The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 142

Hawk averted his gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly. "So… Miss Vale, are you still going to the hospital?"

Genevieve's face alternated between pale and flushed. Barely containing her temper, she slammed the door shut. "No!"

Hawk narrowly avoided getting hit by the door.

He was speechless. "Why am I always the one who gets hurt?"

With a sigh, Hawk sent a message to his boss to report the situation and then headed home.

Inside the apartment, Genevieve's chest heaved with fury, her full breasts threatening to spill from her slip. It was a sight that would get anyone's blood pumping.

But right now, her face was a mask of rage and disappointment. Her eyes fell on the dinner she had so carefully prepared, and with a dark expression, she strode toward the table.

She swept everything—dishes and all—onto the floor.

***

The next day, Victoria woke up exhausted. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, and finally gave up as dawn broke.

Cerys left for her trip with her aunt as planned. Victoria had breakfast with her and saw her off, then glanced at the time.

It was just past eight. She was supposed to meet Elias at nine. It seemed a little early to head over now.

Just as she was thinking, her phone rang. It was Grady.

"Grady? Why are you calling me so early?"

"Victoria…" Grady's voice was hoarse and heavy. "Dad collapsed last night. He still hasn't woken up."

The phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.

Grady's voice drifted faintly from the speaker. "Victoria? Victoria? Are you okay?"

Victoria pinched her palm hard, then picked up the phone, forcing herself to sound calm. "I'm on my way to the hospital."

***

At the hospital, outside the ICU.

Victoria stared through the thick glass partition at Garnett, who lay unconscious with an oxygen mask over his face. Her eyes turned red. "Dad…"

Grady had gotten the call from their lawyer in the middle of the night and had rushed over immediately. After hours of waiting during the emergency treatment, he hadn't slept a wink.

"The doctor said if Dad doesn't wake up by this afternoon, they can't rule out the possibility—" Grady's voice cracked with emotion as he looked at his sister. "The possibility that he could end up in a vegetative state."

Her last shred of hope was extinguished.

Victoria's legs gave out. She sank to the floor, burying her face in her arms and knees, and began to sob quietly, her body shaking with suppressed grief. "No. Dad, please don't leave me and Grady. I'm begging you!"

***

At 11:45 AM, outside City Hall.

A Maybach was parked nearby.

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is busy. Please try again later."

For the tenth time, Hawk dialed Victoria's number, only to be met with the same automated message.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly, but inside the car, an icy chill had descended, making him feel like he could barely hold his phone.

"Mr. Shawn…"