Chapter 23 Life on a Leash
"Just go! Leave me alone—I'm begging you. How many times do I have to say it? I don't love you anymore, so get out!"
"No matter what you say, I'm not leaving. You can't push me away."
The sharp voices of a couple arguing carried across the hospital corridor, drawing both Rufus and Cecilia's attention.
The boy sat rigidly on a bench, his tone cutting like glass. The girl was half-kneeling before him, her face twisted in desperation. One was trying to get closer, the other was clawing for escape.
As their fight unfolded, the truth became clear—the boy was sick, determined to send the girl away, but she refused to leave no matter what he said.
Rufus didn't react. Cecilia would have called him stone-hearted. To him, scenes like this carried no emotional weight.
But for Cecilia, something clicked.
What she had wanted all along was unreserved devotion—the kind Rufus had given her as a child, the kind that made him stand between her and the world without hesitation. Not this… not the cold calculations, the way he caged her for Blair's sake, hurting her over and over.
"Rufus, let's get a divorce."
Her voice dropped so low that Rufus almost didn't catch it. He stopped, leaning in until his lips brushed hers. "What did you just say?"
Looking at the face she had once longed for, Cecilia felt a rush of unfamiliarity.
She drew a deep breath. "I said, let's get a divorce."
Rufus froze, then narrowed his eyes. "Stop playing hard to get! You schemed your way into being my wife. Why should I believe you'd hand that position over so easily?"
"Believe it or not, I'm serious. You can have your lawyer draft the papers right now. I'll walk away with nothing." Her voice was steady. This time, she truly meant it. She was done clinging to false hope.
Rufus bit back his temper.
"Whatever you said today, I didn't hear it. Don't push me past my limit." He started pushing her wheelchair forward again, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
But Cecilia refused to let it drop. She'd been turning this over in her mind for countless sleepless nights, forcing herself to replay every moment between them until she reached one conclusion—they were never meant to be together.
Even sensing his anger, she pressed on. "I'm serious. Let's do this… for both of us—"
"For both of us? Don't pretend this isn't about Charles. You think I don't know what's been between you two? Do you take me for a fool?" Rufus's voice rose, sharp enough to cut.
Cecilia blinked, stunned by the accusation. She was dying—there was no room in her mind for romance, and she would never drag Charles into her mess.
But Rufus wasn't interested in her side of the story. "You brought this on yourself, Cecilia. You'll never get rid of me."
Even he couldn't explain why he reacted this way. Divorce would give Blair the title she wanted—something he had supposedly been working toward. Yet the moment Cecilia suggested it, his mind flashed back to Charles holding her in his arms. The image lodged in his chest like a stone.
The walk ended in silence and tension.
Despite the fight, Rufus didn't abandon her. He wheeled her back to her hospital room. Neither spoke.
As he stepped out, his phone rang. It was the Chapman Group. The acquisition deal they'd finalized in the last meeting had hit a snag.
Titan Global Enterprises was an old powerhouse—once famous, now collapsing after a failed transition. The Chapman Group had been circling, waiting for this exact opportunity. This was their chance, and they had to seize it.
"I understand. Keep everyone calm. I'll be back soon." Rufus ended the call, heading for the parking garage while arranging for extra medical staff for Cecilia. Since learning of her illness, her care level had been raised to match Blair's, complete with her own dedicated team.
Satisfied that everything was in place, Rufus drove away.
He had no idea that the moment he left, disaster would strike.
Cecilia had barely settled into bed, hoping to sleep before the pain returned, when hands lifted her off the mattress.
"Where are you taking me? Who sent you?" The words came weak, almost weightless. No one answered.
Only when they wheeled her into an operating room did she see a familiar face.
Blair stood there in a hospital gown, her smile curved with cruelty.
"Blair… what is this?"
Her smile sharpened. "What do you think? Have you forgotten your purpose?
"You've heard about my fainting spells, haven't you? My body's failing. The surgery has to happen soon—Rufus agrees."
The words drained the color from Cecilia's face.
When Rufus had suggested a walk earlier, she'd thought maybe their relationship was thawing. Even if they'd clashed over divorce, she hadn't believed he was still set on taking her kidney.
He knew everything—her condition, her despair, her death wish. And still… he was sending her to the table.
Was he really going to kill her?
Blair watched her crumble, satisfaction flickering in her eyes. Rufus's recent behavior had stirred her insecurities, so she'd decided to accelerate her plan.
"Look at you, still fighting it. I thought you'd be used to it by now. After all, the only reason you're still breathing is to keep me alive."
Her words stripped Cecilia down to nothing. Blair had always enjoyed that.