Chapter 6 An Unwelcome Visitor
1110 Words
Yesterday, Summer was moved from the ICU to a VIP suite. Dr. Glen assured me that all her vitals were stable, but her brain needed time to recover.
"Finally, I could touch her tiny hand, stroke her soft cheek, and watch her up close.
'She's going to wake up. She has to,' I kept repeating it to myself, over and over."
After spending the night at Comer Children's Hospital, Barbara arrived to relieve me.
"I packed up everything from Century Towers."
I nodded. "I'll move in now. We'll finally have a place of our own."
Barbara caught my wrist, her eyes searching mine. "Your own place?"
"Yes. A place I bought. With my own money. We'll never have to see Myles' repulsive face again."
I stood, my gaze drifting back to Summer. Leaving her, even for a moment, felt unbearable.
"Barbara, if anything—anything—changes..."
"I'll call you," she promised, pulling me into a hug. "Immediately."
*****
I was standing outside Lumina Towers, unloading boxes from my car. Sweat dripped down my back, and dust clung to my face.
As I lifted one of the heavier boxes, my grip slipped, and it nearly crashed to the ground.
Before I could react, a pair of strong arms reached out, steadying it.
I looked up, startled.
"Dr. Glen! Oh—Shawn, what are you doing here?"
"I had the night shift, so I'm off today," he said with a smile. "Barbara told me you were moving. I figured you could use a hand."
"You should be resting, I—"
He waved me off. "Trust me, I got way more sleep than you did." Without waiting for an answer, he carried the box through the front entrance.
Soon, we were standing in my new apartment, surrounded by piles of boxes.
Shawn glanced around. "You don't have a lot of stuff."
"No. Mostly Summer's books, toys, and clothes. The rest... well, I left most of it behind."
He picked up a box cutter from the table and started opening a box with ease.
"She's going to love this place when she comes home. I saw her room—it's all pink."
I nodded. "Yeah. I want her to feel safe and happy here. Not like... before."
I trailed off. The old house had given her nothing but cold indifference and suffocation.
Shawn stepped closer, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket.
"You've got a little something on your face."
I flushed but didn't move as he gently wiped my cheek.
"When she wakes up, we should throw her a pink party," he said softly.
My throat tightened. "Do you think... she will wake up?"
Shawn placed his hands on my shoulders. "I know she will. And she's going to grow up strong and healthy."
I lowered my head, not wanting him to see my tears. "When she's better, I'm taking her swimming, on road trips—anything to make her stronger."
He smiled. "And if she likes basketball, I'll be her coach."
That made me laugh—just a little.
Then, suddenly, the front door swung open. A voice, dripping with mockery, shattered the moment. "Not even divorced yet, and you've already got a new boyfriend? Moving on fast, aren't you?"
I stiffened. The door hadn't been fully closed, and now, standing there like he owned the place, was Myles. He had followed me.
Shock quickly gave way to fury.
Myles Clark—who had never publicly acknowledged our marriage, had paraded around with multiple women, and was now practically glued to Abby—had the audacity to judge me? And worse, he was dragging Shawn into this, a man who had only ever been kind to me.
I pointed at the door. "Get out. Or I'm calling the police."
Shawn stepped in front of me, his body tense. "Who are you? You just barged into a private residence."
Myles strolled closer, smirking. Then, without warning, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me against him.
"I'm her husband."
I shoved him away, my teeth clenched. "Not anymore. As of today, we're officially separated. Get out."
Myles didn't answer. Hands shoved in his pockets, he took a slow, condescending look around the apartment.
"Not bad. A little small, though. Did your new boyfriend buy it for you?"
I took a sharp breath. "This is Dr. Glen—Summer's doctor. He's just helping me move. Don't start with your bullshit."
Myles turned back to me, his smirk widening. "Moving out? Funny, I don't recall giving you permission to leave."
My jaw tightened. "Summer and I are not your property. You don't get a say. My lawyer will be in touch soon."
He let out a low chuckle. "A lawyer? And how exactly are you affording one? Oh, wait—your boyfriend is covering it? Not a bad choice. Surgeons at Comer Children's make decent money. Smart move, Evelyn."
I was shaking with rage.
Shawn stepped closer, his voice cold. "You know, I should've guessed Summer had a worthless father. She's been in the hospital so many times these past four years. And yet, not once did 'Daddy' bother to show up."
His words hit their mark.
For a split second, Myles' face flickered—guilt, maybe. But just as quickly, he recovered, his smirk back in place.
"So, you're the doctor trying to scam me for medical bills."
"That was it.
I grabbed a glass of water from the table and threw it in his face."
Water dripped from his hair, soaking his expensive shirt. He stared at me, stunned.
"You seriously just—"
"For four years, I tiptoed around you. I tried to make you happy. Looking back, I can't believe I wasted so much of myself on a man like you. And you know what? I regret every second of it. I regret ever loving you."
I bent down, grabbed a heavy vase, and lifted it high above my head.
Shawn let out a startled gasp.
Myles' eyes widened. His body tensed, shoulders curling inward—he was actually afraid.
I took a step forward. Myles backed away. Step by step, he retreated, all the way to the doorway.
"Get out," I hissed. "Or I swear to God, I'll smash this over your head."
The door slammed shut behind him. I set the vase back down on the table, exhaling sharply.
Shawn turned to me, still looking a little stunned. "Mrs. Clark—no, Evelyn—if you need help with anything, I'd be more than happy to—"
I cut him off with a small, tired smile. "You've already helped me more than enough. The divorce... that's my fight."
- Writer
