Chapter 5
While Rosie was receiving antibiotics through an IV, a nurse handed me a family contact form.
The back of Rosie's hand was already bruised from the repeated needle sticks. Even in her sleep, she frowned from time to time.
Hannah sat on the other side of the bed, holding the IV tubing so Rosie would not press it against her wound if she rolled over.
"Please confirm the emergency contact. If your daughter's condition changes suddenly, this is the person we will call first."
Julian's name was printed at the top.
I picked up the pen and crossed it out.
Then I wrote my name and Hannah's underneath, along with both our phone numbers.
Hannah watched me.
She did not stop me or ask whether I was acting on impulse.
She simply covered my hand with hers.
The nurse pointed to the section for the medical decision-maker.
"Would you like to change this as well?"
"Yes."
Once again, I crossed out Julian's name.
"Change everything to me and Hannah."
The nurse confirmed my request.
"Once this change is made, we will no longer contact her father first if she needs emergency treatment."
"I understand."
She asked me to sign beside the amendment.
As I wrote my name, I remembered the first time Rosie had been hospitalized with a high fever. Julian had claimed to be in a meeting then too.
That night, I waited until two in the morning, still believing he would appear if I gave him a little more time.
Over seven years, it had not been the only time I waited.
It was simply the first time his absence had nearly cost our daughter her life.
I would never again gamble with Rosie's safety.
Before leaving the nurses' station, I opened the vehicle-tracking app to see where my car actually was.
The blue dot was sitting in the underground garage at the Mercer Hotel.
It was not at the office.
It was not at the trade show venue.
The car had entered the garage at 11:06 the night before and had not left since.
Julian was at the Mercer Hotel too.
I downloaded the full trip history.
It showed that after taking Sloane to the hotel the night before, Julian had never left.
His early breakfast meeting was only another name for the night they had spent together.
Then Sloane sent me another message.
"Stop bothering him over every little thing with the child. He is exhausted. He barely slept last night."
I stared at the words for a long time before calling Julian.
"Sloane just told me you barely slept last night."
"She is worried about Rosie. She is worried about you too."
"She told me not to bother you over one little problem with your child."
"Clara, I am not going to listen to you dissect every word she says."
"Then read it yourself. I'm sending you the screenshot now."
"Do not bother."
His voice turned cold.
"Can you stop taking every anxiety you have as a mother out on Sloane?"
"She worked all night for the trade show. How much more pressure are you going to put on her?"
My finger froze above the screen.
At last, I understood that it did not matter what Sloane said. He would never look.
As long as he refused to look, the woman provoking me would always be innocent, and I would always be the unreasonable wife.
"Fine."
I ended the call and forwarded the hotel location, the vehicle records, and Sloane's messages to my attorney.
Five minutes later, my attorney replied.
"Evidence received. The divorce agreement can be delivered tomorrow afternoon."
Then I opened the family permissions page in the hospital system.
I revoked Julian's access and medical authorization.
A confirmation warning appeared.
I pressed confirm.
The next time Rosie was rushed into a treatment room, Julian would not get to sit across town and decide whether her danger was worth showing up for.