Chapter 6
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“When you shower, wrap your arm in plastic wrap and don’t mess with those blisters. Let ‘em heal on their own to keep scars at bay,” Allen said, his warm brown eyes catching the light, practically sparkling with quiet
care.
Matilda gave a small nod and stood up, her hair grazing Allen’s chin. The faint scent of her shampoo mixed with the clean, sun–baked smell of his clothes hit her.
Her heart did a little flip. They were standing way too close. She quickly stepped to the side.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Allen’s hand at his side clench, then relax, like he was just as thrown off as she was.
Matilda kept her face neutral, but Allen piped up again. “Oh, and one more thing–don’t rub or press on it.
“Get some rest, eat right, and load up on protein and vitamins. Think milk, lean meat, fish, and fresh fruit like cherries or peaches. Can’t go wrong with those.”
Matilda’s brow quirked.
Allen clamped his mouth shut. ‘Is she annoyed? Am I being a nag?‘
He hadn’t even gotten to half the stuff he wanted to say.
Matilda hid a smirk, thinking, ‘If Dr. Saunders dishes out this much advice to every patient, Kathy’s not waiting for a check–up–she’s headed straight for a pine box.‘
“Thanks, Dr. Saunders, I-” she started, but before she could finish, Brandon grabbed her wrist, hard.
His sharp eyes flicked over Allen as he tugged her toward the ER exit.
Matilda tried to pull free but couldn’t. She twisted back, calling out, “Dr. Saunders, please, handle things!”
Outside the ER, Matilda yanked her arm from Brandon’s grip with a scowl.
His face darkened. “What’s Allen doing here?”
Matilda had no interest in hashing things out with Brandon unless it was about their divorce.
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her again, his voice sharp. “I asked you something.”
“You gonna keep this up?” Matilda shot back, her breath coming fast.
Patients and their families nearby started staring, some even pulling out their phones to record.
Not wanting to drag Allen into their mess, Matilda kept her tone flat. “I ran into him yesterday at Domburgh Cemetery. I saved his kid.”
Brandon’s expression softened a touch. So that was why Matilda could get Allen to show up–she was cashing
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Chapter 6
in a favor.
…
:
For a second, he’d thought there was something sketchy going on.
“Brandon, what’s happening? Is Matilda there?” Shelby’s voice chirped from nearby.
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Matilda glanced at Brandon’s left hand. His phone screen was lit up, the call timer ticking next to “Shelby.”
She let out a dry laugh and walked off. No way was she sticking around for their little “brother–sister” charade.
Brandon answered Shelby’s call, his mind half elsewhere.
Matilda was headed to the hospital cafeteria.
It hit him—she never touched airplane food. She probably hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Back in the day, he’d always have her favorite snacks ready when he picked her up. She’d hug him tight, saying how good it felt to be thought of.
Now that he was icing her out, he believed she must be feeling pretty low.
“No need to worry, Mom and I are good. Grab some dinner with Lola and crash early,” Brandon said into the phone, his voice soft, like he was talking to a kid.
But his sharp eyes stayed glued to the cafeteria’s direction.
‘Keep giving Matilda the cold shoulder, and when she’s got no one left, she’ll come around to Shelby,’ he thought.
*****
The Saints International Hospital cafeteria was calm and clean, almost cozy.
Matilda sipped her fish soup, her thoughts drifting. ‘Edwina’s husband is from Itera City, a doctor… and last night, I ran into Allen at Domburgh Cemetery. Could Allen be Edwina’s husband?‘
She set her spoon down, wiped her mouth, and headed to the surgical ward.
There, she spotted Shelby, eyes wet with tears, talking to Brandon. He was cupping her face in his hands, looking at her like she was his whole world.
Matilda’s mind flicked back to when Brandon–cool, high–and–mighty Mr. Grimes–had chased her, swearing, “If I’ve got you, I’ll never lay a hand on another woman.”
Those words had made her heart race back then. Now, watching him touch another woman’s face, she felt nothing. Not even a ripple.
She found a seat where she could chill, far from the drama.
But Shelby clocked her and came over, all fake concern. “Hey, where’d you disappear to earlier?”
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Chapter 6
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Matilda shot her a look. “Back off before I lose my cool.”
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Shelby didn’t flinch. “Don’t get mad. I just thought it was a shame you didn’t walk Kathy to the OR.”
“A shame? What, you think she’s not coming out of there? You’re acting like it’s her last goodbye,” Matilda fired back.
Shelby’s eyes reddened, her voice shaking. “How can you say something so awful about Aunt Kathy?”
Brandon marched over, a flash of disgust in his eyes as he slung an arm around Shelby and led her to a seat far from Matilda.
Matilda was more than happy with that.
The surgery seemed to take forever, so she pulled out her phone and texted Cassandra.
It read: [Head to Rose Villa, crack my safe, and sell all the jewelry. Check the bedroom trash for my wedding ring–if it’s there, sell it too. Also, list Rose Villafor 300 million, ASAP.]
Cassandra, a Domburgh local, only had her grandpa left, living at the House of Heart.
She’d been with Matilda since graduating college five years ago and was now her go–to person.
The surgical ward’s lights dimmed, and Allen, in olive–green scrubs, stepped out first.
Brandon and Shelby swarmed him. “Dr. Saunders, how’s my mom?”
Allen didn’t even glance their way. His calm eyes, framed by silver glasses, found Matilda standing in the back, her expression asking the question.
He pulled off his mask, his voice steady. “Surgery went smooth, and we got her in during the critical six–hour window. She should be fine, no issues.”
With that, he joined the other doctors leaving the OR, already talking shop about the procedure.
Shelby squealed, throwing her arms around Brandon’s neck. “I knew it! Aunt Kathy’s got luck on her side!”
Brandon hugged her back, grinning. “Yup, You’ve got the Midas touch.”
Matilda’s eyes glinted with cold amusement. ‘Let those two idiots cling to each other–they can hold hands all the way to hell.’
Her gaze shifted to Allen. He was so tall, his shadow loomed large against the white hospital walls.
After a second’s thought, she jogged after him.
“Dr. Saunders,” she called.
He paused, letting the other doctors pass into the changing room. Turning slightly, he waited for her.
Matilda stepped closer, her cool eyes catching a flicker of light. “This might sound out of nowhere, but…
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Chapter 6
you’re from Itera City.
“What were you doing at Domburgh Cemetery with your daughter?”
田
