Page 74 of His

“Thank you so much.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

And it really, really is.

Brittney and I speak for twenty more minutes, sharing stories about her patients. I cling onto every word, hoping she finds contentment and happiness in her day.

After hanging up, I go inside. Astor and Cillian are in the office on a conference call. The door is open.

I lift my hand. Astor smiles and dips his chin.

I motion that I’m getting a drink and ask if he wants one. He shakes his head, then winks. I smile back. We’re trying.

After washing the dirt from my hands, I pour a glass of sweet tea.

The nurse steps out of Valerie’s room, shakes her phone at me indicating she needs to take this call, then steps outside.

I haven’t seen Valerie since she got back from the hospital. She hasn’t left her bed and the nurses keep the door shut while they’re inside.

Curiosity gets the better of me and, before I can stop myself, I tip-toe down the hall and peek inside.

Valerie is lying in bed with her eyes closed. Her cheeks are pale and sunken in, giving her a ghostly appearance. She’s even more emaciated than she was a week ago. Multiple wires run from under the covers to monitors, which beep every few seconds.

I lean against the door, a wave of sadness washing over me. No matter how deceitful the woman was, no one deserves this.

I find myself metaphorically slipping into her shoes, thinking of her story.

Valerie got pregnant with Astor’s baby and accepted an invitation to marry despite the lack of love between them. After miscarrying the baby, instead of telling Astor, she keeps it a secret and begins an intimate relationship with the young, handsome house manager to fill the void of a loveless marriage. Finding herself pregnant once again, Valerie sees an opportunity—make Astor believe the baby is his, and continue her lavish lifestyle, while secretly having multiple affairs, including one with her husband’s archrival.

But the story doesn’t end there. In an ironic twist, the child is tragically killed by the hands of his father, Leo, because Leo couldn’t handle the stress of knowing that Astor might one day discover their secret and have him killed.

But now?—

Chloe is dead.

Carlos is dead.

Valerie’s sister, Prishna, is dead.

Leo is dead.

And Valerie is wasting away.

All because two people, who didn’t love each other, committed to a life together out of obligation (Astor) and opportunity (Valerie). It’s a twisted, cautionary tale of devotion to self over love.

As I study her, I wonder if it was all worth it. The years of lies and manipulation. If she could go back in time, would she do it all over again?

“Come.”

I startle at the voice that came out of nowhere and look over my shoulder, expecting to see the nurse. But she’s still outside on the phone.

When I turn back around, Valerie’s eyes are open and fixed on me.

“Come,” she beckons with a long, skinny finger.

Again, I look over my shoulder. Astor is still in his office, engrossed in the call he’s on.

I step into the room. It reeks of antiseptic and bleach.

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