Ex's crazy pursuit After Divorce (Chloe and Adrian) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Heartache

At that thought, Adrian’s frown deepened. His expression grew darker by the second.

But his reaction only pleased Natalie. She shot a triumphant glance at Chloe through the window, a satisfied smile playing at her lips.

“Adrian, it’s not that I don’t trust Chloe,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “I’m just worried she’s not in the right state of mind for such a complex surgery.”

Then she turned to Gregory, who stood nearby with a carefully neutral expression. “Dr. Chase, how long will this surgery take?”

“Well… it varies depending on several factors. Anywhere from four to eight hours, really. It depends on the patient’s condition and the surgeon’s skill.”

Gregory’s answer was music to Natalie’s ears.

She looked at Adrian with manufactured anxiety. “You heard him, Adrian. At least four hours, and it’s already late. If Chloe can’t keep it together, Jonathan’s life is in her hands…”

She gripped Adrian’s arm, tears streaming down her face. “Please, can’t we get someone else?”

Her gaze shifted to Gregory. “Dr. Chase is the head of cardiothoracic surgery, isn’t he? His skills must be better than Chloe’s. Can’t he take over?”

Gregory shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. “That… wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m not the primary physician, and with a ruptured aortic main artery, we can’t take the surgery lightly. Changing lead surgeons mid–operation is absolutely forbidden.”

He found Natalie’s behavior completely unreasonable—her words showed nothing but distrust and baseless contempt for their hospital’s doctors.

Despite his irritation, Adrian’s presence forced him to remain ́ diplomatic. “Miss, please don’t worry. Since Dr. Hart has taken on this surgery, she definitely has the confidence and expertise to handle it.”

Natalie still wasn’t having it. “But, Adrian…”

“Enough.” Adrian’s sharp tone cut her off.

His eyes remained fixed on the operating room, his voice growing colder. “You’re not a doctor. Since we’re here, listen to the doctors and wait quietly for your brother to come out.”

Seeing Adrian had no intention of replacing Chloe, Natalie’s heart sank with unwillingness.

But she knew his decisions were final–pressing further would only make her seem awful. Reluctantly, she swallowed her protest.

She bit her lip with practiced vulnerability, her eyes reddening. “You’re right, Adrian. I was wrong to doubt Chloe.”

Adrian’s expression softened slightly at her apparent

contrition. He patted her shoulder. “The surgery will take

several more hours. I’ll wait here. Should I have the driver take you home?”

Natalie shook her head firmly, her nose red from crying. “Jonathan is fighting for his life. Even if I went home, I couldn’t sleep. I’d rather stay here with you.”

Adrian nodded without insisting.

Inside the operating room, the medical team continued their relentless work.

If not for Jonathan’s accident, Adrian would never have witnessed the intensity of Chloe’s world.

One surgery meant standing for hours without food or water. And this was probably just another Tuesday for her.

Something twisted in Adrian’s chest–a dull, persistent ache he couldn’t quite name.

Gregory offered at the side, “Mr. Foster, this surgery will take quite a while longer. Would you like to rest in the lounge? I’ll notify you when it’s finished.”

Adrian refused right away. “No. I’ll stay here.”

He’d asked Sebastian to get them into the observation room purely out of curiosity, just to see what Chloe looked like in surgery. Now that he had, even separated by glass and distance, he felt compelled to stay. As if his presence somehow meant he was fighting alongside her.

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