hapter 5
Erica didn’t expect him to show up suddenly. Before she could react, the nurse spoke up first.
“Are you the patient’s husband? She was rushed here last night and we worked on her all night. We unlocked her phone and called you dozens of times–why didn’t you answer? Thank God she pulled through, or you might never have seen her again. Your wife got seriously hurt and you should probably give a damn, or she’s really gonna run out of points on whatever that chart is.”
The nurse kept talking while handing over the medical report.
Scanning the injury assessment, Morgan’s face grew serious, and he actually bothered to explain.
“When that chandelier came down yesterday, it injured a bunch of people and everyone was furious. I was afraid they’d take it out on Nancy, so I had to get her out of there. Everything happened so fast–I had no idea you were hurt, so I couldn’t bring you to the hospital myself. Sorry about that.”
Erica listened quietly, then asked with eerie calm, “So why do you have time to see me now?”
Morgan had braced himself for tears, anger, accusations–anything but this.
Her unexpected composure caught him completely off guard.
“Nancy’s been pretty shaken up since yesterday. I brought her to see a therapist here, saw your name on the patient list at the front desk, figured I should check on you.”
Erica looked down, bitter irony flickering in her eyes.
“Right. Just another happy accident.”
Morgan heard the defeat in her voice and was about to respond when his phone buzzed.
Nancy’s text asking where he was made him forget everything else instantly.
“Yeah, crazy coincidence, but I’m relieved you’re okay. Get some rest–I’ll swing by later.”
And just like that, Morgan was gone.
Erica knew exactly where he was headed. Despite her weakness, she forced herself to follow, watching through the therapy room window as Nancy reached for him with tears streaming down her face. He took her hand without hesitation, fingers intertwining naturally.
The therapist asked detailed questions about Nancy’s background, her medical history, her triggers–and Morgan knew every single answer. He spoke about Nancy’s life like he’d lived it himself.
Throughout the session, Nancy broke down multiple times, and each time Morgan was right there with gentle words and patient comfort, using a voice so tender it was like hearing a stranger.
When it was over, the therapist delivered her assessment.
“Your friend has severe PTSD from her previous relationship. She can’t process the trauma, which leaves her hypervigilant and easily triggered. She’ll need consistent support from people she trusts to work through this.”
Morgan’s expression turned thunderous.
After Nancy dozed off, he stepped outside and called his assistant, voice sharp as broken glass.
“I want everything on Nancy’s ex. What he did to her, how he treated her–I want details. And get the jet ready. I’m taking her somewhere she can heal.”
Standing there, watching the man she’d loved for years plan another woman’s recovery, Erica felt something inside her finally shatter completely.
This was it. The moment she stopped hoping, stopped pretending, stopped believing that someday he might look at her the way he looked at Nancy.
1.0%
He wasn’t incapable of love. He wasn’t emotionally unavailable. He was just saving all of it for someone else.
When she’d been hurt, he’d been elsewhere. When she’d been lonely in their marriage, he’d been thinking of Nancy. When she’d needed him most, he’d been planning his next trip to see his ex.
The scorecard in her purse suddenly felt meaningless. She didn’t need those last ten points to know this was over.
Erica pressed her back against the hospital wall, fighting the wave of devastation threatening to crush her. She’d spent four years trying to earn a place in his heart, only to discover that place had been permanently occupied since high school.
She was done. Done hoping. Done waiting. Done being the placeholder wife while he pined for someone else.
This marriage had been her delusion from day one, but the nightmare was almost over.
She would set Morgan free to chase his real love.
And finally, finally, she would stop destroying herself for a man who would never choose her.
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