Chapter 5

When I finally forced my eyes open, the blinding white glare of fluorescent lights assaulted my vision. The sterile smell of bleach told me I was in a hospital room.

Edward was sitting in a chair pulled close to my bed, and his face was full of concern.

"Hey... how are you feeling?" he asked softly, leaning in. "The doctor said you passed out from severe exhaustion and dangerously low blood sugar."

I yanked my hand out from under his, turning my face toward the window. I didn't say a word.

He shifted nervously in his chair.

"I brought you some chicken soup from that spot you like. Come on, let me help you sit up so you can eat."

I slowly turned my head back to look at him, the question escaping my lips.

"Can you please drop the devoted husband act? It's exhausting," I said.

A flash of genuine hurt crossed his face, and for a split second, I saw the man I had fallen in love with years ago. When I first moved to the city as a struggling resident, Edward had pursued me relentlessly.

My own feelings of inferiority kept me from reciprocating. I was only a common doctor, and he, after all, was the billionaire heir.

Then, he was underwent a high-risk surgery. I sat by his bed for seven days straight, terrified he was going to die. That was when I realized I was madly in love with him.

It seemed only right that we stayed together after he was healed.

We dated for two years. Our marriage was perfect for the first three. Then, Sienna returned and debuted as an A-list actress. The night she showed up unannounced at our penthouse, she took one look at me and froze.

When she realized I was Edward's wife, the venomous jealousy in her eyes was unmistakable until Edward looked her way, and her gaze instantly morphed into a look of soft adoration.

I foolishly believed our relationship was unshakable. But time and again, she found reasons to whisk him away, leaving me standing alone.

I realized then that Edward moved on a long time ago.

Or maybe he never really loved me to begin with.

"Susan, I mean it. I want to make this right," Edward pleaded, ripping me from my thoughts.

I looked at him. He was looking down at his lap, playing the part of the obedient, regretful husband perfectly.

"Your version of making things right makes me feel sick," I said coldly.

Tightening his grip, he looked as if he were the one who had been wronged.

"Tell me what to do. What is it going to take for you to forgive me?"

"If you really want to make it right, Edward, you'll sign the divorce papers and walk out of that door to go live happily ever after with your true love!"

Panic erupted in his eyes. He lunged forward, grabbing my wrists in a vice grip.

"No! I will give you anything you want, Susan. Literally anything! But I am not signing those papers!"

"I refuse to be the pathetic third wheel in your little romance novel!" I screamed, yanking my arms free. "Let me go, Edward!

"What do you want from me? Do you want me to sit at home like a good little housewife while you spend half the week in another woman's bed?"

His face drained of all color.

He took pride in his little secrets, always using "work" or "travel" as a shield.

Even on the rare occasion I saw them together, his excuses were ready. "She's my first love, but we're just friends now."

"You really don't believe that we're completely platonic, do you?" he asked, his voice cracking with indignation.

I closed my eyes, too tired to even look at him.

"You know exactly who you're in love with, Edward.

"And as for platonic? You should really check the mirror. Those hickeys on your neck paint a very different picture. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if she's pregnant by Thanksgiving."

Edward sat in stunned silence for a long time before he finally stood up and walked out of the room. But before he left, he stationed two of his massive bodyguards outside my door.

He told the nursing staff that my mental state was unstable due to grief and ordered them to keep me on psychiatric hold for observation.

Honestly, I welcomed the peace and quiet.

Days bled into one another. Nurses brought me food, but Edward never showed his face.

I tried asking the guards what was going on, but they stared straight ahead like stone gargoyles.

Edward had enough power to place me under house arrest in a VIP hospital suite.