Chapter 16
She’d called the nurse to change it, and in her groggy state, the girl had mistaken her for her mother, clutching her hand and whispering, “Mommy.”
“Thanks, Beth,” Concetta said, taking the tissue with a smile-the first genuine one she’d felt in days.
Bethany gasped, covering her mouth.
“Oh my gosh, pretty lady, when you smile, you glow like a fairy! You’ve got to smile more!”
Concetta’s grin widened at the girl’s pure, earnest praise.
“What a shame,” Bethany sighed, shaking her head dramatically.”My daddy’s already got my mommy!”
Then her eyes sparkled with a sudden idea.”But you could marry my uncle! He doesn’t have a wife yet!”
Concetta laughed, her eyes crinkling as she gently combed through Bethany’s tangled hair.”Beth, I’m already married.”
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Bethany’s face fell.”What? You’re married? Well, of course you are-you’re so pretty, it makes sense you’d have a husband. But why hasn’t he come to see you? When my mommy’s sick, my daddy stays up all night watching over her.”
Bethany was in the hospital because she’d fallen ill after a sudden trip back to the country. Her parents couldn’t make it in time, so they’d asked her uncle to look after her.
But her dad, ever unreliable, didn’t even know her uncle was away on a business trip.
Her grandpa had dropped off food last night and hired a caregiver before rushing home to tend to his beloved plants.
Concetta’s smile faded, her thoughts drifting back to Lynne’s words.
Last night, Alejandro had probably stayed up all night by Sharon’s side.
That single missed call from him was likely just to confront her, to lay blame.
Bethany blinked up at her, letting Concetta stroke her hair, her little face thoughtful.
She thought, “Pretty lady looks sad again.
“Is it because of her husband?”
4
In the VIP ward, Lynne and Hyman arrived early to visit Sharon.
It was too late when Sharon fell ill last night, and Alejandro hadn’t let them come along.
They’d spent the evening glued to video calls, anxious for updates.
“Mom was way out of line,” Lynne grumbled, clutching Sharon’s sleeve as she perched by the bed.”I called her, and she wouldn’t even admit she was wrong! She had the nerve to blame Sharon for wearing her clothes!”
Sharon cast a glance toward the man on the balcony who had just set down his phone. A subtle smile curled on her lips. “Lynnie, Francesca mentioned she saw your mom out with some man last night. Maybe she was just busy and didn’t mean to say those things.”
“Busy?”
Alejandro’s voice was like ice, a chilling edge that sent shivers through the room.
He bit out the word through gritted teeth, his anger palpable.
He thought, his blood boiling, “So that’s why Concetta didn’t answer my calls-she was with another man.
“Perfect. Just perfect.
Sharon’s expression flickered with feigned panic.”Alejandro, Francesca only saw them by chance. It could’ve been a misunderstanding…”
Her voice trailed off, barely a whisper.
Alejandro stormed out of the room, his face dark with fury, dialing Concetta’s number again.
The phone rang a few times before she picked up.
“Where are you?” he demanded.
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“The hospital,” she replied.
Alejandro’s lips curled into a cold smirk.
“Lynne must’ve told her we’re here,” he thought.
“You actually showed up? Done with your little errands, Mrs. Calderon?”
Concetta frowned, confused.”What are you talking about?”
His voice grew even colder.”Don’t play dumb. You’re already at the hospital, so get over here. Room 506. Now.”
He hung up abruptly, his tone final.
Concetta knew she had to face this in person, or the mess would only fester.
She took a deep breath, smoothed her hospital gown, and slowly made her
Alejandro paced outside the ward, growing impatient.
way out of her ward.
Just as he reached for his phone to call her again, the door to the general ward across the hall clicked open.
A frail figure emerged, her face pale as ash, one hand shakily holding an IV drip.
Alejandro’s eyes flickered, his expression darkening with a mix of shock and confusion.”What… what are you doing here?”
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