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Chapter 56: Leave
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Mark rose to his feet slowly, his movements measured and calm, but there was a tension in his body that spoke of readiness—readiness to defend himself, to stand his ground. His eyes met James’s with a steady, unwavering gaze, and when he spoke, his voice was even, though there was a subtle edge to it. "I’m here for Emma," Mark said, his words simple but firm. "She needed someone today, and I was here."
James let out a bitter laugh, the sound sharp and mocking. He shook his head in disbelief, his eyes flashing with fury as he took another step closer. "Of course you were," he spat, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Always so eager to swoop in, aren’t you, Mark? The ex-boyfriend, always lurking in the shadows, waiting for your chance."
"James, stop it," Emma interjected, stepping between them before things could escalate any further. Her heart was pounding in her chest, each beat heavy with anxiety and dread. "This isn&
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The hospital corridors were a blur as Emma raced alongside the gurney carrying her father. The sterile smell of disinfectant assaulted her senses, mingling with the sharp scent of fear that seemed to emanate from her very pores. The urgent voices of medical staff surrounded her, a cacophony of incomprehensible medical jargon that only heightened her panic. But all she could truly focus on was her father's pale face, so unnaturally still against the stark white of the hospital sheets."Dad, I'm here," she whispered, clutching his hand as if she could anchor him to this world through sheer force of will. "Stay with me. Please, just stay with me."Her father's fingers, usually so strong and sure, felt limp and cold in her grasp. Emma's heart pounded in her chest, each beat a desperate prayer. This couldn't be happening. Not to her father, not to the indomitable Donald Montgomery. He was a force of nature, a titan of industry. He couldn't be lai
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The doctor nodded, standing up. "He's awake now. Room 305. Take as much time as you need."Emma walked to her father's room in a daze, her feet carrying her forward while her mind reeled. She paused at the door, taking a deep breath to compose herself. She had to be strong for him now, just as he had always been strong for her.The sight of her father, lying weak and pale in the hospital bed, nearly broke her carefully constructed facade. This couldn't be the same vibrant, powerful man she'd always known. Donald Montgomery had always seemed larger than life, filling every room with his presence. Now, he looked small and fragile, dwarfed by the medical equipment surrounding him."Emma," Donald said softly, his voice raspy and weak.She rushed to his side, taking his hand in both of hers. "Dad, why didn't you tell me?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them, a mix of hurt and anger and fear.
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The sterile air of the hospital room felt suffocating. Machines beeped and hummed, each sound dragging Emma deeper into the anxiety that had wrapped around her for weeks. Her father, Donald Montgomery, lay unconscious on the bed, his once-strong presence reduced to frailty by tubes and monitors. It was a sight Emma had never prepared for—the mighty man she had known, the towering figure in her life, was now battling for every breath, his life held in the delicate balance of fate. The weight of exhaustion clung to her. Days had stretched into weeks, each one bleeding into the next as she sat vigil beside him. Her own life was on hold, her emotions in disarray. And yet, despite it all, she kept waiting. Hoping. Praying. But nothing seemed to change. In those weeks, James had tried visiting several times. Each attempt had been coldly rebuffed. She didn’t want to see him, not when the memory of their loveless, arranged marriage still lingered like a bad taste in her mouth. He had broug
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