Dead to Her, Dead Inside

"Julian, just because Meghan can't bring herself to divorce you doesn't mean she doesn't want to. You'd better wise up and back out on your own. Meghan's belly is getting bigger by the day. Do you really want to be the father of my child?

"I'll have you know that she's mine. The baby is mine too, and even your job will be mine sooner or later. As for this hospital room, whether you want to give it up or not, it's mine!" Gerald spat, his tone sharp and aggressive.

I looked at the smug look on his face and sneered. Then, I raised the phone in my hand, which had been recording the whole time.

His expression instantly shifted to one of panic. I stopped the recording and calmly gave him two options.

"Get out of my ward right now. Otherwise, I'll release this recording and expose your and Meghan's affair to the public. I can't guarantee everything, but I can promise the two of you will be utterly ruined."

Gerald clearly hadn't expected me to be recording. Rage flashed across his face as he jabbed a finger at me. "Julian, just so you wait!"

He left in defeat. Exhausted, I sat on the hospital bed and finally felt the searing pain in my body.

I smiled wryly as I called my lawyer to start drafting the divorce papers.

When Meghan called again, I had just ended the call with the lawyer.

I let the phone ring over and over again without answering.

A few minutes later, Meghan sent me a text.

"Julian, when are you coming home? Are you really planning to ignore me all day? I know you blame me for forgetting our anniversary a few days ago. And about the fancy dinner I missed yesterday, I'll make it all up to you today. I've even cooked…"

I deleted Meghan's message and blocked her number without expression. Then, I closed my eyes and tried to rest.

I was healing the wounds on my body and also the ones in my heart.

Meanwhile, after leaving my ward, Gerald hid in the bathroom and called Meghan.

"Meghan, the guy in that ward you transferred me to was so aggressive. He kicked me out and even hit me! I hit my head on the door. I think I might have gotten a concussion.

"If it's such a hassle to change wards, then just forget about it. Yes, the sunlight isn't great in my ward, but I don't want to make things difficult for you…"

Back at home, Meghan was waiting for my reply. She couldn't sit still anymore when she heard this.

She frowned and snapped, "Who would dare bully you? Stay right there at the hospital. I'll come teach them a lesson."

She didn't even remember the candlelit dinner set out on the table. She grabbed her coat and rushed out the door toward the hospital.

Not long after, I heard a commotion outside my ward.

"Didn't I specifically tell you to transfer him to another ward? Gerald likes the one with plenty of sunlight in the morning. How hard could it be to switch his ward?"

The nurse station instantly fell silent.

Seeing Meghan's face grow darker, one of the nurses finally spoke up in a trembling voice.

"Ms. Hudson, it's really not easy for us. The patient in that ward is a special case. He was seriously injured and just came out of surgery this afternoon… Perhaps you should take a look yourself."

"I know he was badly hurt, but that doesn't mean he can't be moved after surgery. Who could possibly be more important than my friend?" Meghan said, clearly displeased.

When no one responded, she suppressed her anger and headed for the ward. "Fine! I'd love to see just who this so-called big shot thinks he is!"

In a fit of anger, she pushed the door open and came face-to-face with me as I was applying ointment to a festering wound.