Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Don’t worry, it’s never been used,” Gerry reassured, proving his point by taking a sip of the leftover water himself.
Cliff just sighed, wondering what kind of karma had cursed him with such a ridiculous brother.
Once Cliff regained consciousness, he had been waiting for Laney.
When Laney arrived, she hesitated at the door and asked Gerry about Cliff’s condition.
Cliff, unable to move, just lay there, watching the door, hoping she’d walk in.
Cliff’s surgery was hidden from his parents. Gerry lied, telling them Cliff was away on a business trip and wouldn’t be home for a while. So, Cliff was alone as night fell, with no other visitors coming.
Cliff waited for Laney to enter his ward, yet minutes passed without any sign of her, and his ward was swallowed by darkness.
After what seemed like an eternity, Laney stepped in. Assuming he was asleep at this hour, she quietly moved to check on him. But when she pulled back the curtain, she saw his eyes wide open, like he’d been waiting for her the whole time. Her heart skipped a beat, and she softly whispered his name.
Cliff had been in pain from his injuries after the anesthesia wore off, but when he heard her voice, all his pain seemed to vanish. Slowly, he stretched out his hand.
Laney hesitated.
“I’ll grab a chair to sit on. Don’t move.”
Cliff didn’t say anything. He didn’t just want Laney to sit beside him. He wanted her to hold his hand.
Laney sat down and leaned toward him.
“I saw the papers you left. I know the car accident was a misunderstanding. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
Cliff tightened his lips.
“No need to apologize.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about your injury? You even stayed out of my apartment all night.”
Seeing her eyes swollen from tears and fearing more would fall, Cliff finally came clean.
“I wanted to play the sympathy card to make you come out and find me. But when you didn’t, and the pain became unbearable in the morning, I came to the hospital.”
Laney pouted.
“You endured a whole night’s cold, but you couldn’t swallow your pride and come in to comfort me?”
Cliff just looked at her, saying nothing. He was lucky his sternum was fractured; otherwise, he wasn’t sure when he’d have another chance to play the sympathy card to win her back. Hearing her talk about breaking up the night before had hurt more than he expected. Honestly, he was terrified, and that was why he resorted to the sympathy card.
After spending a few hours together, Cliff asked Gerry to take Laney home to rest.
Cliff gave Gerry some instructions.
“Laney isn’t feeling great, and her stomach might act up tonight. Tell the housekeeper to make her some soup to help her feel better. She knows how to do it, just ask her.”
Gerry teased, “Why are you treating her like your wife when you’re not even married? Did Laney agree to marry you?”
Cliff just shot Gerry a look.
“Shut up.”
Gerry shrugged.
“Alright, alright.”
The next morning, Laney came back with some soup she made herself and fed it to Cliff spoon by spoon.
Their little fight was already forgotten. Laney felt her cheeks heat up under his intense gaze.
“Did you sleep well last night?” Cliff asked.
Laney nodded, and Cliff took another spoonful of soup.
“Gerry said you slept in my room,” Cliff chuckled.
Laney looked down bashfully.
“Why does Gerry tell you everything?”
Cliff gave a smirk.
After breakfast, the doctor came in to check on Cliff.
Thanks to his good health and proper medication, Cliff was healing faster than expected. The doctor had some dietary tips to share with the family. He looked around and asked, “Where’s the patient’s brother from yesterday? Is the family not here?”
Laney answered, “He’ll be here later. I’m his cousin, taking care of him for now. Anything important?”
“Just some dietary advice,” the doctor said, stealing a few more glances at Laney. He then smiled.
“Your eyes are so red. Have you been crying? Don’t worry, the patient is fine-just some minor injuries.”
Before Laney could respond, Cliff’s attention shifted. He noticed the doctor was checking out Laney, giving her a flirty smile.
Annoyed, Cliff asked, “What time is it?”
The doctor turned back, confused.
“It’s ten o’clock. Why?”
Cliff raised an eyebrow.
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, feel free to continue with your rounds.”
Bewilderment painted the faces of both the doctor and Laney as they stood rooted to the spot, struggling to process what they had just heard. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Before the doctor could gather his thoughts to speak, Cliff cut through the silence with an icy tone.
“I’m fine now. You can go ahead and get busy.”
Caught in Cliff’s unwelcoming glare, the doctor swallowed his questions. He cleared his throat awkwardly, rattled off a few perfunctory medical reminders, and made a hasty retreat.
Once the door clicked shut, Laney ventured cautiously, “Do you have a problem with that doctor?”
Cliff turned to her, his gaze cold and distant.
“You just said you were merely my cousin?”
Laney’s teeth worried at her lower lip as she dropped her gaze, wordlessly offering him his medication.
In one swift motion, Cliff seized her hand.
“Answer me,” he demanded, his voice tight with barely contained emotion.
“You agreed to break up with me,” Laney whispered, her voice barely audible.
“So, I am only your cousin.”
The words seemed to knock the breath from Cliff’s lungs. A violent coughing fit seized him, sending tremors through his body.
Alarmed, Laney instinctively reached out to steady him, her gentle hands patting his back soothingly.
The force of his coughing threatened to re-aggravate his injuries. Clutching his wound, Cliff drew in a ragged breath before fixing Laney with a piercing stare.
“Do you really want a breakup?”
Though her heart screamed otherwise, Laney felt the bitter sting of injustice.
“You agreed,” she reminded him softly.
“In this matter, you actually listened to me. But in the past, didn’t you always ignore my words?”
“You’re angry again.”
Laney met his gaze, her voice tinged with resignation.
“Maybe breaking up is the right choice.”
“What did you just say?” Cliff’s words cracked like a whip through the air.
The intimate encounter remained seared in his memory-the sight of her vulnerability had nearly shattered his self-control. Now, that same primal urge threatened to overwhelm him, but his iron will kept pulling him back from the edge. After a charged silence, he exhaled heavily.
“Sleep. I won’t touch you.”
Laney nestled her head against his arm, her voice turning sweetly mischievous.
“I learned something interesting from a movie before.”
“Hmm?” Cliff responded, his interest piqued.
She kissed him softly.
“Using this.”
Blood rushed to Cliff’s head, his pulse quickening.
“Learned? How did you learn?”
“No, no!” Laney rushed to clarify, her words tumbling out in flustered explanation.
“I only watched, nothing more.”