“Oh my God, that assistant in the ER you don’t think she’s actually Mrs. Harding, do you? The list voice was high with exeltement.
Are you kidding? A Harding, doing grunt work here?” Another voice scoffed, ‘Like she’d let us boss her around if she was.
Remember last week when we made her clean up that mess in Room 4037 a third nurse chimed in with a laugh. “A real Harding would we called her lawyers right then and there.”
“And she’s always so quiet and polite,” someone else added. “The few times I’ve seen Isabella Scott, she wouldn’t even look at the nursing staff. That’s what real money looks like.”
Plus, have you seen how shabby her clothes are? They’re nice, but definitely not Harding level. My cousin works at Bergdorf’s, and she says Isabella Scott never buys anything under five figures.”
“I don’t know…
third voice chimed in. “Did you see how Henry Harding looked at her outside Isabella Scott’s suite? Like he wanted to murder someone.
“Please. If she were really Mrs. Harding, we’d all be fired by now. Remember how we treated her these past few months?”
“Who cares if she is? Everyone knows Henry Harding can’t stand her. He’s with Isabella Scott now.”
Water dripped from my fingers as I gripped the edge of the sink, each word cutting deeper than the last. Five years of marriage, and I couldn’t even claim my own name without causing gossip.
“Isabella Scott – now there’s real old money.” The voices grew more animated. “Did you hear she went to school in Switzerland? Her family’s been in Boston society for generations.”
“Unlike some people who just got lucky because daddy helped the Hardings…”
Alright, alright, let’s stop discussing this. We need to get back to work,” one of the nurses said.
I reached for the paper towels, determined to leave with whatever dignity I had left. But when I tried the door, pulled, but the handle remained immobile.
“Hello?” I called out, trying to keep the panic from my voice. “Is anyone there? The door seems to be stuck!”
it
wouldn’t budge. I pushed harder, then
Silence answered. I pulled out my phone, but the screen showed no signal. My heart began to race as realization dawned this wasn’t an accident. Someone had deliberately trapped me here.
“Help!” I pounded on the door, my composed facade cracking. “Can anyone hear me?”
Isabella’s POV:
In the VIP suite, I adjusted my silk robe with practiced elegance. The climate control kept the room at a perfect temperature.
‘Henry?” My voice carried that musical lilt. “You seem distracted today. What’s wrong?”
Henry continued checking his phone, his jawline tight with tension. “Nothing.”
I let my lower lip tremble perfectly. “Don’t you love me anymore? Did she say something to you?”
“You’re being oversensitive, Isabella. Henry’s voice carried an edge of irritation he’d never have shown me before.
“Oversensitive?‘ I felt tears gathering in my expertly lined eyes. “I’m sorry, Henry, I just want to be with you forever.”
Henry’s eye twitched – a tiny tell that would have been imperceptible to anyone who hadn’t spent years studying his face. Something was wrong, and for the first time in my carefully planned life, I felt control slipping through my manicured fingers.
1/2
Chapter 36
Suddenly Henry got up and walked toward the floor.
Where are you going? Did I make you mad? I’m sorry, Tim just… I bald a little flustered.
He left without answering.
Thomas Sanders straightened his tie as he strode through the hospital corridors, his usual white coat replaced by an impeccably tailored suit. He nearly collided with Henry at the corner, both men’s expressions shifting from neutral to hostile in an instant.
Mr. Harding. Thomas’s voice could have frozen hell. “What brings you to this part of the hospital? Sophia didn’t want to see you.
The divorce was your idea, wasn’t it?” Henry’s gray eyes turned dangerous. “Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?”
She deserves better than what you’ve given her.” Thomas didn’t back down. “A life without constant manipulation and control.
And you think the Sanders family can protect her? Henry’s voice dropped to a deadly
whisper
Thomas’s laugh was sharp with contempt. “Still better than suffering in the
Harding ho
“Does your mother know about your little crusade?”
You seem very confident,” Henry’s voice dropped dangerously low. Tell me, Dr. Sanders, did you enjoy playing hero to my wife and son at the hospital?”
At least I was there for them, Thomas shot back. “While you were too busy playing devoted lover to Isabella Scott to care about your own child’s fever.”
Henry’s eyes turned to ice. “Watch yourself, Doctor. The medical board might find it interesting how t
you’re pursuing a married patient.
“And the press might find it interesting how Henry Harding treats his wife and child, Thomas countered, his hands clenching into fists. “She deserves someone who actually cares about her happiness.”
“Her happiness?” Henry’s laugh was cruel. “You think you know what she needs? You’re just a lovesick fool chasing an old fantasy.”
“Don’t worry,” Henry’s words carried the weight of generations of power. “I’ll make sure you never get what
You
He shouldered past Thomas, continuing his search. Each empty corridor and silent room ratcheted his tension higher. Call after call to my phone went straight to voicemail. The hospital’s layout was a maze of possibilities, but one fact became increasingly clear as the minutes ticked by:
I had vanished without a trace.
In her luxurious suite, Isabella paced, her perfectly curated calm finally cracking. Six unanswered calls to Henry’s phone told her everything she needed to know. She was no longer the fairy tale princess, and for the first time, she felt the ground shifting beneath her heels.
The rain outside grew heavier, drumming against the windows. Somewhere in this labyrinth of corridors and secrets, I had disappeared. After half an hour of searching, Henry still hadn’t found me.
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