Chapter 2

"There must be a mistake in the registration."

I handed my phone to the nurse, straining to make out her words with my left ear.

She checked the system and shook her head.

"It's not a registration error. Ms. Bennett came in last night and said Mr. Shaw is your family contact. From now on, he'll be the one communicating with your doctors.

"She also canceled today's pre-op testing for you. She said you weren't feeling well and wanted to push it back a week."

I gripped the corner of the counter.

"Why didn't anyone ask me?"

"Ms. Bennett said you were emotionally unstable and that you'd authorized her to handle everything."

The nurse gave me a complicated look.

"Mr. Reed, you can't put off sudden hearing loss. You've already lost more than seventy percent of the hearing in your right ear. If you miss the treatment window, the chances of recovery will keep dropping."

I rebooked the testing and changed my emergency contact on the spot.

I'd barely walked out of the hospital when Claire called.

"Why did you take Julian off your contacts?"

"He isn't my family."

"He studied nursing. He's more reliable than those friends of yours who keep telling you to divorce me."

Her voice was calm, like she was correcting a mistake of mine.

"I'm busy these next couple of days. What's wrong with having him look after you for me?"

"And canceling my tests for me, was that looking after me too?"

I heard cups and plates clinking on the other end.

Julian cut in gently.

"Evan, don't blame Claire. I'm the one who talked her into having you push the surgery back a few days.

"It's my mom's birthday today, and she's been wanting to see Claire for so long. If you suddenly went into surgery, Claire definitely wouldn't be able to get away.

"It's not like your condition is going to kill you. What's the harm in waiting a few more days?"

I closed my eyes for a moment.

"Put Claire on."

Claire took the phone, and her voice had already gone cold.

"Julian was thinking of everyone. His mom treated me like her own daughter back then. I can't even skip one birthday dinner with her.

"As for your surgery, I'll get back in touch with the doctor. It won't be delayed."

I hung up and put her on Do Not Disturb.

That afternoon, Claire's father, Richard Bennett, unexpectedly sent his driver to pick me up, saying there was an important family dinner.

I hadn't wanted to go, but my pre-op records were still at the Bennett family's private hospital, and I needed Richard's signature to have them released.

By the time I reached the Bennett estate, everyone was already seated.

Julian sat next to Claire, in the seat at her side that had always been mine.

I stopped in the doorway.

Richard lifted a hand at me.

"Evan's here. Go sit by Julian. He hardly ever comes back, so don't sulk in front of everyone."

The housekeeper added a chair at the far end of the table.

Claire saw how pale I was and stood to help me.

But Julian caught her wrist first.

"Claire, I'm dizzy."

She sat right back down and poured him a glass of warm water.

I walked to the end of the table alone.

Halfway through dinner, Richard brought up the remarriage ceremony.

"People are saying ugly things online. I've already had the trending posts taken down. Evan, make a public statement. Just say you agreed to it."

"I didn't agree to it."

The table went silent.

Claire set down her fork.

"It's one sentence. Do you really want people tearing Julian apart?"

"He put on a tux and a ring and held a remarriage ceremony with a married woman. Why shouldn't people tear him apart?"

Julian teared up on cue.

"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I only wanted to make an old dream come true. I never thought it would get Claire criticized."

I looked at Richard.

"I'd like my medical records released today, please."

Richard frowned.

"Our own family hospital isn't good enough for you? Claire says you've been using this illness to throw tantrums. I think you just overthink everything."

Claire cut in sharply, "Dad, don't say that."

Then she turned to me.

"You can have the records. But first, post a statement and clear Julian's name."

"So it's a trade?"

"Evan, I'm just trying to solve the problem."

I opened the voice recorder on my phone.

"Fine. Then say it again. To get my own medical records, I have to take the heat for your ex-husband first."

Claire's expression shifted, and she reached for my phone.

I stepped back and bumped into the serving cart. A porcelain bowl crashed to the floor.

A sharp pain stabbed through my right ear.

Before my vision blurred, I saw Claire rushing toward me.

But Julian went down before I did.

He clutched a finger nicked by a shard of porcelain, frowning and crying out that it hurt.

Claire's steps swerved midstride.

I steadied myself against the wall and heard her through my left ear, "Don't be scared. It's just a small cut. I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

The whole table swarmed around Julian and left.

No one noticed the thin trickle of blood running from my right ear.

The housekeeper handed me a tissue and asked quietly, "Sir, should I call a doctor?"

I wiped the blood from beside my ear and was about to answer when my phone lit up.

Claire had sent me a photo of the list.

A new line had been added at the very bottom.

Stay with Julian at the hospital until he fully recovers.

It was dated today.