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 hand.

it clear your father was to receive

toward Alexander. Whatever his motives, whatever our arrangement, he’d come through when it

Weaver said, heading for

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

his voice cracking slightly. “Dad’s going to be

He looked smaller somehow, pale against the hospital sheets, with tubes and

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

funny, Dad,” I said, taking his hand

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Chapter 43

he insisted, his eyelids drooping. “Tell your

her yourself tomorrow,” Ethan said, squeezing his shoulder gently. “You need

again, the medication pulling him under. We stayed a few more minutes, watching the steady

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

said I could stay in the chair. You kids go home and get some

stay with you, Mom,”

us to be uncomfortable,” she insisted. “Go home. Come back in the morning. I’ll call

promises that she would call immediately if there

the yellow glow

paid the driver and stepped out into the cool night air, my body suddenly

the driver asked, noticing my

fine.” I mustered a smile and watched the cab pull away before

faint, almost soothing hum of the elevator as I pressed the button and

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

the small space feeling both comforting and empty