Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Matilda had come to lay it all on the table and talk divorce, but things spiraled fast–Kathy’s life was suddenly hanging by a thread.
“But, Brandon,” Shelby said, her voice all soft and worried, “what if she gets all emotional and pushes for a divorce?”
The damage was bad. Even if she pulled through surgery, the odds were she’d end up in a vegetative state.
The doctors at Saints International Hospital were spooked by the Grimes family’s clout. They didn’t want to stick their necks out and end up in hot water, so they steered clear.
Mike Goodwin, though, clued Brandon in on a hotshot medical professor, Allen, just back from overseas.
Catch was, Allen wouldn’t start until tomorrow. Mike slipped Brandon his contact info and said to give it a whirl.
An hour later, Brandon was back, looking unusually thrown off.
Allen was polite enough, but weird as hell and hard to read.
Brandon had called, dropped his name, explained the deal, and offered a big paycheck.
Allen’s reply? A calm, “Sorry, Mr. Grimes, you’ll need to find someone else.”
Not one to back down, Brandon showed up at Allen’s place, only for the guy to fixate on the gash on his forehead and ask, “Who did that?”
Allen was thrown for a loop. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?‘ he thought. ‘And how’s it even remotely connected to asking him to do Mom’s surgery?‘
Brandon stayed tight–lipped, and Allen slammed the door in his face.
For some reason, the professor seemed to have a serious beef with him.
Daniel wasn’t messing around. “This surgery has to be Allen,” he growled, shooting a nasty look at Matilda.
“I don’t care how you make it happen, but get him here. If Kathy doesn’t pull through…” His voice trailed off, his eyes flicking to Domburgh’s House of Heart.
The House of Heart was a sanctuary Matilda and Brandon had built under Crossen Technology’s name—a home for earthquake survivors who couldn’t survive on their own.
As Crossen’s chairman, Daniel could shut it down in a heartbeat.
Matilda’s slender fingers curled tight in front of her, her lifeline caught in his grip.
Daniel stormed off. Brandon didn’t even glance her way, just told Mike to find another doctor.
9:13 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 5
…
He didn’t believe for a second Matilda could convince Allen.
Hell, Brandon had offered a priceless family heirloom, and Allen hadn’t even blinked.
Matilda, nursing her scalded arm, called out to Brandon as he headed for the doctor’s office.
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He turned, his gorgeous face cold as ice. “I’ve got a deal,” she said. “If I can get Professor Allen to do mom’s surgery, you agree to a quick, no–drama divorce.”
your
Brandon’s shoulders tensed for a split second. “Let’s see you actually make it happen,” he scoffed.
Who does she think she is?‘ he thought. ‘No guy is gonna jump through hoops for her–especially not me. Not anymore.‘
*****
Matilda stared at the phone number in her hand, letting out a long sigh.
She thought if she’d known she’d need Allen’s help, she would’ve been way nicer to him last night in Domburgh.
Too late for that now–she’d just have to suck it up and try.
She dialed. As the phone rang, her usually steady heartbeat went all over the place.
It went to the last ring before a smooth, slightly shaky voice answered, “Hey, this is Allen Saunders. Who’s this?”
His politeness caught her off guard. “Uh… it’s Matilda,” she stumbled, then added quickly, “We met last night in Domburgh. I helped you and your daughter get out of the cemetery.”
“Yeah, I remember you,” he said, his tone warm and easy.
Matilda chose her words carefully. “Sorry to bug you, but I need a huge favor. My mother–in–law had a brain hemorrhage. She’s at Saints International Hospital—”
“I’m on my way,” Allen cut in.
“Huh?” Matilda blinked, sure she’d misheard.
“I’ll be there in, like, fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, awesome!” she managed, still in shock.
She hung up, her head spinning.
“That’s it? I just… got help, just like that?‘ she thought to herself. ‘Guess it’s because I stepped in to ‘save‘ Jolene last night.
‘Looks like kindness really does pay off with some unexpected luck!‘
9:13 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 5
*****
A
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Matilda hadn’t eaten lunch and was pressing a hand to her growling stomach when Allen’s voice came from above. “You hurt again?”
She looked up to see him eyeing the blisters on her arm.
His sharp, almost too–perfect face had a quiet, refined charm.
“Dr. Saunders,” she started, about to dive into Kathy’s condition, but he beat her to it.
“Let me take care of that first,” he said, his voice warm like a summer breeze.
“It’s fine,” Matilda said. “There’s a way worse case waiting for you.”
Allen paused, then said, “I handle patients in order. If your arm’s not fixed, I can’t focus on the next one.”
Matilda raised an eyebrow, thrown off. “Alright, fine.”
They walked side by side, keeping it friendly but not too close.
A doctor in a white coat spotted Allen and grinned. “Hey, Allen! Thought you weren’t starting till tomorrow!”
The doc’s eyes landed on Matilda, a flicker of interest crossing his face. “Wait, isn’t that—”
Allen cut him off fast. “Hey, Dr. Hammond, I’m with a patient. Catch you later?”
The other doctor smirked, dragging out a teasing, “Oh, got it, got it.”
Matilda’s shoulder–length curls were tucked behind one ear, showing off a delicate, pale earlobe.
She wasn’t big on smiling, especially not now, and her cool, keep–your–distance vibe was crystal clear.
But Allen was chatty, acting like they’d been friends forever. Out of the blue, he asked if the bruise on her face and the burns on her arm had anything to do with her husband.
Matilda wasn’t about to spill her drama to a near–stranger.
She sidestepped it. “Dr. Saunders, my mother–in–law’s had high blood pressure for years. She got upset, and it triggered the hemorrhage.
“I’m begging you to do everything you can to make sure she comes through okay, no complications. It’s super important to me.”
Allen paused while applying the ointment. “You and your mother–in–law… you two close?”
“Nope. It’s a total trainwreck,” Matilda said bluntly. “But please, do your best. I’ll owe you big, and I won’t forget it.”
Allen studied her closely. Her eyes were bright and full of feeling, but there was a cold edge to them, a hint of quiet pain underneath.
9:13 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 5
‘Has life been kicking her around lately?‘ he thought.
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Brandon stepped out of the doctor’s office and called Shelby, knowing his little sister was probably freaking
out.
Sure enough, she was crying when she picked up, her voice wobbly. “Brandon, how’s Mom? Is your head still bleeding?
“I’m so scared something’s gonna happen to you guys. Is Matilda still there? I wanna come to the hospital, but I’m worried she’ll be mad…”
Brandon didn’t answer, his eyes glued to a man and a woman nearby.
They were standing close–way too close. The guy was leaning down, his shadow practically swallowing her whole.
And their shadows, stretched across the floor, blended into one.
田
