Chapter 7
1091 Words
◇Dean ◇
He brought a doctor to her room, but the bed was empty. He went to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
No response.
He threw it open.
She was clinging to the skin, barely upright. Her face was paper-white, her eyes shut tight, and she looked like she'd looked like she was seconds from collapsing.
He lunged forward and caught her just before she crumpled to the floor.
He gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed.
The doctor examined her carefully.
He gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. The doctor examined her carefully, his expression growing serious.
“She has a strong case of the flu,” he said. “Her body is burning with fever.”
After prescribing a range of medications, the doctor added, “If the fever doesn’t come down soon, you’ll need to take her to the hospital.”
Turning to Maria, he gave clear instructions. “Prepare a cold bath to help reduce the fever, and keep a close eye on her throughout the night.”
***********************
After tucking the kids into bed and reading their favorite bedtime story. He waited until he was sure they had fallen asleep, and then he quietly made his way to Kate’s room.
She was asleep when he entered. He sat beside her on the bed, his eyes scanning her face, gently he checked her forehead, no fever thankfully, But she still looked pale and fragile, with dark circles shadowing her eyes.
At least her breathing was calm and steady.
He sighed heavily. Guilt tightening his chest.
“ I'm sorry,” he whispered.
“ I should’ve never sunk that low. For a moment, I became the man I swore I would never be….my father, the man I promised myself I would never turn into, but at that moment of rage, it felt like something possessed me, and I hurt you, physically, just like him.”
He paused, his voice cracking:“ like father, like son, I guess the genes won.”
He looked away, ashamed.
“ But I swear it won’t happen again. I will do my best to keep things civil between us until the divorce is final, but there's one thing I need from you.”
His voice hardened slightly.
“ You have to respect my rules. I don't want that many in my house. "
◇Kate ◇
Kate’s lashes fluttered slightly, but she kept her eyes shut, she had woken up the moment he entered the room, but she didn’t want to face him, not yet, not while her body still ached and her heart was still raw.
But as he spoke, she listened.
Each word sliced deeper than the last.
“ For a moment, I became the man I would never be…my father.”
She felt a lump rise in her throat. The remorse in his voice wasn’t lost on, but neither was the line he ended with.
“ You need to obey my orders.”
Her fingers clenched the edge of the blanket under her chin, the familiar heat returned not from fever but from anger and heartbreak.
She opened her eyes slowly and turned her head toward him.
“You say you’re sorry, "she said quietly, her voice hoarse,“ but you still want to control me. You say you will be civil, but only if I obey you.”
His mouth parted as if to speak, but she didn’t give him the chance.
“I'm not your property, Mr. Williams. You can't buy control just because I said yes to this deal. I married you for money, you made that clear, and you married me to a car for your kids, but my life? My choices? They're mine, not yours.”
Her voice trembled, not with weakness but with strength. She was trying to gather from deep inside.
She sat up slowly, her body protesting every movement.
“ You crossed a line,” she said, looking directly in the eye.
“ And no matter how sorry you are, something changes the way someone looks at you forever.”
She paused.
“ Danny is my best friend. You don't want him in your house, fine, you don't want him near your kids, fine, but you don't get to decide who i let in my life after we finally divorced.”
He moved closer. His face just inches from hers, the guilt that once shadowed his features had vanished, replaced by something darker, menacing.
His hand gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“ You have been getting bold and mouthy ever since you asked for a divorce,” he said coldly.
His voice is low and sharp.
“It's starting to get on my nerves, you seem to forget why you're even here in the first place.”
His eyes narrowed.
“ Let me make myself very clear, don't mistake my apology for weakness, you will follow my rules, as long as you live under this roof, married or not, it’s my house and my rules.”
He released her chin abruptly, stepping back toward the door.
“ I only care about my children,” he added, voice clipped.” And I won’t let you or anyone hurt them.”
A pause.
“Take your meds, recover fast. The kids need you.”
With that, he turned and left.
As the door clicked shut behind him, silence wrapped around her like a heavy blanket, she sat still, her jaw aching from where he had gripped her, the sting of his words echoed louder than his touch.
Her hands trembled slightly as they fell into her lap. She blinked back, the hot tears burning her eyes, refusing to let them fall not for him, not again.
She wasn't surprised by his threats. She had seen this side of him before, but something had changed. This time, it didn’t frighten her as much as it fueled something else.
Defiance.
Obedient ? She scoffed inwardly, I'm not his possession, not his puppet.
She reached for the pills on the nightstand, staring at them for a moment before taking them.not because he told her, but because her body needed to be strong for the beloved kids.
Lying back on the bed, she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. The divorce wasn’t just a wish anymore, it had become a battle.
And she was done playing the weak one.
He thinks I’m bold now? He hasn’t seen anything yet.
- Writer
