Page 135 of Heart of The Night

I let out a giggle, shaking my head. ‘Right, of course.’

The nurse glanced between us, his smile softening as if he sensed the close rapport. He stepped back, gesturing to the corridor with a nod. ‘I’ll give you two a bit of privacy,’ he said. ‘If you need anything, or when you’re ready to fetch the rest of the flowers, just give me a shout. I’ll be at the nurses’ station just down the corridor to the left.’

‘Thank you, really appreciate it,’ I replied.

As he slipped out, closing the door quietly behind him, the room grew quieter, the absence of his presence marking a private bubble for William and me.

William beckoned to me, his eyes twinkling with affection. ‘Give me a taste of that honey.’

Smiling, I moved over at once, leaning down to press a gentle kiss on his warm, soft lips.

‘Mmm. Sweetest one there is,’ he murmured as I pulled away. His eyes wandered over my face, studying the details. ‘You okay?’ he asked then, a hint of concern in his tone. ‘You look a bit tired.’

‘I am,’ I sighed, sinking into the chair beside his bed. ‘I borrowed your car – I hope you don’t mind – and the drive here was stressful to say the least.’

He gave a crooked smile and reached for my hand. ‘Stressful, huh? Is my car still in one piece?’ he teased, his voice imbued with that familiar cheeky charm.

‘It’s fine. Better shape than you, at least.’ I surveyed him, noting the slow recovery visible in his features. His bruised eye was still puffy but no longer swollen shut, and his broken right forearm was in a white cast, vividly signed by Jason, Andy, and Alex in fluorescent pink.

‘How are you feeling today?’ I asked, gently running my thumb over the back of his hand.

He glanced down at our entwined fingers, his smile fading into a more sombre expression. ‘Do you want the honest answer, or—’

‘The honest one.’ I tightened my grip slightly, bracing myself for the truth.

‘I’m…’ He hesitated, his voice trailing off. ‘I’m just a bit… pensive. Over the past few days, what happened… It’s really starting to sink in.’

I lifted his hand to my lips, kissing it tenderly. My eyes welled up with tears, but I fought them back; I needed to be strong for him. The weight of his trauma bore down on us both, yet he was the one suffering the most. I couldn’t begin to imagine what dark thoughts might be swirling in his mind now that he had begun to process the assault.

‘Are you fixating on anything in particular or is it all just a mess?’ I asked softly, my tone soothing, giving him the space to unravel his thoughts.

He sighed deeply and raised his gaze, his eyes searching mine before he settled into a brief, contemplative silence.

‘It’s a turmoil of emotions more than clear thoughts,’ he murmured. ‘A lot of anger. I’m angry with Oliver, I’m angry with Francesca, and I’m angry with myself for believing her when she told me she was single. Looking back, there were signs. She made some abrupt departures, acted suspiciously around her phone, and they’re all things I now feel I should have picked up on. At the time, I didn’t mind; I was actually relieved, because I thought it meant she wasn’t investing in me, and I wanted to keep things casual. But, in hindsight, those moments feel like clues I should have seen.’

‘William, you gave her the benefit of the doubt. That’s not a fault – it’s a strength,’ I said quietly, noting the tension in his face. ‘She abused your trust, and what she did was utterly deplorable, not a reflection on you.’ I paused, searching his eyes for a flicker of relief or acceptance, hoping my words would ease some of his self-reproach. ‘Don’t beat yourself up for being a good person. It’s her actions that are at fault, not your willingness to trust.’

He nodded faintly, his expression darkening as his jaw tensed. ‘Maybe. But mostly, I’m angry with Oliver. I’m angry he resorted to violence, as if I were aware of their relationship. I wasn’t. I seriously had no idea.’ He shook his head, frustration cutting into his features. ‘And since Oliver was just an acquaintance, I didn’t feel the need to double-check Francesca’s story by contacting him. What was I supposed to have done? Ring him up and go, “Your ex wants me in her bed. You all right with that?”’ He scoffed, the sound bitter.

‘We weren’t friends,’ he continued, his voice growing steadier but colder. ‘It didn’t seem like it was any of his business, so I kept him out of it. Especially because I had no serious intentions with Francesca in the first place, it just felt wrong to involve him.’

‘It would have been ridiculous if you did,’ I said, nodding.

‘Right?’ William paused, his gaze distant as if trying to piece together fragmented memories. ‘And while I can’t remember the assault, I doubt he spoke to me before he attacked, because I wouldn’t have said anything that might warrant such a response. As a man who knows jealousy all too well, I can imagine how infuriating it must be to discover your partner has been unfaithful. That’s why I know I would have been humble – apologetic even – if he’d confronted me. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone, knowing how I would feel if it were me.’

‘I agree. You would have handled it with respect,’ I said, relieved to hear that he was considering his own integrity in the situation. ‘That’s just who you are, Will. You wouldn’t have escalated things.’

‘Exactly,’ he said, his voice firm but filled with a trace of sadness. ‘I’ve never wanted to be that man – the one someone cheats with. It’s against everything I stand for. And yet, unbeknownst to me, I was.’

He sighed deeply, the weariness palpable. ‘Francesca must have realised that lying was the only way she’d get me into bed. Had I known the truth, I would never have touched her.’

‘I’m sure she knew that,’ I mumbled, my brows knitting as I squeezed his hand.

‘And now,’ William said, his gaze drifting off, ‘Oliver’s gone and stalled my career. I loved working on those transactions, Cara. They were seriously riveting. It didn’t feel like work. I was doing something I’m passionate about, something that both challenged and stimulated me. And now, I’ve been robbed of that, all because I was with a woman I believed was single.’ He shook his head, his disbelief clear. ‘It all feels so bizarre, so fucking unfair. I never saw this coming.’

Tears pricked my eyes. ‘It is unfair, Will. You never deserved any of this.’

His grateful glance told me he found some comfort in my words, a small solace in the storm that had upended his life.

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