Even at this moment, you’re still trying to deceive me?”
Henry’s voice cut through the hosptial room like a blade.
Isabella’s tears flowed freely, her expression filled with confusion and fear.
In the past, her tears had always been Henty’s weakness.
The moment she’d start crying, he would immediately soften, pulling her into his arms.
But today, he just stood there, cold and distant, watching her cry without the slightest hint of sympathy.
The coldness in his eyes made Isabella’s fragile heart crumble. She couldn’t bear this humiliation. Her sobs grew louder.
“How am I deceiving you?” she cried out, her voice breaking. “What have I lied about? Look at me–I’m lying here after surgery, barely alive, and instead of comforting me, you’re accusing me? You claim to love me, but everything you do just hurts me!”
Isabella thought Nancy’s signals behind Henry meant her performance wasn’t pitiful enough. She intensified her victim act even more.
Henry had changed. He was no longer the man who loved her unconditionally.
Perhaps the transformation had begun when he first started resisting her kisses–his heart had already started turning toward Sophia.
That bitch Sophia should die, Isabella thought bitterly.
Henry stared at the woman before him, suddenly feeling like he was looking at a stranger.
The Isabella he thought he knew–pure, sweet, gentle–had never existed. It had all been an elaborate mask.
‘I guess I’ll let James continue his investigation,” he said slowly, deliberately. “Perhaps your aunt Margaret can provide more answers.”
Isabella’s heart rate monitor began beeping faster.
Henry exhaled heavily, staring at her. “Take care of yourself,” he said flatly. “And try not to attempt suicide again.”
The words sounded concerned on the surface, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Isabella choked back a sob. “Henry, you’re doubting me, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What did my aunt tell you to make you so suspicious? Can’t you feel how much I love you? Everything I’ve done was so we could be together forever!”
She paused, drawing a shaky breath before continuing, “And what about Sophia? Doesn’t she bear any responsibility? She forcibly tore apart a loving couple. Is that right? Is that justified?”
Her words revealed her panic.
She could sense the implicit message in Henry’s demeanor: We’re over.
“I was only protecting what was mine,” Isabella insisted, her voice filled with desperation, “Is that wrong? If it weren’t for Sophia, we’d still be the perfect couple. How did things end up like this? You hated Sophia for over six years too! Have you forgotten that?”
As she spoke, her emotions escalated as she struggled to sit up.
Her frail body betrayed her, and after the effort, she fell back against the pillows.
Henry let out a contemptuous snort. Without another word, he turned and walked away, not once looking back.
Back in his car, Henry yanked at his tie in frustration, loosening it forcefully.
1/3
Chapter 218
He couldn’t get the image out of his head–Sophia clutching Rilly protectively, terrified and helpless as a car barreled toward them.
Damn it! he thought painfully, where was I when my wife and son needed me?
Such a life–threatening incident, and Sophia hadn’t said a word to him about it.
Not one word.
It was clear proof that she had already written him out of her life as a husband. Her heart no longer had a place for him.
Was it too late to apologize now? Could he ever earn back her trust?
At Manhattan General Hospital, Thomas was clearing out his office.
The Harding family’s influence had made his position untenable. He couldn’t face Sophia anymore, and with the Harding family targeting the Sanders fatal, his family business was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Rather than endure pointed fingers and whispers behind his back, he had submitted his resignation letter, recommending Sophia for the head nurse position in the Cardiology Department.
I watched him pack his things with surprising detachment.
his bh had
The man I once knew–the bright, charming Thomas from medical school–had been replaced by someone I barely recognized. I had believed him incapable of darkness, but now I understood that human nature was the hardest thing in the world to predict.
Thomas had claimed to love me, wanted to rekindle our relationship, had tried to force himself on me, and had planned to film compromising footage to save his family business.
He was nothing like the gentleman I thought I knew.
During my lunch break, William summoned me to his hospital room. When I entered, I was surprised to see Alexander Reynolds from Aspen sitting beside the old man’s bed.
Today, Alexander wore a long black down coat, which he’d removed in the warm hospital room to reveal a deep blue V–neck cashmere sweater paired with slim black pants and combat boots.
The outfit accentuated his handsome, masculine features, making him look both stylish and powerful. I couldn’t help but admire his appearance.
“Sophia, you look absolutely charming in your nurse’s uniform,” Alexander complimented me, his smile warm and genuine.
I smiled back. During my time in Aspen, he had been incredibly kind, and I’d been thinking about how to properly thank him for his care.
Our conversation flowed comfortably and naturally.
William sat up in bed, closely observing the young pair.
The old man had given Henry so many chances to do the right thing, but his grandson had failed repeatedly, continuing to hurt his wife’s heart.
I could see that William’s patience had finally run out! It wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking–he wanted to match me with Alexander.
For the first time, I found myself enjoying a conversation with a man without overthinking every word. It felt like freedom.
