The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 05

The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 05

Arthur stayed outside the ICU all night.

I sat at the far end of the bench. Three empty seats between us.

He kept trying to say something. I never looked up.

Hours later, a nurse stepped out after checking the IV bag.

Arthur was on his feet before she was fully through the door.

“How is she?”

The nurse glanced at me.

“Her vitals are stable for now, but we’re still monitoring her. Please keep visitors to one family member. She’ll need quiet when she wakes up.”

Arthur nodded.

“I’m her son-in-law. I was on her surgical team.”

“Not anymore.”

I cut him off.

The corridor swallowed the silence.

Arthur’s voice died in his throat.

I handed my phone over. The lawyer’s confirmation was on the screen.

[Divorce petition filed for review. Asset division pending.]

Arthur stared at the screen. His knuckles went white around the edges of the phone.

“Eleanor, let’s not do this right now. Last night, I made the wrong call. But I wasn’t trying to abandon your mom.”

“You don’t need to explain.”

I took back my phone.

“She’s not your mom anymore.”

He flinched like I’d slapped him.

“Don’t say that.”

I looked up at him.

“Arthur, you made your choice yesterday.”

The corners of his lips tightened.

“I thought she was going to jump.”

“Did you watch the footage?”

He fell silent.

That was answer enough.

Clara never went near the ledge.

She stood at the rooftop door, hugging her knees and crying.

The only danger had been the story she told.

But my mom. My mom had actually been on the table.

Arthur sat down next to me, his voice low and hoarse.

“I’ll cut ties with Clara. I won’t see her again.”

I looked at the red light on the ICU door.

“No need.”

“Eleanor.”

“Dr. Sterling.”

His head snapped up.

I kept my voice even.

“Please step down from my mom’s care team going forward. I’ve already been in touch with a hospital in Southbridge. We’ll transfer her as soon as she’s stable.”

“You’re transferring her?”

For the first time, he sounded scared.

“She just came out of surgery. Transferring her right now is an enormous risk.”

“I’ve already consulted a specialist. The risk can be managed.”

“What specialist?”

I didn’t answer.

The elevator doors opened behind us.

A man in a gray overcoat stepped out with a chart in his hand.

“Eleanor?”

I stood up.

“Dr. Thorne.”

Julian Thorne nodded. His gaze moved from my face to Arthur.

“Dr. Sterling. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Arthur’s expression hardened.

“Julian? Southbridge Heart Institute?”

“Yes.”

Julian handed me the chart.

“I’ve reviewed everything you sent over. Once your mom moves to the recovery ward, I can take over from there.”

Arthur looked at me.

“When did you contact him?”

“Long before today.”

Back when I still told myself it was just a backup plan.

Back when I still couldn’t admit that Arthur wasn’t someone I could trust with her life.

Arthur swallowed.

“You’d trust a stranger with her over me?”

Julian’s voice was calm.

“Dr. Sterling, the family has every right to choose her care team.”

Arthur didn’t look at him.

He only stared at me.

“Eleanor, how long have you been planning to leave?”

I didn’t answer.

The red light above the ICU door flickered off.

The nurse stepped out.

“Mrs. Vance is awake. One family member can go in.”

I walked forward.

Arthur moved to follow.

The nurse looked at him.

I turned back. Barely a whisper.

“Only me.”

The door closed in front of him.

Through the glass, I saw him. Still standing there. Still holding the divorce papers.

One corner of the page was crushed in his fist.