in his chair, his expression growing careful. “I ran into Blake at the restaurant last night,” he said slowly. He said… he said to tell you to stop calling him without speaking. He said it was childish.”
The words hit like a physical blow. My heart contracted painfully, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell which hurt more – the cancer eating away at my body or the casual cruelty of Blake’s dismissal. Of course he would see my desperate call for help as mere attention–seeking. His returned call probably wasn’t even concern – he’d likely just wanted to berate me for bothering him.
A knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Dr. Evans entered, her presence bringing a welcome distraction from the emotional tension in the
room.
“Miss Sinclait, how are you feeling now?” she asked, checking my vitals with professional efficiency.
“Can she eat something?” James straightened in his chair. “I could get breakfast.”
“Not yet, Dr. Evans cautioned, making notes on my chart. Her eyes flickered between James and me, a small smile playing at her lips. “You’ve found yourself a good one here.”
“You have no idea how worried he was about you last night! When I asked him to go back and get the log of your medication intake, he did it right away. And he stayed outside the emergency room the whole time, not sleeping a wink all night!”
“He’s a friend from college, nothing more,” I corrected firmly, perhaps more sharply than necessary. From the corner of my eye, I saw James’s shoulders tense slightly.
“Well, okay then, My bad.”
Watching her check my vitals, I asked the question that had been nagging at me. “How serious was last night?”
Dr. Evans’s expression hardened. “You lost consciousness from the pain, and you’re asking how serious it was?” She fixed me with a pointed look. “With your condition, spicy food is practically suicidal. Don’t try them, or you won’t even make it three months.”
She paused, checking my charts, “We were fortunaté, actually. The dose you agreed to share yesterday – the patient ended up declining it at the last minute.”
Her words made me frown. “The one who asked for fifty million?”
Dr. Evans sighed, setting down her pen. “Yes. Everything was prepared, but when she arrived at the hospital, she suddenly declined the treatment. So, you’re quite lucky.”
She rubbed her temples, looking troubled. “One more thing, her lawyers want to meet with you this week to discuss a collaboration.”
“Collaboration? Seriously?” I just found this concept absurd. Both of us were cancer patients. What kind of collaboration could we need?
I don’t know all the details,” Dr. Evans admitted, running a hand through her hair in frustration. “You’ll understand everything when you meet with her legal representative. What I do know is that this could be good for you, Her boyfriend has considerable resources – he might be able to find even more effective treatments.”
As she turned back to making notes in my chart, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. The moment I turned on my phone, multiple messages from Astrid lit up the screen:
Girl, I’m at your place – are you at the courthouse already?
It’s D–Day with Blake! Make sure you look amazing – make that jerk regret everything!
Why aren’t you picking up? What’s happening at the court?
Did that Jerk cause any troubles? And is that bitch there with him?
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Chapter 51
Seeing these messages, I widened my eyes. The divorce proceedings. In all the chaos of last night, I’d completely forgotten. Checking the time – 9 AM – sent a jolt of panic through me.
Can I… be discharged now?” I asked, already trying to push myself up.
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Chapter 52
Audrey’s POV
Dr. Evans stared at me in stunned silence, as if I’d just suggested jumping from the hospital roof. Her incredulous look made me feel like some sort of medical anomaly.
After a long moment, she spoke up, “Miss Sinclair, do you understand that other patients with cancer like yours are typically kept under constant medical supervision?‘
My fingers twisted in the hospital sheets, but I kept my voice steady. ‘I understand, but…”
*You already refuse to stay hospitalized,” she cut me off, her professional demeanor cracking slightly to reveal genuine concern. “And now, after last night’s emergency, barely an hour after regaining consciousness, you want to leave?”
“Dr. Evans, please. I have an urgent matter…”
“Nothing is more urgent than your health!” Her clipboard came down harder than necessary on the bedside table. Whatever it is can wait!”
I tried again. “Just this morning…”
“If you insist on leaving, it won’t be until tonight, after a full day of observation to ensure you’re stable.” Her tone made it clear this wasn’t up for discussion. To ensure I wouldn’t attempt an escape, Dr. Evans immediately assigned Dr. Alexander Blackwood, an intern, to monitor me. I watched helplessly as he positioned himself by the door, effectively becoming my guard.
I shouldn’t have asked about being discharged, I thought bitterly. Now I was truly trapped. With a resigned sigh, I reached for my phone, intending to call Blake and explain the situation. That’s when I noticed his messages on the screen:
Real mature.
And then, sometime later:
About that call earlier. Something wrong?
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. So it had taken him this long to even consider that my midnight call might have been an actual emergency? And even then, all he could manage was a casual text message. If Laurel had called him in distress last night, he would have rushed to her side immediately, wouldn’t he?
The phone suddenly came to life in my hands, Blake’s name flashing across the screen. Taking a deep breath, I answered.
‘Audrey Sinclair, where are you?” His voice carried that familiar edge of irritation. “I’m at the court right now.”
‘I’m…” I glanced at the IV line snaking from my arm, at Alexander standing guard by the door. “I’m not feeling well. I’m at the hospital.”
“Not feeling well?”
Before I could explain, the door swung open. James walked in, carrying a paper cup that filled the room with the rich aroma of fresh coffee. “Audrey, the breakfast place downstairs makes amazing coffee. I brought you some, though…”
His voice trailed off as he noticed me on the phone, but the damage was already done. The silence on the other end of the line turned arctic.
“Ah.” Blake’s voice could have frozen Hell itself. “James Collins? Spending time with him makes you ‘unwell,‘ does it?”
“No, that’s not…”
“You initiated this divorce, and I agreed. I cleared my entire morning schedule to meet you at the court, and you’re standing me up to be with him?
“Blake, please…”
Audrey Sinclair. His voice dropped to that dangerous register I remembered too well. “I gave you your chance. Consider any future discussion of divorce off the table!”
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Chapter 52
Blake’s POV
Without waiting for Audrey’s response, I ended the call. The silence in the car felt oppressive as I addressed our driver. “Back to the office.”
Michael cleared his throat from the passenger seat, his reflection in the rearview mirror showing carefully contained uncertainty. ‘Sir… are we departing so
soon?”
When I didn’t respond, he ventured further: “Should we wait for Miss Sinclair?”
I shot him a glare. ‘Miss Sinclair?”
Michael’s shoulders tensed as he hastily corrected himself, “I meant… should we wait for Mrs. Parker?”
No.
I settled back against the leather upholstery, allowing my eyes to close briefly. The gesture might have appeared relaxed to an observer, but the tension coiling through my body betrayed otherwise. The image of James Collins in Audrey’s hospital room played behind my closed eyelids, stoking an anger I refused to acknowledge.
He’d left her apartment in the early hours of this morning – I’d seen him myself. Now, barely morning, they were already together again. Just thinking about it made me feel quite angry.
My eyes snapped open. “Change of plans,” I said, my voice carrying an edge that left no room for questions. “Take me to Audrey’s apartment.”
Audrey’s POV
“Audrey, did I…” James ran a hand through his disheveled hair, guilt written across his features. “What happened. Did I say something wrong just now?”
“It’s not your fault.” I set the phone down carefully, as if it might bite.
Alexander, who had apparently been following the drama with keen interest, couldn’t help himself. “She was trying to explain to her husband why she couldn’t make it to their divorce proceedings. Then you walked in, he heard your voice, and immediately called off any possibility of divorce.” He shook his head. “Talk about bad timing, man. You really blew her chance there.”
James’s face fell. “Audrey, you… had plans to finalize your divorce with Blake today?” His eyes darted to the door. “Should we try to catch him? I’ll take you there now!”
“James, don’t bother.” I leaned back against the pillows, suddenly exhausted. “He’s already left the court.”
“Then I’ll go to Parker Group and explain everything to Blake.”
I watched James’s determined stance soften into uncertainty. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows across his face, highlighting the exhaustion from his sleepless night. My temples throbbed as I lifted a hand to massage them.
“No need, James.” I dropped my hand from my temple, summoning a smile that felt brittle around the edges. “This isn’t your fault. Blake’s ego is bruised because I didn’t show up when summoned. That’s all.”
A quiet laugh escaped me, though there was no humor in it. “The divorce will happen. Trust me, he needs it more than I do right now.”
Blake and Laurel’s engagement ceremony was barely a week away. Surely he wouldn’t go through with it while still legally married to me? Even if Blake wanted to, surely his precious Laurel wouldn’t stand for it.
“James.” I turned back to find him still hovering uncertainly. “You haven’t slept all night because of me. Go home and rest. Dr. Blackwood will look after me.”
“Are you sure?‘
“He’s Dr. Evans‘ resident. I’ll be fine.”
Alexander straightened in his chair. “I may be a resident, but I’m certainly more qualified to care for patients than you are.”
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Chapter 52
“Audrey, call me if you need anything. James lingered in the doorway. I’ll head out now.”
As his footsteps faded down the corridor, Alexander’s curiosity finally got the better of him. “Is he the reason you’re divorcing your husband?”
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