The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 43

Olivia

Ethan nearly fell off his chair, laughing. “How did I miss this story?”

“You were away at college,” Mom explained, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “Olivia came home that night and declared she was done with dating forever.”

“And now she’s dating Alexander Carter,” Amelia said, shaking her head in amazement. “Talk about an upgrade from Lord

Marcus.”

“Alexander doesn’t wear capes, as far as I know,” I said dryly.

“Only expensive custom suits,” Nick said.

Before I could respond, the waiting room door opened, and Dr. Weaver entered, still wearing his surgical cap. We all fell silent instantly, the laughter evaporating.

“The surgery was successful,” he announced without preamble, and I felt my shoulders sag with relief. “We completed all three bypasses with no complications. Your husband’s heart is already showing improved blood flow.”

Mom pressed her hand to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank God.”

“He’s in recovery now,” Dr. Weaver continued. “He’ll be moved to the ICU shortly, where he’ll remain for the next 24 to 48 hours. After that, assuming all goes well, he’ll be transferred to a regular room.”

“When can we see him?” Mom asked.

“You can see him briefly once he’s settled in the ICU, but only two visitors at a time, and only for a few minutes. He’ll be groggy from the anesthesia and will need rest.”

Doctor,” Nick said, standing to shake his

made it clear your father was to receive

toward Alexander. Whatever his motives, whatever our

Weaver said, heading for the door. “Try to get some rest yourselves.

tears–happy tears of relief. Ethan wrapped his arms around her,

Ethan said, his voice cracking

in a blur. Mom and Nick went in first to see Dad, then Ethan and I took our turn. He looked smaller somehow, pale against the hospital sheets, with tubes and wires connecting him to various machines. But when he opened his eyes and saw us, he managed

whispered, his voice raspy from the breathing tube they’d removed. “No

Dad,” I said, taking his hand

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Chapter 43

he insisted, his eyelids drooping. “Tell your

tomorrow,” Ethan said, squeezing his shoulder

watching the steady rise and fall of his chest before

left the ICU, it was nearly midnight. Mom insisted

him,” she said firmly. “The nurses said I could

stay with you,

uncomfortable,” she insisted. “Go home. Come

knew better than to argue with that tone. After extracting promises that she

cab stopped in front of my apartment building, the yellow glow of the streetlights casting long

cool night air, my body suddenly aware of

help, miss?” the driver asked,

a smile and watched the cab pull away before turning toward my

eerily quiet, the only sound being the faint, almost soothing hum of the elevator as I pressed the button and waited for

slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped inside, feeling the cool, metallic interior embrace me. As the elevator ascended, I leaned against the wall, the soft vibration beneath my feet a reminder of the upward movement. Each floor passed with a gentle ding, the numbers lighting up one by one until I finally reached my

with familiar silence, the small space feeling both comforting and empty after