Chapter 15
Dolores was caught off guard by the yelling, too stunned to react at first. She glanced at Yara, who was staring right at her from the hospital bed, before humming to walk out of the room.
“What the hell are you saying? she blurted out, trying to make sense of it all.
On the other end, Adam’s voice was low and chilling. “Tell ine, where the hell are you right a
“At the hospital–Dolores began, only to be interrupted.
“Dolores, come on. II’ you’re gonna make excuses, at least make them plausible. You were all gung–ho about a divorce yesterday, and now suddenly you’re too sick to leave your bed? Or is this just some fucked up way of playing hard to get? His tone was laced with skepticism and disdain.
Dolores realized she was barely regarded in Adam’s eyes, but his outright dismissal before she could even finish her sentence was worse than she expected
Hating back tears, she clarified. “It’s not me who’s ill, it’s your mother. She’s got a fever of 104°F and just got admitted.”
Joop. Your mom is sick, and the staff thought to call
The line went dead silent. After a pause. Dolores scoffed sarcastically. “Clearly, you’re out of the loop. me, not you. Have you any clue how many times I’ve looked after her in the last three years?”
Memories surged like a tide. She recalled the call from Ann while she was at work, finding out that Yara had collapsed, all while Adam was making her life hell and HR, kissing up to him, wouldn’t grant her leave.
She had skipped work in desperation, rushing to the hospital, only to be publicly shamed by Adam. If you can’t handle it, just go back to being some delicate princess. Walcott Corp doesn’t cater to trash!”
She had swallowed her pride and endured the humiliation. Dolores could still recall the scorn and disdain in the eyes of her colleagues.
As time seemed to stand still, Adam finally spoke up indifferently. “Next time this happens, just call me,”
Dolores detected no warmth in his words, and she refused to let herself fall into any more illusions. She hung up without responding, took a moment in the corridor to collect herself, and then returned to the room.
Adam arrived shortly afterward. Dolores glanced at Yara, now asleep again, each sickness draining her life bit by bit.
“I need to talk to you.” Dolores said.
Thinking she was about to bring up the di
divorce again, Adam frowned. “Whatever it is, wait until Mom wakes up. I’m busy now.”
At that moment, she thought. He still thinks I’m just causing trouble?”
She was about to sprak when the noticed a glaring red mark on his neck–aloud testament to his secrets. Internally sneering, she thought. “Already av blatant about his affairs and we’re but even divorced yeif
“So, should I just say it here then?” she challenged.
Adam’s glare was sharp as he turned and left the room briskly.
Alone in the corridor, Dodures casually slipped her hands into her po kets, staring blanke
tbonudi examination, she began slowly
Adam frowned “What’s going wit
“Nor
at the stark white wall “The doctor said Yara needs a
sure yet, abe replied, glana ing at her watch. The doctor said we need to wait for the test results. Yara just fell asleep, and it’s unlikely she’ll wake up soon I’ve arranged for a nurse to watch over her. We have just over an hour before the city hall gunes on lunch break. We can still make it.
Adam in bed lus eyes on Dolores, I look fraught with conflicting emotions. Ever since she had demanded a divorce, each of her icy remarks and paindul ectalls was like an invisible knife, carving deep cars into his heart, stirring up a mix of rage and helplessness in him.
“Mom’s Land up ok, mal you’re still hung tupo tam sp
com spitting? Clarist, Dolores, do you have no conscience! His voice seethed with frustration and
Internally, she shot back. “My conscience? Whittled away by your endless cold shoulder and emotional distance!
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Chapter 15
She gave a mock smile and coolly replied. “If that’s how you see it, sure, whatever.”
Het words set off a blure of anger in Adam. He thought back to that day she had casually bought a men’s b and suspicion
in front of him, sparking his jealousy
He had figured it was just a spite purchase that she would end up flaunting before dropping it in their closet, as usual, to make him jealous. Yet, last night at a party, he spotted a man carrying the exact bag.
It wasn’t just a similar one, luxury bags come with unique serial numbers, and on closer inspection, it turned out to be the same one she bought.
“So you re dinching me that fast for some new fling? That bag was for him, huh? What the hell do you even see in that old, ugly fucker!” His tone was laced with anger and scom.
Dolores was mystified by his baseless accusations; her patience finally snapped. Frowning deeply, she retorted, “Are you done? What’s even the point of this bullshit! Isn’t this exhausting”
Adam scoffed. “The divorce can wait. Mom’s still on the drip and needs looking after.”
But Dolores, wary of further delays possibly complicating things, pressed. “We can have a nurse watch her for a bit. It won’t take long.
Adam’s expression turned even darker. “I said, we’ll set up another time.”
picking up on his drift, she proposed. “How about this afternoon!”
She had taken half a day off, and it felt trivial as Yara would soon finish her IV therapy, and city hall was open for a while longer. Today seemed perfectly doable to sort things OUL
But before she could finish her thought, Adam grabbed her chin abruptly, his tone venomous. The more desperate you get, the less I want to give you what
you want.” His menacing words were a clear provocation
“Adam, only a real asshole thinks that way, Dolores shot back, smacking his hand away and walking off.
As the vanished into the elevator. Adam was left seething, his frustration so intense he felt like lighting up a cigarette. After a brief, stunned pause, be entered the hospital room, only to be unexpectedly hit in the stomach by a flying pillow.
Yara was glaring at him, her disappointment palpable. “Can’t even sweet–talk your wife. What trash heap did you crawl out of? We’re right here in a hospital; go get a DNA test. There’s no way your dad and I could have spawned such a jerk.”
leh speechless.
me the truth, has your performance dropped because
She added, “Was the with you last night, and now she wants a divorce from you today? Tell me t you’re getting old” Yara’s harsh words pierced Adam.
He page turned icy, has voor dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Dolores told you we slept together last night! And that we’re divorcing?”
Chapter 16
