Declination

MIRIAM POV 

I pulled away from him.

“Mi—” I didn't let him complete his words before my hand descended on his face.

The sound of his voice snapped something inside me.

I froze, staring at my trembling hand, then at him. His cheek was reddened, his gaze on me.

I slapped him.

That slap hadn’t been planned. 

“I warned you, Arden. I told you to stay away from me, I'm married to your brother and we shared a daughter,” I breathed, my chest rising heavily.

I didn’t wait for his reply. I turned and walked away, without turning back.

I didn’t return to the dining room for hours. When I did, I said nothing, smiled when I had to, and left with Delano and Arina as if nothing had happened in that garden.

At home, Delano took Arina upstairs. I stayed behind in the living room, my hands still shaking.

The kiss. 

The slap. 

His words. “I fucking miss this.”

What had he meant by that?

Why had he come back? Why now?

“Babe?”

I looked up. Delano was coming down the stairs,smiling.

He pulled me into his arms. “Why are you still up? You should be resting. You’ve had a long day.”

My body stiffened in his grip.

“I have a surgery to do today so I'm thinking about it,” I lied, smoothly, a forced smile plastering on my face.

“Tonight?”

“Yes but I want to rest first,” I muttered, freeing myself from him as I went upstairs to our matrimonial bedroom.

*

*

My eyes flicked open as I sat on the bed. My side was empty.

I was the only one on the bed.

My hand went to my phone as I picked it from the nightstand to check the time. It's past 11pm. 

Almost immediately, I got off the bed and prepared for work. 

After twenty minutes, I was ready. I headed out with my handbag and cellphone.

I tride out of the house. My eyes caught something.

Delano's car.

It's shaking.

What's going on in the car?

I slowly approaches the car, my chest rising heavily. As I moved closer a familiar moan hit my ears.

I froze.

Her voice. 

That voice.

Nora.

I covered my mouth as the sound grew louder, raw and ugly.

Tears blurred my vision. My chest heaved. I clutched my bag until my knuckles turned white.

You couldn’t even wait until I was gone.

I stared at the car, the same backseat where our daughter sat every morning, and something inside me screamed.

Delano Montclair!

You cheated on me. That wasn't enough, you brought her into our matrimonial home.

The effrontery to have sex with her in the car I do ride every fucking time.

I'm sure he would have brought her into our matrimonial bed.

I can't divorce you at the moment but I can make life a living hell for you and your mistress.

I can't lose Arina to her.

I can't lose what I have built to him 

“You want war?” I whispered. “You’ll have it.”

I would smile. I would stay the perfect, naive wife.

And while I smiled, I would sharpen my blade.

The next morning, I sat at my desk, gripping a pen hard enough to break.

A knock came on the door.

“Come in,” I said, gazing at my laptop.

The door opened.

Arden.

I shut my laptop. “What are you doing here, Mr. Montclair?”

He smiled “I came to ask why you refused to be my supervisor.”

My eyes flicked to his mouth, the same lips that had kissed me. Sensation ran through me before I pushed it away.

“Why are you even here?” I demanded. “Why this hospital? Why me?”

He tilted his head, unbothered. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Because it's very obvious. I’m too busy to supervise anyone. I have enough on my plate,” I said flatly. “Now answer mine. Will you leave if I ask you to?”

He chuckled softly. “You’re asking now, so I’ll answer. No, I can’t leave. I like America. I like this hospital.” His gaze dipped to me. “Maybe I just like watching you squirm.”

“Are you trying to provoke me?”

He stepped closer, his tone low. “I’m trying to remind you that pretending doesn’t suit you, Miriam. What's going on between you and Delano. Are you two fighting again?”

“Arden—”

He moved behind my chair and tugged it gently toward him. My eyes widened.

“Are you scared I’ll kiss you again?”

I looked at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”

His mouth curved. “Don’t be scared, princess. I won’t not unless you ask but if you tempt me, I won't hesitate to kiss you and maybe make you squirt.”

A knock came on the door, shattering the atmosphere between us.

I glanced at the door. 

The door opened.

Arden was already on the sofa, composed, smirking at me.

Nora came in.

“It's time,” Nora uttered. They exchanged glances.

I stood and stride out of my office. They followed me to the ward.

I started the morning rounds, checking patients I had operated on one by one until a commotion drew my attention.

A young girl was writhing on the bed, the chairman and several nurses hovering around her.

“What’s going on?” I asked, rushing forward.

Her mother turned, face red with fury. “What did you do to my daughter?”

Before I could speak, her hand landed on my facs.

I stumbled backward, almost losing my balance when Arden caught me.

I yanked his hand from me instantly, whispering “Don't touch me.”

“Dr. Ford!” the chairman barked. “Conference room. Now!”

As I followed him out, I caught a faintest curve on Nora’s lips.

A smirk.

Nora!!!!

The conference room was full when I entered. Every surgeon turned as I walked in.

“Miriam,” the chairman began coldly, “explain what happened in the theater this morning.”

“The surgery went as planned,” I explained 

He slammed his hand on the table, and I flinched. “It didn’t. You made a mistake, and the patient is suffering because of it.”

My jaw dropped. “That’s not possible—”

“It happened,” he snapped. “Someone else will correct your failure.”

All eyes were on me. I could see curves on some of their lips.

They are jubilating within themselves.

Nora was not an exception.

I swallowed hard. “I'll fix it, sir,” I interjected, forcing my voice to sound steady.

“Miriam!” He yelled.

I walked towards Arden, meeting his eyes. “I need your assistance, Arden. Be my assistant surgeon for today.” 

Heads turned towards us.

What the fuck I'm doing right now. 

For a moment, he said nothing. Then his voice came smooth.

“I decline,” he said. “Politely.”

My stomach dropped.

“What?”

He didn’t repeat himself. 

He just looked at me, unreadable as everyone watched.