Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3: 3 You deserve to know

Davis gazed at the sterile blue walls of the hospital ward, his sharp eyes scanning every corner as if to etch the room into his memory. The faint hum of the heart monitor and the occasional distant chatter from the corridor were the only sounds breaking the silence. His body ached, he tried to move his legs but then it is unresponsive. He didn't want to imagine the truth.

The door creaked open, drawing his attention. A doctor stepped in, his expression professional and unreadable a nurse holding a clipboard followed closely behind him. With practiced efficiency he checked his body and the various monitors attached to him before he gently removed the oxygen mask; all the while not uttering a word to Davis. It was as though he is just another task to be fulfilled.

He adjusted the IV drip, noting the readings on the monitor. Davis watched him with a blank stare, his thoughts swirling within him, he opened his mouth to speak but then his voice was hoarse. The nurse behind the doctor quickly refilled a cup of warm water to help him moisten his throat.

"You need more rest and you don't have to over think things," the doctor finally said, his tone devoid of emotion. After finishing his adjustments, he turned to leave but paused by the door. "Your family has been contacted. They'll be here soon."

"How long have I been here, doctor?", he asked while looking at him.

"You've been here for four months", he stated, his tone calm and a flicker of pity crossing his face but then he masked it. It is not in his place to say or feel anything for him.

Davis couldn't suppress the bitter smirk that curled his lips. "Admitted in the hospital for four months, with no one by my side... That's truly remarkable, coming from a family I've sacrificed everything for," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The doctor hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure of how to respond, before nodding curtly and exiting the room. The nurse followed without a word, leaving Davis alone once more.

As silence reclaimed the room, Davis's smirk faded, replaced by a somber expression. He leaned back against the pillows, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions while he constantly tried to move his legs but time and time again his hope was dashed. He can no longer move about. Gradually, he lifted the top sheet covering him to see if his leg is there—yes it is but unresponsive.

His hands trembled, his voice choked as the truth dawned on him "he is crippled, his leg can no longer be moved". A bitter laugh escaped his lips. It's no surprise why he was abandoned.

For years, he had poured his heart and soul into the Allen family. Every sleepless night, every calculated risk, every achievement—it had all been for the family. Yet, here he was, abandoned in his weakest moment.

Had he been wrong all along?

The thought gnawed at him. His life had revolved around duty, loyalty, responsibility and ambition. But now, he couldn't help but question whether his sacrifices had been worth it. Awake for one hour, yet no family member is here.

While he was lost in thought, an advertisement began broadcasting on the TV, pulling his attention back to the present. His gaze on the TV was probing as a glaring bold headline rolled across the scream "Vera Louis's engagement to Aaron Allen: A match made in heaven".

The screen displayed clips of Vera arrayed in a gorgeous white gown accentuating elegant figure, her radiant smile captivating as she stood arm-in-arm with Aaron Allen, his cousin. The images were interwoven with footage of their lavish engagement ceremony, the room filled with the applause and admiration of the attendees who are also associates, business partners and friends. Words like "powerful combination" "power couple" and "perfect union" flashed across the screen.

Davis's felt his chest tightened, a sharp, invisible dagger plunging into his heart. He stared at the screen, unblinking, as if the sight alone could somehow rewrite the reality unfolding before him.

"This... this has to be a joke," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.

His hands gripped the edge of the hospital bed, his knuckles turned white as disbelief and anger coursed through him. Vera... the woman I was supposed to marry... engaged to Aaron? The thought echoed in his mind, each repetition more bitter than the last. "She abandoned me for Aaron, why? Why? Why?"

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