The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 119

In their two years of marriage, Maloney had never been sick.

Nora genuinely hadn't noticed that he was in physical pain.

She just assumed he was in a foul mood based on his dark expression and sharp tone.

Inside the private hospital room.

Maloney was sitting on the sofa, an IV drip hooked up to his arm.

Nora sat right beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. She muttered softly, "Why didn't you just tell me sooner?"

Maloney glanced at her. "Do you finally understand how frustrating it is when you refuse to communicate?"

Nora was speechless.

How did he twist this back on her?

This was completely unprovoked!

"That's completely different. If you're physically sick and you don't say anything, it's an emergency."

"If you're emotionally sick and you don't say anything, it's also an emergency."

"It's obviously not as serious as a physical illness."

"It's exactly as serious."

"Fine, let's say it's exactly as serious." Nora lowered her voice. "But I've been telling you everything lately. When have I hidden anything from you?"

"Oh? Have you?" Maloney said coolly. "Have you told me everything about your past?"

"My past?" Nora tilted her head. "What exactly are you talking about?"

"Figure it out yourself," Maloney replied.

Nora rolled her eyes.

He was just in pain and deliberately picking fights.

The hospital room fell silent for a few moments.

Maloney's condition wasn't life-threatening. He had skipped dinner at his parents' house, then drank wine on an empty stomach when he got home. The sudden irritation triggered severe gastric spasms. Halfway through the IV drip, the pain had mostly subsided. With his body feeling lighter, his mind began to wander to other things.

If it hadn't been for that half-glass of wine, they would be tangled up in the kitchen right now.

It was rare for Nora to be in such a genuinely good mood.

Nora looked up at him. "Hmm?"

"Don't move," Maloney ordered.

"...Okay," Nora replied.

Earlier, Maloney had mentioned that having some pressure on his stomach made it feel better, so he had instructed Nora to hug his waist and rest her head against his abdomen.

Nora obediently complied.

She wasn't going to argue with a sick man.

But then Maloney shifted.

Nora bolted upright from the sofa in a flash. "What... what are you doing?"

Maloney tapped her waist. "Lay back down."

Nora stayed perfectly still, staring at him wide-eyed. "We are in a hospital."

Maloney pulled her back against his chest with his free hand. "I know."

His other hand still had an IV needle buried in it, and Nora was terrified of hurting him if she struggled.

She asked softly, "Does your stomach not hurt anymore?"

"It hurts," Maloney replied, his voice dropping an octave. "So don't move."

Nora bit her lip.

"Maloney," she whispered. "What if a nurse walks in?"

"No one is walking in."

"But what if?"

"There is no 'what if'."

She never should have agreed.

But once things started, he wasn't going to let her stop.

On the drive back home.

While waiting at a red light, Nora started peeling her nails off.

She lined up the colorful pieces on the center console.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Maloney picked one up and examined it. "What's wrong with them?"

"They got ruined," Nora stated bluntly.

Maloney went silent.

He bit back his initial response. "Didn't you wash your hands?"

"You don't understand," Nora sighed. "There's glue under them. Things seep in."

Maloney genuinely didn't understand.

He had only just learned the term 'press-on nails'.

Once they were home and showered, the two sat facing each other at her vanity. Maloney clumsily but incredibly patiently helped Nora apply a brand-new set of nails.

Nora quietly watched him work.

She wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the right words, terrified of ruining the fragile, hard-earned intimacy between them.

Right before bed.

Lying under the covers, Nora checked her phone.

There were several unread messages in the group chat.

Cassidy's prenatal appointment was coming up.

Whether men were involved or not didn't matter; a baby born to one of their friends was a baby that belonged to all of them.

They all had to attend the appointment together.