He Thought I Was Finally Learning

Chapter 2 The Cage of Efficiency

Carter reached the hospital a few hours later. Eve came in half a step behind him with a leather folder tucked under one arm.

He missed the IV in my hand and the bruises across my chest. His first look was for the chair, the chart, and the clock. Then he loosened his tie as though the room had inconvenienced him.

Eve closed the door behind them and checked the room number against her tablet. Neither asked why I was still in the county hospital or what the doctor had said.

"We're transferring you," he said. "Eve arranged a private suite at The Chamberlain Clinic."

His eyes moved to the empty bedside table. At home, that look meant he wanted room-temperature water with a slice of lemon. Eve reached into her designer tote and handed him a bottle before he asked.

He accepted it without looking at her. I used to take pride in anticipating that small request. Seeing Eve do it made the habit look different: another person trained to keep Carter comfortable before anyone else spoke.

"I also prepared the discharge papers, Mr. Sterling." She set the folder beside my divorce documents. "It's unfortunate that the first response didn't go through the proper channels. This situation might have been avoided."

Carter took the bottle from her. "Eve had to make a difficult call, Serena. She said you were hysterical. You can't bypass the system every time you panic. That helicopter is a major financial liability. Her job is to manage risk."

He had turned her refusal into sound judgment. My request to save our child had become a tantrum that cost too much.

Carter reached for my cheek, using the same soothing gesture he used after overruling me at home. I pulled away.

His hand stopped between us.

He looked at his empty hand, then at me. The refusal bothered him more than the bruises had.

"Don't."

For the first time, he actually looked at me. "I know you're upset, but shouting at my staff won't fix anything. What happened was tragic. It doesn't give you the right to disrupt my entire operation."

Eve said nothing. The corner of her folder covered the heading on my divorce papers.

"The accident happened, Carter. The baby is gone." I moved the folder aside so he could see the title underneath. "And the marriage is over."

He stared at the page, then laughed once. "Over? Is this about your credit cards again? I told you I'd bring you a cake."

The word *divorce* was printed in black above his name, but he kept looking at me as if I had asked for a larger allowance. Even our child's death had become part of the argument he preferred to have.

He believed grief was another bargaining tactic. The idea suited him, so he kept it.

"This is absurd." He stood and buttoned his jacket. "You have twenty-four hours to calm down. Eve will handle the transfer, and we'll talk when you're rational."

He walked out. Eve picked up her folder and followed without touching the unsigned discharge papers.

At the door, Carter told her to confirm the clinic suite and have a car ready by morning. Neither of them looked back at the bed.