Edmund’s POV
Recovery was supposed to give a certain wave of satisfaction, but all it did was make me testless. My wounds were holding fine, though the bandage across my head hadn’t been removed yet. I wasn’t bedridden anymore, but still, they refused to love me out of this damn hospital. And to make it worse, Amelia had confiscated my phone, which meant I couldn’t even bury myself in work.
The irony? I could probably get both the phone and an early discharge if I demanded it. I had enough influence to make that happen. But the truth was… it was Amelia who had put her foot down. And for reasons I didn’t even want to adfirst too myself. I couldn’t bring myself to go against her.
So here I was, stuck. Counting ceiling tiles. Watching mindless TV until I wanted to pull my hair our. Staring at the same walls day after day until it felt like the room was shrinking around me.
Finally, I swung my legs over the bed with a groan. My body was stiff from staying in one place too long, my muscles practically begging for movement.
“Strolling it is then,” I muttered, pushing myself up.
The hallway smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the floor gleamed under the fluorescent lights. Nurses moved quickly from room to room, their shoes clicking softly against the tiles. A patient on a wheelchair was being rolled past me, his wife walking beside him with a worried face. I nodded politely, continuing my slow pace.
For a moment, it felt good just walking, stretching my legs, breathing air that wasn’t recycled from my room.
Then I spotted someone ahead.
Nurse Lydia.
The very one Amelia had instructed to keep an eye on me. And if there was one thing Lydia excelled at, and it was following Amelia’s orders to the end. If she spotted me out here, she’d drag me back to bed without thinking twice.
A sudden wave of panic shot through me like I was some teenager caught sneaking out past curfew. My eyes darted around desperately, searching for cover. The more the sound of her shoes drew closer, the more frantic I looked.
And then, an open door.
Without thinking twice, I slipped inside and shut it gently behind me,
The room was dark, the air heavy with dust and the faint scent of cleaning chemicals. I blinked until my eyes adjusted, my hand feeling along the wall until I found a switch.
A dim yellow light flickered on, revealing shelves lined with boxes, mops, and folded sheets. A storage room. Not exactly the grand escape I had envisioned, but it would do. Until Lydia was out of sight at least.
I let out a slow breath, and leaned against the shelves. My pulse was still racing like I’d just outrun security.
Then I heard voices outside the door.
The door creaked open, and two nurses stepped inside, chatting.
I felt my heart jump into my throat.
1/3
3:54 pm ppm M
Chaptea 8
Quickly, I ducked behind a tall stack of supply boxes, holding my breaths, praying they wouldn’t notice me
I crouched lower, straining to hear them as they moved about the room. Their voices started off light. Lchubin’t really hear what they were saying. And honestly I couldn’t care less about their gossip.
Well that was until they got closer.
“Honestly, I don’t get why everyone acts like Dr. Amelia is some kind of saint, one of them muttered.
The other snorted. “Tell me about it. The way she carries herself, you’d think she owns the hospital. Always giving orders like everyone else is beneath her.”
1 froze, my jaw tightening.
“Right?” the first nurse laughed. “And the funniest part? People forget she used to be a janitor here. A janitor. Clearing up people’s messes. Now she walks around like she’s royalty.”
“That’s not even the worst of it,” the second one chimed in, her voice laced with disdain. “You think she made it here using her brains alone? Please. My bet is that some old sugar daddy bankrolled her way through medical school. Or maybe she just bought her way in. That would explain a lot.”
The two of them burst into giggles, like what they’d said was the funniest thing in the world.
Heat rose in my chest, anger simmering deep in my gut. My hands curled into fists against my sides. Every word they spoke was a lie. I knew better.
Even when Amelia had moved to London and we’d lost touch, I hadn’t stopped keeping tabs on her. I knew how hard she had worked, the hours she put in, the sacrifices she made. She built everything she had with her own blood and sweat. Nothing was handed to her. Nothing.
And to hear them dragging her name through the dirt like that.
I marked their faces. Every detail. The sound of their voices. The names stitched neatly onto their tags.
Finally, their gossip slowed, and with a final roll of laughter, they gathered what they needed and walked out.
I didn’t hesitate. The moment the door shut behind them, I stood and followed. My legs carried me steadily down the hallway, until I spotted them just ahead.
“Excuse me, ladies,” I said firmly as I passed them, my eyes flicking subtly to their name tags. They faltered for a second, surprised, but I didn’t give them the satisfaction of a second glance.
I kept walking, straight to the CFO’s office.
The CFO’s secretary ushered me in almost immediately. No waiting, no hesitation. Of course not. The Montgomery name always carried weight wherever we stepped into.
“Mr. Montgomery!” the CFO greeted warmly, rising from behind his desk with an eager smile. “What a pleasant surprise. Please, sit.”
I lowered myself into the leather chair across from him, ignoring how stiff my body still felt.
“You’re looking well,” he continued, studying me closely. “I can see you’re recuperating properly. We’ve all been very concerned since the accident.”
I gave him a small, polite nod. “Thank you. I’m recovering.”
2/3
54pm P P M
Chapter X
There was some more small talk, too much of it, if you asked me I wasn’t here to exchange plomantries Finally, he folded his hands on the desk and leaned forward
So, how can I help you today. Mr. Montgomery?”
Lexhaled slowly, holding his gaze. “There are two nurses in this hospital who were openly slandering Dr. Ametis.”
He blinked. “Slandering?”
Yes, slandering.” I repeated. “They painted her as arrogant, claiming she was nothing more than a former janter who se have slept her way or bought her way to where she is. That is defamation of character, and I will not stand for it
The CFO let out a soft chuckle, brushing it off. “Ah, Mr. Montgomery.. you mustn’t take it so seriously. It’s just small office gossip. It means nothing.”
“Nothing?” My voice boomed across the office as my palm slammed down hard on his desk. The sound echoed, startling even me. “It is not just gossip!”
The sudden force sent a sharp pain shooting through my skull. I winced, clutching my head as the room tiled slightly. Damn it. I wasn’t supposed to exert myself like this yet.
The CFO rushed to my side instantly, alarm etched across his face. “Mr. Montgomery, please! Take it easy, you’re still healing-
I waved him off, breathing through the pain. “Listen to me.” My voice came out low, edged with steel. “You know as well as I do that the Montgomery Corporation has been this hospital’s greatest supporter. If you don’t want that support withdrawn. then discipline them. That’s all I ask.”
Silence stretched between us for a moment. His lips pressed into a thin line before he finally exhaled, forcing a smile back on his face.
“In that case,” he said with a smile plastered across his face, “please show me where these nurses are. They will be disciplined properly.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
