Olivia's heart raced with joy and excitement, causing her to jump up and down like a carefree child. Her jubilation was short-lived, however, as Xavier's words struck her like a massive boulder, driving her to the edge of a cliff.
"I will not divorce my wife, Father! I love her, and I'm getting to know her." This single statement was enough to make Olivia run and throw herself into the sea. The weight of his words threatened to push her over the edge into a dark abyss of uncertainty and fear. She felt herself teetering on the precipice, unsure if she had the strength to pull herself back from the brink.
A wave of paleness washed over Olivia's face, the color draining from her cheeks as she realized that all hope of ever being with the man she loved was lost. Her posture slouched, her shoulders drooping in defeat as she fought back tears that refused to come. The heaviness in her chest made it hard to breathe, and she felt like she was suffocating on her own emotions. All the blood in her system seemed to drain away, leaving her skin as pale and lifeless as a corpse. As she stood there, trembling, cold sweat trickled down her back, a physical manifestation of the fear and pain coursing through her body. Trying desperately to process Xavier's words, she felt like she was drowning in an ocean of sorrow and regret.
When the old man asked Xavier to get a divorce from Cathleen, Xavier was in thought for a moment after his father's statement. He didn't understand anything about his little wife. She was cold toward him. She never tried to seduce him, but she was a prostitute. So he looked at his father and immediately rejected the offer. He didn't one bit know that Olivia was eavesdropping, even if he knew she was nothing to him. Her feelings were of no concern to him at all because they were just fucking, and there were no promises for the future. Just like he and Cathleen, they are husband and wife but have no romantic feelings for each other.
Two weeks ago...
With a heavy heart, Dr. West entered the operating theater. The sterile, white walls and floors seemed to close in on him as he took in the sight before him. On the gurney lay a young woman, whose once vibrant beauty now faded in death. His gaze fell upon her still form, and he could not shake the feeling that she was simply sleeping, her chest rising and falling with each breath. But the truth was undeniable-she was gone. There was no chest rising and falling; it was all in his head. Without hesitation, he reached for the defibrillator in a desperate attempt to bring her back to life. As his hands moved with practiced precision, his mind struggled to comprehend how such a stunning creature could be taken so suddenly.
As he was busy trying to bring her back to life, all the nurses in the operating theater were staring at him as he tried to bring the woman back to life. They were all surprised because the man was so emotional, and he had never been a man of emotions before. Just as the man wanted to give up, Cathleen's heart started beating slowly, and the man started to laugh as tears streamed down his face.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the strikingly beautiful girl before him bore an uncanny resemblance to his own sister. His eyes lingered on her delicate features, and his throat tightened with emotion. He found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her ethereal form. "What are you standing there for? Get on with the operation!" He ordered it as he wiped away his tears.
Present....
"How is the patient in room 105 doing?" Doctor West inquired with a furrowed brow, turning to one of the nursing staff. It had been months since Cathleen was admitted, and yet no one had come looking for her. The doctor couldn't understand it; from the designer clothes she wore to the expensive gadgets at her bedside, Cathleen gave off an air of great importance. So why hadn't anyone come searching for her? The question lingered in the air, heavy with puzzlement and concern.
"She's all right, Doctor; she still insists that she has no family." Dr. West couldn't believe that. So he went to the place where he had kept her belongings, went through her bag, and found a card in her handbag. The card was from a man who was very important in the city. It was a direct number for Old Mr. Knight, so Doctor West hesitated for a moment before dialing the number. He was the owner of the Knight Empire and a very respected man in the city.
He didn't know why he wanted to help the girl, but he did it anyway. Then, finally, he pressed the call button on one of the hospital's phones. The phone rang and didn't take long to be answered.
Old Mr. Knight: Hello
Doctor West: Hello, sir. My name is Dr. Wyatt West. Last month, we received a patient who was involved in a car accident. It's a miracle she's still alive. She only woke up about a week ago, and when we asked her if she had any family, she said that she did not.
Old Mr. Knight: Cathleen? Is the name of the patient Cathleen? Did she say Cathleen West or Cathleen Knight?
Wyatt froze... Cathleen West or Cathleen Knight? Why would the patient in room 105 have the same surname as him?
Dr. West: She didn't give us her last name, sir.
Old Mr. Knight: She's my daughter, and she's very stubborn. Doctor West: Thank you very much. I have been looking for her since the day she disappeared. If it is not too much trouble, It would be my pleasure if you had her transferred to our family hospital.
Doctor West: That won't be necessary, sir. The patient is in a very good state of health. She just needs a little rest. If you don't mind... Would you come and get her? Please don't mention I've been in touch with you; she'd be furious. I mean, she told me she had no family at all.
Old Mr. Knight: I will reward you handsomely for this. Thanks very much for your help, Doctor. Please text me the address of the hospital.
After the old man hung up the phone, his trembling fingers immediately dialed his son's number. He could feel the weight of guilt crushing his chest as he thought about how Xavier's words may have contributed to Cathleen's tragic accident that day. The click of the ringing tone seemed to echo in his ears, each second feeling like an eternity, until finally, his son answered with a curt "Hello?" The old man's voice quivered as he struggled to find the words to say to his son. So he just summons him. It didn't take long for Xavier to arrive at the old man's house. He made his way down the corridor until he found his way into his father's office. He opened the door to the man's study, and before the man could welcome him,
Slap!
Slap!
Xavier sneered at him. His father had been slapping his face ever since he married Cathleen. It wasn't that he couldn't defend himself. He just let the old man vent his anger. He knew that this was all about his whore of a wife. Instead of getting angry about the slaps that he was getting from his father, he just scoffed at him because the slaps were a little bit stronger for an old man like him.
"I know that this is all about my whore of a wife. What is it this time?"
The old man didn't even have a clue what to do or say. Xavier obviously hated Cathleen; if he hated her so much, why did he refuse her a divorce?
"Cathleen had an accident on the day she left your house, and I got a phone call from the hospital from one of the doctors. Cathleen told them that she had no family, but the man had to go through her things, and he found my business card and decided to call me. Do you know what this means to me, Xavier? You almost got her killed because you don't think before you speak.".
For a moment, Xavier felt bad that it was because of him that Cathleen had had an accident. But before he could answer, William Jones entered the study.
"What did you say happened to my Cathy?" Xavier turned slowly to face the man. There was so much concern on his face. William Jones had always pretended he didn't care about Cathleen, but deep down he was in love with his little girl; that was why he was hiding the fact that Cathleen was married to Xavier.
A tear ran down William's face. "Will my baby be all right?" William's tears scared the shit out of Xavier. Cathleen broke off all contact with the rest of her family. Why was that man crying so much? Old Mr. Knight came out from behind his desk and gave William Jones a big hug.
"She wasn't; she was in a critical condition when she arrived at the hospital. She was pronounced dead, but somehow God managed to save her." Xavier's face turned pale when he heard what his father had just said. He thought it was just his father's way of trying to make his marriage to Cathleen work. He felt a little guilty that the words he had spoken had almost sent her to an early grave.
"Who is the Doctor?" The old man paused for breath.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a relative of Cathleen's yet because if he did, he wouldn't have called us. I did a background check. Doctor West is actually your late wife's brother."
"Wyatt?" The old man nodded his head.
"We have to get to the hospital." The old man ordered.