Chapter 385: Brain Damage
Kate froze completely. "...What?"
Her mouth opened and closed, finally managing to choke out, "Did Charles... hit his head or something?"
Emily found herself torn between laughing and crying at that comment. The brief amusement only made the ache worse.
"I don't know what I did wrong. He just... changed."
Kate raked her fingers through her hair, looking utterly bewildered. "That doesn't make sense. Charles adores you. How could he possibly ask for a divorce? The man would follow you into the bathroom if he could. He can't stand being apart from you for five minutes."
Emily's smile was bitter. "That's why I'm asking you. Have you noticed anything off about him lately? Did something happen?"
Kate furrowed her brow, thinking hard. "The only thing different is... he's become more like the old Charles. He used to soften around you, but now—"
She caught herself, scrambling to correct course. "Wait, no, that came out wrong. What I mean is, he used to have... warmth when he looked at you. Now it's like someone flipped a switch."
Emily said nothing.
Kate grew more flustered. "Emily, don't be upset. Men just... malfunction sometimes."
"Malfunction?"
Kate latched onto the word like a lifeline. "Yes! I'm telling you, back when I was on assignment, one of the guys on my team tried to break up with his girlfriend out of nowhere. Turned out he'd taken a sandbag to the head during training that day—external trauma causing emotional instability. Charles got shot. That's way more serious. So him wanting a divorce... totally makes sense!"
Emily let out a startled laugh, though her eyes remained red-rimmed. "Are you trying to comfort me or terrify me?"
Kate waved her hands frantically. "Comfort! Definitely comfort! Oh, here's another theory—maybe Charles is worried you're overworking yourself. Think about it: he's bedridden, you're taking care of him, and he feels guilty. So he's trying to push you away with this divorce talk. It's... misguided devotion."
Emily's heart skipped. The laughter faded. "You think he might have a reason he's not telling me?"
Kate started to nod, then suddenly paled. Wait. If there's something going on, Nathan would know.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Nathan right there in front of Emily, voice low and urgent. "Nathan! Why is Charles trying to divorce Emily? Did something happen?"
Two seconds of silence. Then Nathan's voice came through, cold and clipped. "Where are you?"
"I'm at—"
"Listen carefully. You have one job: protect Ms. Johnson. Everything else is above your pay grade."
Kate's voice rose. "But Emily—"
"That's an order, Kate."
The line went dead.
Kate stared at her phone, a chill running through her.
Emily watched her, hope draining away. "He told you to stay out of it?"
Kate forced a laugh, scrambling for an explanation. "Nathan's just... blunt. He's not shutting me down—he's worried I'll make things worse! Yeah, he doesn't want me accidentally upsetting you!"
Emily raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Kate doubled down, desperate. "Absolutely! Nathan's actually really thoughtful. He's super strict with me because he cares. Tough love, you know? So when he says 'stay out of it,' he really means 'be extra supportive.' It's all subtext."
Emily couldn't help but laugh. "Where did you learn that logic?"
Kate straightened her shoulders proudly. "Self-taught. Emily, I can also read faces. Let me see yours—"
"You read faces now?"
"I do!"
Kate leaned in, studying Emily's features with exaggerated seriousness for three seconds before announcing solemnly, "You've got a blessed face. The kind that gets stronger through conflict. Charles can act cold all he wants—he'll never leave you. If he actually goes through with this divorce, I'll give you Nathan's credit card."
Emily stared at her. "..."
She burst into laughter, shoulders shaking, though tears pricked her eyes again.
Kate, relieved to see her smile, pressed on. "I'm serious, Emily! I've always been accurate. When I was a kid, I told my neighbor he'd live to ninety. He died at eighty-nine—that's only one year off! Minimal margin of error!"
Emily laughed until tears spilled over. "Are you comforting me or putting a curse on me?"
Kate flailed. "Comforting! I swear! My point is—Charles definitely won't divorce you!"
Emily wiped her eyes. Kate's ridiculous rambling had somehow kindled a fragile hope in the darkness.
"Kate... thank you."
Kate waved her off. "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything."
Then her expression turned serious. "Emily, your emotions are all over the place right now. Don't be alone, okay? I'll stay with you."
Emily nodded and stood. "Okay."
She pocketed her phone and started toward the hospital room.
At the corner, she stopped abruptly. "Kate."
"Yeah?"
Emily stared at that distant door, resolve hardening in her eyes. "If he does have a reason he's hiding... I'm still not leaving."
Kate blinked, then nodded firmly. "Then I'll help you stand your ground. Anyone who tries to break you two up goes through me first."
Emily smiled faintly and pushed open the door.
This time, she wouldn't wait passively for answers. She would demand the truth herself—even if Charles kept up the ice-cold act, she would chip away at that wall piece by piece.
When Emily entered the room, her face was dry.
She stood in the doorway, transformed.
Charles looked up, his expression still distant, as if their earlier confrontation had been nothing more than white noise.
Emily approached and placed the divorce agreement back on the nightstand. Her movements were gentle but unyielding.
She met his gaze, voice steady. "Charles, I already told you. I'm not signing."
Charles's throat worked. His eyes dropped to her fingertips—still trembling despite her controlled demeanor.
Something twisted painfully in his chest.
But all he said was a flat, indifferent, "Fine."
As if her decision had nothing to do with him.
Emily didn't push. Didn't beg. She simply smiled. "If you want to sue, go ahead. I'll see you in court."
Then she turned and walked out.
Her stride was steady, her spine straight. Her resolve hadn't wavered for a second.