Chapter 11
Chapter 11: Kristopher spent the entire night sitting on the bed, tormented by a profound sense of loss. Throughout the dark hours, his thoughts swirled, leaving him restless. As dawn approached, at six-thirty, Marc’s call pierced the silence. “Mr. Cox, I’ve located Mrs. Cox.”’ Kristopher frowned, his voice raspy with urgency. “Where is she?”’ “She”¦”’ Marc hesitated on the other end. “She’s at Peace Hospital.”’ “Peace Hospital?”’ Kristopher echoed, a tinge of shock in his voice. “What’s she doing there?”’ Peace Hospital, the crown jewel of Nawrin, was globally acclaimed for its cutting-edge treatment of tumors, cancer, and other severe ailments. Why would Belinda be there? “I’ve secured her hospital admission records through some exclusive channels,”’ Marc revealed. After a brief pause, he continued cautiously, “The records indicate she had a minor scrape on her finger and was concerned about a tetanus infection, so she checked herself into the hospital overnight.”’ “A top-tier hospital for just a scraped finger?”’ Kristopher scoffed. “She must be scheming to make me think she’s seriously ill, just to get my sympathy, right?”’ He hadn’t grasped just how manipulative Belinda could be until now. Lost in thought, he sprang out of bed and demanded, “Send me her ward number.”’ The moment the call ended, Kristopher whirled around and marched out of the room. chαptєrs A few steps later, a memory struck him; he pivoted and retrieved a jewelry box from the corner of the drawer. Within lay a ten-carat diamond ring. It was their wedding ring. She cherished it deeply, occasionally donning it for photographs, then meticulously returning it to its place. When Kristopher stared at the ring, Belinda’s joyous expression when she wore it flashed in his mind. With a flicker of irritation, he snapped the jewelry box shut, slipped it into his pocket, and departed. Once in the car, Marc texted him the address. Kristopher checked it, his brow furrowing. Belinda was in the critical care unit. Such drama! Did she really think a stay in the critical ward at Peace Hospital would convince him of her grave illness and earn his forgiveness? She was sorely mistaken. He set down his phone, ignited the engine, and rushed towards Peace Hospital. At Peace Hospital”¦ Madisyn was at Belinda’s bedside, offering her breakfast. “What miracle drug had you rushing back from Rozand in the dead of night to try? You were even in such a rush. Couldn’t you wait for morning?”’ Belinda offered a faint smile. “Anyway, there’s not much else I can do, and the doctor mentioned this medicine is in short supply, so I hurried back.”’ The night before, while the party at Rozand was winding down, she had received a call from Dr. Marlene Reid at Peace Hospital, inquiring whether she was interested in trying a novel treatment for her stomach cancer. Immediately after the call, she left the party for the airport and boarded the earliest flight back to Nawrin. Her luggage was collected by Madisyn upon arrival. Whether the medication would prove effective or not, Belinda felt content knowing she had done all she could, leaving no room for regret. Madisyn rolled her eyes. “You don’t have a terminal illness, do you? Was all that really necessary?”’ Belinda shifted the conversation with a light-hearted question. “Did you manage to bring Fluffy back?”’ Madisyn pressed her lips together. “The little one behaved quite well, although he seemed to be searching for you all the way from Rozand to Nawrin.”’ After a pause, she added, “Speaking of last night, it must’ve been tough finding a flight, right?”’ Belinda’s smile widened. “Darren sorted it out. He pulled some strings with a friend at the airline to secure a last-minute ticket.”’ Hearing this, Madisyn’s expression turned mischievous. “Darren really cares about you. He texted me as soon as I landed this morning, asking me to take good care of you.”’ Just outside the door, Kristopher had his hand on the doorknob, ready to enter, when Madisyn’s voice, tinged with amusement, reached his ears. “You know, if it hadn’t been for Kristopher back in our school days, you and Darren would probably have ended up together.”’ Kristopher’s hand froze on the doorknob. “Yes.”’ Inside the ward, Belinda’s voice was tinged with nostalgia. “If I hadn’t met Kristopher back then”¦ I might’ve married Darren by now.”’…