Chapter 119
The emergency team moved with practiced efficiency, transferring William from the stretches to the hospital bed. Monitors beeped rhythmically as nurses connected various tubes and wires to his frail body. The oxygen mask forged Slightly with each labored breath.
Richard arrived at the hospital an hour later, his normally impeccable appearance disheveled from rushing. When he stepped into the ICU waiting area and saw Henry sitting alone, his face darkened with rage.
“You,” he growled, advancing toward his son with purposeful strides, “What have you done?”
Henry looked up, his expression uncharacteristically vulnerable Father, I-
The slap came without warning, echoing in the hospital corridas Henry’s head snapped sideways from the force, but he made no move to defend himself.
“How dare you?” Richard hissed, not caring about the people around them. “Because of your selfish behavior, your grandfather is fighting for his life! Wasn’t tormenting your wife enough? Did you have to push Grandfather to his breaking point too?”
Henry remained silent, accepting his father’s fury without protest. The red imprint of Richard’s hand bloomed across his cheek, his face revealing a shameful expression.
“I’ve been told everything,” Richard continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Everything, Henry. How could you treat Sophia that way? Have you completely lost your mind?”
A nurse cautiously approached. “Mr. Harding? Please lower your voice. This is a hospital.”
Richard composed himself with visible effort, straightening his jacket. “I apologize.” He turned back to Henry, his voice controlled but still filled with cold fury. “We’ll discuss this further when your grandfather’s condition stabilizes.”
As Richard disappeared into William’s room, Mark Martin–William’s loyal butler–lingered in the hallway, discreetly taking a photo of the unconscious patriarch. He quickly sent the image to Sophia.
In the garden at Maple Grove, I sat watching Billy play. My thoughts still echoed with Henry’s earlier assault, my body aching from the struggle. Remembering his hands restraining me, forcing himself on me… despite the warm afternoon sun, I couldn’t help but shudder.
“Mom, can we not go to Aunt Betty’s place?” Billy suddenly asked, interrupting my thoughts. “I don’t want to go to Aunt Betty’s anymore.”
I was a bit confused. “Dear, you get along so well with Aunt Betty. Why don’t you want to go to her house?”
Billy stared at me earnestly. “This is our home, isn’t it? Why should we leave?”
His innocent question caught me off guard. How could I explain to a five–year–old that sometimes a house stops being a home when it becomes a battlefield?
“Aunt Betty’s apartment is small,” he continued. “And all my toys are here. Dad is here too.”
“Billy- I had just begun when my phone’s vibration interrupted me.
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Chapter 119
I looked down and froze. Mark had sent a photo of William in intensive care, unconscious and connected to a ventilator. Seeing his frall body swallowed by hospital machinery made my heart painfully tighten.
“Billy, we need to go to the hospital,” I said, already standing up “Great–grandpa isn’t feeling well.”
“His small face wrinkled with worry. “Will he be okay?”
“I hope so, dear,” I answered, taking his hand. “I really hope so
The hospital corridor felt endless as I hurried toward William’s foom, Billy’s hand tightly clutched in mine. When we turned the corner, I suddenly stopped.
Henry stood outside his grandfather’s room, his posture defeated in a way I’d never seen before. A vivid red handprint marked his cheek. Despite all the hurt he had caused me, seeing him so broken made something inside me painfully twist.
Our eyes met across the hallway, neither of us moving. The tension between us was electric yet strangely calm, as if we were both too exhausted for another confrontation.
Billy, ever perceptive, slipped his hand from mine and approached Mark, who stood nearby.
“Mr. Martin,” he said with surprising formality, “could you take me to see Great–grandpa?”
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