Hospital drama

I glanced over at Daniel, my heart still racing from the whirlwind of emotions I’d experienced tonight. His presence was oddly comforting, yet there was an unspoken tension between us that hung in the air.

“How’s Madam Hildegard?” I asked softly, trying to mask my anxiety.

Daniel let out a sigh of relief. “She’s fine. It was just a little scare. The doctors said she’ll be okay with some rest.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Thank God,” I said, my voice full of gratitude. I looked up at him, still feeling a lingering sense of unease. “But you can’t be in my marital room alone with me, Daniel.”

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion crossing his face. “Jane, I’m not here for what you think. I came to check on you and make sure everything is alright.”

I felt a pang of guilt at his words. It wasn’t like I had suspected him of anything other than concern, but the situation had me on edge. “I wasn’t planning on telling anyone about what happened between us,” I said firmly. “You can be rest assured about that.”

Daniel nodded, his expression softening. “That’s good to hear. I don’t want anyone knowing, either.”

There was a brief silence between us, heavy with unspoken words. Daniel shifted slightly, looking towards the door. “Well, I should get going. It’s been a long night.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of finality as he turned to leave. But something inside me compelled me to stop him. I reached out and grabbed his wrist gently, making him pause. We locked eyes, and in that instant, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

“Daniel,” I said quietly, “I just wanted to say goodnight.”

He looked at me, his gaze intense and filled with a mixture of emotions. “Goodnight, Jane.”

I released his wrist slowly, my fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. There was a fleeting moment where I felt like time had stopped, where it was just the two of us in that room. But reality soon intruded, and I let go, stepping back as he turned to leave.

As Daniel walked out, I felt a strange emptiness settle over me. I couldn’t help but think about our last encounter, the way he had touched me, the passion and urgency that had marked our time together. My mind replayed those moments, each memory vivid and haunting.

I climbed back into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. The echoes of our last time together haunted me. I remembered the way his hands had felt on my skin, the way he had looked at me with such intensity. Even now, as I lay in the dark, I could almost feel his touch.

I knew we were in a complicated situation, one that seemed to grow more tangled with each passing moment. But despite everything, a part of me couldn’t help but yearn for the connection we had shared.

 I needed to get some sleep, to find a way to cope with the chaos of the night and the uncertainty of what was to come.

.   .   .

I woke up the next morning to find Matthew lying beside me in bed. Matthew was propped up on one elbow, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said with a chuckle. “Seems like you had quite the night. You were moaning and tossing around like you were in the middle of a wild dream.”

I blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. My face flushed with embarrassment, and I forced a smile. “Good morning, Matthew. I must have been dreaming about something... interesting.”

Matthew’s grin widened. “Interesting, huh? Well, I’m glad I could provide such pleasant dreams.”

I tried to laugh it off, but the truth was that it wasn’t him who had been on my mind. I excused myself and headed to the bathroom for a shower. As the warm water poured on my skin, my thoughts drifted back to Daniel. It was his touch, his presence, that had been filling my dreams, not Matthew.

The guilt and confusion swirled inside me like the steam from the shower. I tried to focus on the soothing sensation of the water, but all I could think about was the way Daniel had looked at me, the way he had made me feel.

It was almost painful to realize that those thoughts had been what caused me to moan in my sleep, not the man lying beside me.

After my shower, I dressed quickly in a simple yet elegant outfit, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of Daniel. When I came downstairs, Matthew was already waiting for me, looking impeccably dressed in a tailored suit.

“Ready to go?” he asked, holding out his hand.

I took it, forcing a smile. “Ready.”

We drove to the hospital where Madam Hildegard was being treated. The ride was quiet, and my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I was nervous about seeing her, anxious about what the doctors would say, and, most of all, conflicted about my own feelings.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were led to a small waiting room. It wasn’t long before the doctor came in, his expression serious but not overly alarming.

“Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt,” he began, “I’m glad you’re here. Madam Hildegard is resting comfortably now.”

Matthew and I exchanged relieved glances. “What happened?” Matthew asked, his voice tinged with concern.

“It appears to be nothing more than a severe stress reaction,” the doctor explained. “We’ve run several tests, and there are no indications of any serious underlying issues. She’ll need some rest and possibly a reduction in stress factors in her life, but she should recover fully.”

Matthew sighed with relief, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything we can do for her?”

The doctor nodded. “Just support and understanding. Encourage her to take it easy and avoid any situations that might add to her stress.”

“Of course,” I said, feeling a genuine sense of relief. “We’ll make sure she’s well taken care of.”

Just as I was about to sit down on one of the metal chairs, I saw Victoria striding into the room, her high heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Daniel was right behind her. I rolled my eyes, my patience wearing thin. Victoria’s presence seemed to amplify the tension, and I knew we were in for another round of uncomfortable exchanges.

“Jane,” Victoria said with a saccharine smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It seems we keep running into each other.”

I forced a smile, trying to mask my irritation. “Victoria. It seems so.”

We stood there, exchanging pleasantries that felt as thin and brittle as the paper they were written on. The air crackled with unspoken hostility. As Matthew and Daniel moved to the other end of the room to discuss something with a low murmur, Victoria leaned closer, her gaze sharp.

“I noticed you weren’t at the hospital with Daniel and me,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “But here you are now, trying to be part of the family. Don’t think for a second that you stand a chance against me.”

Her words cut deeper than I cared to admit. I didn’t have the energy for another argument, especially not with someone who seemed to revel in creating discord.

“I don’t have time for this,” I said, my voice firm but weary. “I’m here to support Matthew, not to engage in petty arguments.”

Victoria’s eyes narrowed, but I turned on my heel and walked over to Matthew, who was engrossed in a conversation with Daniel. I wrapped my arms around him, leaning my head on his shoulder for a brief moment of solidarity.

“Everything okay?” I asked softly, though my mind was still buzzing with the tension from earlier.

Matthew looked down at me, his expression softening. “Yeah, everything’s fine. The doctors are about to give us an update.”

Just then, the door to Madam Hildegard’s room opened, and the doctor stepped out with a nod. “You can come in now. She’s awake and stable.”

Matthew and Daniel headed inside first, and I followed, trying to push past the unease that Victoria had stirred in me. But before we could enter, a tall, strikingly handsome young man in his mid-thirties walked in. He was dark-skinned, with an air of confidence that seemed to draw every eye in the room.

Matthew’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Who’s this?” he demanded, his tone edged with irritation. “What’s he doing here?”

Before the stranger could respond, Madam Hildegard’s voice cut through the room. “Matthew, this is Jordan. He’s my boyfriend.”

The words hung in the air like an unexpected thunderclap. I watched in stunned silence as Madam Hildegard and Jordan shared a kiss, their affection obvious and unrestrained. The room fell into a state of collective shock.

Matthew’s jaw dropped, and Daniel’s face went blank with surprise. I could hardly process the sight before me. Madam Hildegard, the matriarch of the Vanderbilt family, had a boyfriend—someone so much younger than her, and evidently so important to her that he was there during her hospital stay.

Jordan looked at the others with an easy smile, seemingly unfazed by the surprise he had created. “Nice to meet you all,” he said, his voice smooth and confident.