Chapter 4

I froze for a second, then let out a furious laugh.

She was completely out of her mind.

Even now, she was still using the miscarriage as leverage, trying to back me into a corner with it.

Did she really think that scaring me with divorce would have me on my knees begging for forgiveness?

It was ridiculous.

I pointed at her face and snapped.

"Ruby, can you be reasonable for once?"

"There's nothing going on between me and Zoe. I'm only looking after her out of duty."

"My brother's gone. It isn't easy for a woman to raise a kid on her own."

"You're his sister-in-law. If you won't help, fine, but getting jealous at a time like this is beyond ridiculous!"

Zoe, standing beside me, suddenly went limp and clutched both hands to her chest.

"Oh, oh…"

She collapsed straight into my arms.

Her face was white as paper, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"Eli, my chest just started hurting so much. I can't breathe."

"Maybe I got too frightened last night and the angina's flaring up."

"Take me to a doctor, quickly. It hurts so much."

I clutched Zoe tight, panic surging through me.

My brother had treasured her more than anything while he was alive. If something happened to her right in front of me, how could I ever face him?

I turned and shot Ruby a look of disgust from the hospital bed.

"See that?"

"You made this whole scene, and now you've dragged Zoe's health into it too."

I left her with one hard line.

"You sit here by yourself and think about what you've done."

"I'll be back to clean up your mess soon enough."

With that, I didn't even look back.

Half carrying Zoe, I strode out of the ward.

I ran her up and down through the whole hospital.

EKG, blood work, a brain CT scan.

Once the full workup was done, the doctor glanced at the report.

And said flatly:

"Nothing serious. Just a bit of low blood sugar. Go have a good meal and she'll be fine."

Zoe blushed and leaned into me, saying it was all her fault for being such a delicate thing.

I gave a helpless smile and took her down to the café on the ground floor.

I settled into a comfortable armchair and sipped a black coffee, taking my time.

Letting Ruby stew for a while, I figured, would finally cool that temper of hers.

Just then, my phone rang, sharp and urgent.

The caller ID showed the nurses' station.

I answered.

The nurse's frantic voice came through.

"Family of the patient in Room 302, where did you go?"

"Your wife is gone!"