A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 43:

“Good to know, tough guy,” I replied, crossing my arms. “But you’re not as indestructible as you think. Go get yourself checked out.”

Dominic rolled his eyes, deflecting the concern, but he didn’t argue. “And what are you going to do while I’m off playing patient?”

“Keep Alexander off the trail,” I said simply. “If you’re around the hospital getting patched up, he’ll assume you’re still occupied. It’ll buy me the time I need to check the old hospital.”

He huffed, his brows knitting in frustration. I watched as Dominic’s eyes darkened, and I saw the stubborn resolve that had always marked him. “No. I’m not leaving your side, not when you’re planning to go digging for evidence by yourself. It’s too dangerous, and you know it.”

I wanted to argue, to push him away so that I could bear this burden alone. But my voice caught, my throat tightening with emotion I couldn’t let him see. The truth was, I was afraid—afraid of finding nothing, afraid of finding something damning enough to change everything, even if deep down it was exactly what I wanted. Dominic must’ve seen the turmoil in my eyes because his gaze softened, but his tone didn’t waver.

“The only way you’re getting that phone back, Raina, is with me by your side.”

I huffed out a frustrated breath, knowing he wouldn’t back down. “Fine.”

And so, without another word, he led the way to his car, the silence between us heavy and tense. He drove with a steady determination that mirrored my own, both of us lost in thought as we made our way to the hospital. My heart pounded as we…

We neared, the familiar walls looming like silent witnesses to all the secrets that had unraveled in these sterile rooms.

The old fear resurfaced, a churning dread that clung to my insides. But I couldn’t afford to let it stop me. I had to find that phone, had to uncover the truth, even if it destroyed everything I’d held onto in the process.

Once inside, we headed straight for Liam’s old room, our footsteps echoing in the dim hallways. I felt a shiver run down my spine as we pushed open the door, memories flooding back in an overwhelming rush. The bed was empty, the machines silent—a haunting reminder of all that Liam had endured here. We began to search, our hands combing through every corner, every surface. Drawers, cabinets, the dusty space under the bed—nothing was left unchecked. But it was all in vain; there was no sign of the phone.

Frustration gnawed at me, and I was about to give up when a nurse passed by, glancing at us with mild curiosity. I caught her attention, forcing a calm smile onto my face.

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨: g𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀[․]𝗰𝗼𝗺

“Excuse me,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “Did anyone find a phone in here? It would have been around the time this room was last cleaned.”

The nurse frowned, thinking it over before shaking her head. “I don’t recall seeing anything, but…”

Before she could finish, another nurse who had been walking by stopped, her eyes lighting up with recognition.

“Oh, I remember that,” she said, her voice cheerful but oblivious to my mounting anxiety. “It was found a few days ago and taken to the lost and found. I was actually the one on duty that day.”

Relief washed over me, and I exchanged a hopeful look with Dominic. Finally, a lead. Together, we followed the nurse down the hall and into a small office where lost items were kept. She rummaged through a drawer before pulling out a phone, its screen cracked and dull.noveldrama

“This is it,” she confirmed, handing it to me. My fingers closed around it, but as I tried to turn it on, nothing happened. The screen remained blank, unresponsive.

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