Chapter 63 #63
Chapter 63
~Dante~
I stood frozen, staring at Shailyn's unconscious form, my wife who had just called me by my brother's name.
"What the fuck just happened?" I breathed, my voice tight with barely controlled rage.
Dwayne moved back to her bedside immediately, checking her pulse, his hand gentle against her wrist. "She's fine. Just exhausted. The sedation is still in her system."
"That's not what I'm asking." I stepped closer, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Why did she call me Dwayne? Why did my wife look at me and say your fucking name?"
"I don't know," Dwayne said, not looking at me. His attention remained fixed on Shailyn.
"Bullshit." I moved around the bed, getting in his face. "What have you been doing? What have you been saying to her?"
"Nothing," Dwayne replied, his voice maddeningly calm. "I've been taking care of her while you were too busy with work to notice your wife was sick."
The words hit like a slap. "What are you talking about?"
"She's been ill all day, Dante. Fever, nausea, severe enough that she could barely get out of bed." Dwayne finally looked at me, and his eyes were cold. "Where were you?"
"I was at the office. The Singapore renovation..."
"Right. The office." Dwayne's jaw tightened. "Always the office. Always work. Did you even check on her this morning before you left?"
"She was sleeping," I said defensively. "I didn't want to wake her."
"So you just left. Left her alone, sick, vulnerable." Dwayne shook his head. "I stayed with her. Made her tea. Made sure she ate something. Walked with her in the garden to get fresh air. And that's when she collapsed."
Guilt and anger warred in my chest. "You should have called me."
“You didn't respond to my first text.”
"I was in a meeting," I said, but the excuse sounded weak even to my own ears.
"Of course you were."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Dwayne said, his voice dropping to something dangerous, "that you're so obsessed with beating me, with winning, with proving yourself, that you're neglecting the one person who actually matters."
"Don't you dare," I growled, moving closer. "Don't you dare lecture me about my wife. About my marriage. You have no idea what we have together."
"Don't I?" Dwayne's eyes held mine with unsettling intensity. "Because from where I'm standing, all I see is a man who manipulates and controls. A man who uses her amnesia to rewrite history. A man who doesn't deserve..."
"Finish that sentence," I interrupted, my voice deadly quiet. "I dare you to finish that fucking sentence."
We stood there, inches apart, the air between us crackling with tension.
"Gentlemen."
A nurse appeared in the doorway, her expression stern. "This is a hospital. And Mrs. Belmar needs rest. If you can't be civil, I'll have to ask both of you to leave."
I stepped back, forcing myself to breathe. "I apologize."
"Me too," Dwayne said, though his eyes never left mine.
The nurse checked Shailyn's vitals, made some notes on her chart, then left with a final warning glance in our direction.
Silence fell between us.
"What did the doctors say?" I asked finally, my voice carefully controlled. "About why she collapsed?"
Dwayne hesitated, and something flickered across his face. "They're still running tests."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have right now."
"Dwayne, what aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing," he said, but I could see the lie in his eyes. "They just need to do more bloodwork."
I studied him, suspicion crawling up my spine. "What kind of bloodwork?"
"Standard tests. Making sure the baby's okay, checking her levels, that sort of thing."
The baby. Our baby. The thought centered me, reminded me what was really important here.
"The baby's fine?" I asked, my voice softer now.
"Yes. Both are stable."
Relief flooded through me. "Thank God."
"Yeah," Dwayne said quietly. "Thank God."
I moved to the other side of Shailyn's bed, taking her hand gently. It felt small and cold in mine.
"I should have been here," I admitted, the words bitter. "I should have stayed with her."
"Yes, you should have."
"But I'm here now," I continued, looking up at Dwayne with a challenge in my eyes. "And I'm not leaving. So if you were planning on playing the hero, you can go."
"I'm not going anywhere either," Dwayne said firmly.
"This is ridiculous. She's my wife."
"And I was. With her when she fainted."
The words hung between us like a gauntlet thrown.
"It doesn't mean anything." I said through clenched teeth.
"If you say so."
"What the hell are you playing at, Dwayne?" I demanded. "What's your endgame here? You think you can swoop in and take her from me? You think you have some kind of claim?"
"I'm not playing anything," Dwayne said. "Unlike you, I actually care about her wellbeing."
"I love her," I shot back. "That baby is mine. This life is mine. She's mine."
"She's not property, Dante."
"I know that!" My voice rose despite myself. "I know she's not property. But she's my wife. We're building a family together. You don't get to interfere with that."
"Even if that family is built on lies?"
I went very still. "What did you just say?"
"You heard me."
"You don't know anything about our marriage."
"I know enough," Dwayne said quietly. "I know she deserves better than what you're giving her."
"And you think you could give her better?" I laughed bitterly.
"I think I wouldn't manipulate her," Dwayne said. "I think I wouldn't use her amnesia as a weapon. I think I wouldn't..."
Movement from the bed cut him off.
Shailyn's eyes fluttered open again, more focused this time. She looked between us, confusion evident on her face.
"Dante?" she said, her voice hoarse. "Dwayne? What... where am I?"
"You're in the hospital, baby," I said immediately, squeezing her hand. "You collapsed. But you're okay now.."
"The baby," she repeated, her hand moving to her stomach. "Oh God, the baby..."
"Is fine," I assured her. "Everything's fine. You just need rest."
"I don't... I can't remember..." She looked between us again, her brow furrowing. "Why are you both here? What happened?"
"You fainted in the garden," Dwayne explained. "I brought you to the hospital. Dante came as soon as I told him."
"The garden," Shailyn murmured, trying to sit up. I helped her, adjusting the pillows behind her. "We were talking and then..."
"Don't try to remember right now," I said gently. "Just rest."
"But I need to..." She winced, pressing a hand to her head. "My head hurts."
"I'll get the doctor," Dwayne said, already moving toward the door.
"No," Shailyn said, reaching out. "Wait. Both of you... stay. Please."
Dwayne stopped, glancing back.
The door opened suddenly.
Dr. Harrison as read in his tag walked in, his expression happy.
"Mrs. Belmar," he said. "You're awake. Good. I need to speak with you."
"Please, always ensure to drink water to avoid dehydration. It's not good for the babies.”
The room went deathly silent.
And Shailyn's face went white as understanding began to dawn.
“Babies???” The three of us said simultaneously.