Sweet Subterfuge

Chapter 42

As soon as Larissa left Travis‘ room and went by the nurses‘ station, she was stopped by the nurse who’d given her the ice packs earlier.

“Oh, perfect timing.”

The nurse beckoned. Confused, Larissa walked over to her.

“Here!” The nurse handed her a bill. “You can pay downstairs.”

Larissa looked at the bill in her hands. It was yet another five–thousand–dollar bill.

“I think you’ve made a mistake.” She smiled at the nurse. “I’m not related to Travis. I think it’s better if you have his parents pay for this.”

“What?” The nurse was evidently surprised. “Aren’t you his wife? I heard his parents say he’s married, but his wife-” She hesitated, looking embarrassed.

Even though the nurse did not say anything else after that, Larissa was well aware that whatever the Hardys had said about her, it couldn’t have been flattering.

You’re the only one besides his parents to visit him in the hospital, and you’re a woman too, so I

fine.” Larissa remained her composure. “Oh, and-” She prepared herself to voice the question she’d been harboring in her mind since she heard of Travis‘

the spinal surgery ward, Larissa supposed there was a problem with his spine. And problems related to the spine–they sounded serious enough to her.

his wife has not been here once. It was always just his parents. They took care of him, and, speaking

don’t have any other available beds.”

said next. Her attention was entirely focused on the phrase “paralyzed for the rest of

suddenly understood why Mrs. Hardy had been so adamant about getting her to the hospital.

paralyzed. His life was

reaction to Amber, Larissa guessed that Amber was either the reason why Travis had

because she had hoped that Larissa would

coldly. It looked like they’d really thought this through.

and returned to the

gone.

and the ice pack on her forehead had slipped down

“Where’s Larissa? Where did she go?” he

hurriedly.

motionless, his lifeless eyes staring blankly

ceiling.