Chapter 8
A pin–drop silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of Lucas playing with another little lost soul he’d just met.
I stared at Samuel, wondering what expression he wore that he’d heard someone else announce my death once again. However, much like the last time he heard it, he frowned before his lips curled sardonically.
“I didn’t think you’d still be so concerned about my wife, Mr. Lowry. I don’t even know if she’s dead or alive, yet you seem so certain that it’s the former. What, did she tell you that personally? Or have you been cavorting with her under my nose for the last few years?
“Is sneaking around your idea of excitement?” Samuel chuckled dryly. “Not that I care. She’s filthy, and I’d rather not get my hands dirty by touching her. If you want to have fun with her, go ahead.”
My heart shattered at his words, and my eyes prickled with what I presumed were oncoming tears. But I was a lost soul without a physical form, so how would I have tears, to begin with? Then again, why would a lost soul feel this much hurt?
For a few moments, Kendall seemed shocked. He probably hadn’t expected Samuel to say such things. He suddenly flew into a rage and growled, “Calla was your wife! Don’t you care about her at all?”
Samuel’s face was a portrait of indifference as he averted his gaze from Kendall’s sharp eyes. “It’s none of your business whether I care about her or not.” Kendall barked a disbelieving laugh. “Fool. Calla was such a fool for sacrificing so much for someone like you! I would have taken her for real if I’d known this would happen. At least she’d still be alive!”
His smile vanished as he rose to his feet. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Samuel. You truly are heartless.”
With that, Kendall gave Samuel a dismissive wave. “I’ll get going. Doing business with a heartless bastard like you makes me wonder if I’ll be chewed and spat out one day, too.”
He showed himself out of Francine’s hospital room, his gait casual as he stopped where my soul was hovering. It was almost as if he could see me, for he suddenly looked up and smiled humorlessly. It was as though he were saying, “See that, you silly woman? This is the man you’d fought with your life to protect. If you’d stayed with me, none of this would have happened.”
He continued walking after waving in my general direction.
I stared at Kendall’s retreating figure, amused and angered by the irony of it all. He was one of the reasons my life fell apart, yet the only person truly cared about my sacrifices.
who
When Kendall was gone, Samuel stared at the doorframe the former had been leaning against moments ago. His face gradually darkened, and his fingers clenched his phone tightly. He didn’t loosen his grip even as his knuckles turned white.
A long moment later, he hurled the phone to the ground. “Fuck! That damn lunatic!”
Francine was transferred back to the regular ward from the observation room around 10:00 pm. When she saw the broken pieces of Samuel’s phone on the ground, she froze in place. She hurriedly clutched Samuel’s arm and demanded, “What happened, Sam? Is everything alright?”
Samuel shuddered as he snapped out of his thoughts. His gaze slowly focused on Francine’s pretty, delicate face. He studied her for a few moments until she blushed, then embraced her tightly.
He buried his chin in the crook of her shoulder and closed his eyes as if he were in pain.
Unease gripped Francine, but she didn’t know what to do.
Samuel eventually released her and coaxed her to get into bed. She held his hand and said, “Sam, I couldn’t help notice that you’ve been a little off recently. Maybe you should hire a private investigator to look for Calla. I want you to stay in the hospital with me. I’ve been feeling inexplicably anxious since the relapse.”
While caressing her face and eyeing her with sympathy, Samuel promised, “Okay. I’ll stay here with you. I only wanted to look for Calla so I could have her donate her bone marrow to you.”
Emotions filled Francine’s eyes. “Samuel, you promised me that you’d divorce her and marry me.”
Samuel’s gaze flickered for a second before he dipped his chin and kissed her on the forehead. He said apologetically, “I know the last few years have been hard for you. I’ve decided to let Calla go, and at the same time, spare myself the agony. Once I find her, I’ll divorce her and start a new life with you.”
Francine wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes flashing with something like mockery or scorn. She softly reassured him, “Sam, I signed up for everything that happened in the last few years. It hasn’t been that hard for me at all.”
