Chapter 1201
Claire Chase finished speaking with the nurse and turned back to Felix Quigley. “Since you’re fine, I’m leaving.”
A sudden, suffocating chill instantly extinguished the tiny flicker of hope that had just ignited in his chest.
Felix swallowed hard. The dull, throbbing pain from his surgery mixed with a much sharper sense of despair. He didn’t want to admit he was begging her, but his lips moved on their own. His voice came out raspy, almost pleading.
“Are you… not going to stay?”
Claire saw the desperate yearning in his eyes.
But she didn’t move.
She didn’t soften.
She simply refused to meet his gaze.
Lowering her eyes, she pushed down any lingering hesitation and grabbed her purse from the chair.
Her intention to leave was absolute.
Just as she turned toward the door, it burst open.
“Felix! You’re finally awake! Thank God!”
Madeline Lynwood and her mother, Aunt Jean, swarmed into the hospital room, bringing a loud, overwhelming energy that instantly hijacked the space.
“Oh, you terrified us! Madeline has been crying her eyes out. Look how puffy they are,” Aunt Jean fussed, making sure Felix knew exactly how devoted her daughter
was.
Madeline had already crossed the room in two long strides, seamlessly elbowing Claire out of the way.
Claire stumbled back a half-step, her purse strap slipping down her arm.
She caught her balance and watched, expressionless, as Madeline brazenly took a seat on the edge of Felix’s bed. The younger woman leaned in close, arranging her flowers on the nightstand before reaching out to touch his unbandaged hand.
“You have no idea how worried I was!” Madeline’s voice was sickeningly sweet, dripping with blatant intimacy.
Perhaps because Claire was still in the room, Felix shifted his arm, avoiding the touch.
The movement pulled at his stitches, and he grimaced.
He didn’t even look at Madeline. Instead, his gaze bypassed her completely, landing on Claire.
Claire stood there, feeling like a completely unnecessary prop in someone else’s play.
She watched Madeline confidently occupy the space that rightfully belonged to a wife, and watched the mother daughter duo put on their little theatrical display of affection.
Any slight wavering she’d felt at Felix’s earlier plea froze over in an instant.
“Looks like you have plenty of people to take care of you.”
Without waiting for a response, she pushed the door open and disappeared down the hall without looking back.
Madeline and Aunt Jean were more than happy to see her go.
If it weren’t for the hospital’s strict visiting rules, Madeline would have loved to permanently replace Claire at his bedside.
According to her mother’s playbook, a man was easiest to win over when he was at his most vulnerable.
“That Claire,” Aunt Jean sighed, adopting a faux-maternal tone. But her words were entirely meant for Felix’s ears.
“Her uncle and I raised her, and she treats us like enemies. She never calls on the holidays, and when she sees me, she doesn’t even say hello.”
Madeline immediately chimed in. “Heartless? Try cold-blooded. Old Mrs. Quigley treated her so well and lefther such a massive inheritance, yet she couldn’t even be bothered to show up for the 49th Day Memorial Rite.”
“Secretary Lynwood practically had to beg her over the phone just to get her here to sign the surgery consent forms. Otherwise, she wouldn’t t even shown her face.”
Was that true?
Felix thought, a heavy darkness settling over him.