Chapter 23
Nathaniel knelt through the entire night. Despite Leo’s repeated pleas, he refused to move.
Towe this to Aurora,” he murmured deliriously through blue tinged lips. “Tll beg her to come back until she agrees.-
Nathaniel
remained on his knees as the rain finally stopped and dawn broke over the horizon. Then he collapsed in a heap on the wet gravel.
Years of self-destructive workaholism combined with hours in the freezing rain had finally broken his immune system. What began as a simple cold rapidly progressed to pneumonia, with half his lungs already showing white on the scans. Leo rushed him to the hospital, where doctors immediately transferred him
to intensive rate.
Minates later, a furious physician stormed out of the ICU.]
What the hell is wrong with your boss?” he demanded. “He’s literally at death’s door and refusing treatment!”
“He’s saying he’ll only accept medical intervention if someone named Aurora Sinclair comes to see him.”]
“Get her here immediately!”
Faced with the doctor’s trade. Le could only how his head repeatedly, apologizing for his employer’s stubbornness.
“Yes, doctor. Please do
everything w
you can for Mr. Rhodes. I’ll call her right away.”
Leo’s voice trailed off at the end, completely lacking conviction.
After witnessing Nathaniel’s actions over the past weeks, Leo knew that convincing Aurora to
to visit
would be nearly impossible.
with trembling hands, Leo dialed Aurora’s number. She rejected his call. Again and again he tried, each attempt instantly declined ||
Finally, exasperated, Aurora answered, her voice tight with irritation.
“Whatever this is, if its about Nathaniel, I’m not interested
Leo gave a bitter laugh before forcing himself to explain Nathaniel’s condition–the pneumonia, the ultimatum, the refusal of treatment. “Miss Sinclair, please consider that Mr. Rhodes is still technically running Sinclair Industries. Without him, the company could-
Aurora cat him off mid–sentence, her voice glacial [
Te Nathaniel to stop the theatrics. I have a happy life now with a husband and child who genuinely love me. I want Nathaniel to stop disrupting my peace.“] Les understood her position but had to try one last time. He brought the pho
phone to Nathaniel’s bedside
Nathaniel surred at the sound of Aurora’s voice, struggling to sit up h
before freezing at her next words.
“Let me remind you of a few things, Nathaniel,” she said, each word precise and cutting. “I brought you into my home as a child. I lost my leg protecting you. You threw away our lifelong bond for a single meeting with Felicia. I didn’t blame you then.”
When you handed me over to Damian like property to settle
le your feud, I followed your plan. Now you’re upset with the outcome?”
“Stop pretending to be the victim. You stood by and watched while I elicia repeatedly held me underwater, knowing full well I’d nearly drowned as a child and was terrified of water. You let it happen just to please her.”
You wrote statements dropping charges against the people who attacked ine, You allowed Felicia into my hospital room to pour chili oit into my surgical wounds. Do you even remember the scars I still carry becar of your
“Now you claim to love me, but where was that love when I needed it? When I showed you nothing but devotion, you couldn’t remember how to care then, could you?”
*56. Nathaniel, this is where it ends. Let me go, and I do the same for you.
The Une went dead, leaving the ICU in complete silence.
