He Waited for Fifteen Years Chapter 13

He Waited for Fifteen Years Chapter 13

Lowell was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian.

Eight stitches across his forehead. When he woke up, the dizziness was severe. He kept vomiting. The doctors diagnosed a moderate concussion.

The security guard was unapologetic.

“We were just escorting him out. He’s the one who walked face-first into the door frame.”

Lowell looked terrible in the hospital bed. He reached for me.

“Verona. My head. It’s spinning so badly.”

Shepard pulled me behind him immediately. He only left one instruction for the guard.

“Get him a twenty-four-hour nurse.”

We were almost at the door when Lowell threw up again. He fumbled frantically for the call button.

I watched the nurses and doctors rush back and forth a few times. Finally, I sighed.

“Shepard. Let me talk to him alone for a minute.”

The door closed. The room smelled like antiseptic.

Lowell’s eyes lit up.

“Verona. I knew you wouldn’t really abandon me. You still ache for me. Right?”

“There’s still time. You love me. I love you. We can go to the clerk’s office tomorrow. I’ll give you the biggest wedding. Whatever setting you want. I can—”

“Lowell.”

I cut him off. My voice was very calm.

“Why do you still not understand?”

“When I said I don’t love you anymore, I wasn’t being spiteful. It wasn’t about Talia. I meant it. I’m done. It’s over.”

His lips trembled. His face went even paler.

A long silence. Then he shook his head.

“I don’t believe you. Before. You loved me so much.”

“Yes. I loved you. And how did you treat me?”

“You resented our branch’s position. You couldn’t stand that I was born standing somewhere you could never reach. You were always ashamed that your branch could never catch up to ours.”

“So you deliberately found a girlfriend from new money. You made sure everyone knew you loved her and not me. You told people I was the one throwing myself at you. That I was the one who wouldn’t stop chasing.”

“You cut me. Over and over.”

I looked at him.

“Lowell. I feel pain too.”

His mouth opened on instinct. To argue.

But the words wouldn’t come.

Because he knew. Better than anyone.

His jealousy. His insecurity. All of it was real.