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.”

you, Doctor,” Nick said, standing to shake his hand. “For

to receive

gratitude toward Alexander. Whatever his motives, whatever our

will come get you when Mr. Morgan is ready for visitors,” Dr. Weaver said, heading for the door. “Try to get some rest yourselves. The next few

Mom burst into tears–happy tears of relief. Ethan wrapped his arms around her, his own eyes

said, his voice cracking slightly. “Dad’s

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

voice raspy from the breathing tube they’d removed. “No crying, okay? I’m not dead

said, taking his hand carefully, mindful of the

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Chapter 43

he insisted, his eyelids drooping.

said, squeezing his shoulder gently. “You need to

under. We stayed a few more minutes, watching the steady rise and

the ICU, it was nearly midnight. Mom insisted on staying overnight despite

I could stay in the chair.

you, Mom,” Nick

she insisted. “Go

than to argue with that tone. After extracting promises that she would call immediately if there was any

the yellow glow of the streetlights

stepped out into the cool night air, my

need help, miss?” the driver asked,

I mustered a smile and

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

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

me with familiar silence, the small space feeling