hapter 11
Lucas nearly floored the gas pedal on his way to the hospital.
He would never have known that Wendy had been injured at the graduation party if he had not glanced at the local news before returning to their rented apartment.
She had been lying in the middle of shattered glass, surrounded by champagne and blood.
He felt guilty and regretful. He had been protecting Natelie all night and had not even noticed Wendy on the ground.
In the days that followed, he had been too busy preparing for the engagement to check on her. All he had done was send a single, rushed message.
She had been in the hospital–alone. She must have been devastated.
As he sped past a flower shop, he suddenly hit the brakes.
He walked inside and asked for a bouquet of yellow roses.
Yellow roses symbolized apology and one’s hope for forgiveness.
He needed to say sorry for everything he did that hurt Wendy.
He would tell her the truth–about his identity, about why he had approached her in the first place.
Then, he would beg for her forgiveness.
He had it all planned out by the time he reached the hospital.
“She’s already been discharged. Who are you to her?” the nurse asked.
Lucas froze.
Wendy did not tell him anything.
apher 1
“I’m her boyfriend,” he said quickly.
“When did she leave?”
+26 Bonus
The nurse eyed him up and down, her expression shifting from neutral to disapproving.
A tailored suit, a limited–edition Patek Philippe on his wrist–everything about him. screamed money.
Yet, his girlfriend could not even afford the surgery.
The nurse scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.
“Yesterday. Shouldn’t you know that?”
Lucas‘ frown deepened. He did not understand the sudden hostility.
a
There was no point in staying there any longer. Wendy would probably be at the apartment
if she were not in the hospital.
He turned to leave.
“Can you believe that guy?” one of the nurses whispered behind him.
“He dresses like a rich man. Yet, his girlfriend couldn’t even afford surgery. She had to
leave the hospital early. So pathetic.”
“Maybe his clothes are fake. How do you know he’s rich?”
“Whatever. But one thing is clear- he doesn’t care about her. He didn’t even know she had been discharged. She was here alone–no visitors or anyone to care for her. So pathetic.”
Lucas‘ steps abruptly stopped as he overheard the nurses‘ conversation.
He
spun back toward the nurses‘ station, but they refused to say anything else.
His pulse pounded as he dialed his assistant.
Minutes later, the hospital’s management rushed to greet him.
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Chapter 11
However, Lucas did not care about formalities–he had only one priority.
“Bring Wendy’s attending physician to me.”
A doctor soon arrived, holding two files.
The first one was from the previous night’s injury.
Lucas flipped through it, his brows knitting tighter with every
line.
+25 Bonus
[Over 100 lacerations. A deep wound on the left cheek–5 cm long, 2 cm deep. Requires
immediate reconstructive surgery.]
The doctor hesitated before saying, “The surgery costs 1,300 dollars. But Ms. Shaw didn’t go through with it. She said she couldn’t afford it.”
Bang!
Lucas slammed his fist onto the desk.
He felt guilty.
He knew why she could not afford it she had spent everything on him.
So, because of it, she had been left with a permanent scar.
However, he did not realize that. He had also spent 10,000 dollars on cream for Natelie’s
scar.
The doctor hesitated before giving him the second file.
“Mr. Shalton,” he said carefully.
“This is from Wendy’s hospital visit a week ago.”
Lucas gasped as he read the report.
[Patient is missing a kidney.]
