Chapter 7 - THE HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM
St. Jude’s Memorial Hospital was a private medical facility where billionaires went when they wanted their health crises handled with discreet luxury. The waiting room on the VIP cardiac floor smelled of antiseptic and expensive floor wax.
When I stepped off the private elevator, trench coat belted tightly against the autumn chill, the first person I saw was Adrian.
He looked like a ghost. His hair was uncombed, his shirt collar unbuttoned, and dark, bruised circles shadowed his eyes. He was pacing frantically near the double doors of the intensive care unit.
As soon as he saw me, he rushed forward.
“Elena! Thank God! You came!” he choked out, reaching for my hands.
I stepped back, keeping my hands buried deep in my coat pockets. “Save the dramatics, Adrian. Is she actually having a heart attack, or is this another family strategy?”
Adrian flinched, looking genuinely wounded. “It’s real, Elena. The stress of the foreclosure notices... the bank freezing her accounts this morning... her blood pressure spiked to two hundred. The doctors had to sedate her.”
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” I said coldly, walking over to a leather armchair and sitting down without waiting for an invitation.
Adrian stood before me, wringing his hands together. “She’s your mother-in-law—well, technically still your wife, legally, until the papers are signed—how can you be so cold?”
“How can I be cold?” I repeated, looking up at him with eyes as hard as flint. “Adrian, three days ago your mother stood in my home, humiliated me, drafted a contract for my servitude, and tore my face out of our wedding portrait while you watched in cowardly silence. You expected me to smile, bow my head, and accept it because your last name happens to be Vale. Did you honestly think there wouldn't be a reckoning?”
“We can rebuild everything!” he pleaded, dropping to one knee beside my chair. The desperation in his voice was pathetic. “I’ll renounce my family! I’ll sign a post-nup giving you 100% control of everything! Just... just call off the bank audits. Save our company, Elena. Please.”
Before I could answer, the ICU double doors swung open, and Dr. Harrison, a distinguished cardiologist in a crisp white coat, stepped out into the hallway.
He looked around, his eyes landing on Adrian.
“Mr. Vale?”
“Yes! That’s me! How is my mother?” Adrian scrambled to his feet.
Dr. Harrison adjusted his glasses, his expression grave and professional. “Your mother’s acute hypertension has stabilized, Mr. Vale. She’s resting. However, the cardiac event was triggered by severe, acute shock and prolonged financial distress. I must warn you—her heart is weak. If she experiences another shock like this, her prognosis is very poor.”
Adrian swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. “Thank you, Doctor. Can I see her?”
“Not yet. She needs absolute quiet for the next twelve hours.” The doctor turned his gaze toward me, recognizing me from various corporate charity galas. “Ah, Mrs. Vane. I didn't realize you were here as well.”
“I’m just reviewing the paperwork, Doctor,” I said politely.
May you like
Dr. Harrison gave a respectful nod and walked down the corridor.
Adrian turned back to me, the color returning slightly to his cheeks, fueled by a desperate flicker of hope. “You heard him, Elena. She’s fragile. If you push the bankruptcy through while she’s recovering in the hospital... it could literally kill her.”
