006

DOMINIC

The universe itself had paused just to mock me, hell, even the entire emergency ward felt frozen.

Nobody moved.

Not the nurses. Not the doctors.

Blood stained the corners of her lips while strands of her dark hair clung weakly to her skin.

Seven years.

Seven fucking years.

And this was how I got her back? Dead on an emergency room bed while her husband was God knows where.

My hands curled slowly into fists.

The doctor exhaled quietly beside me before reaching for the sheet.

“No. Don't you dare.” His hand paused immediately and he turned to me, patting my shoulders just once.

“Dr Dominic…”

“I said don’t touch her.”

Nobody dared move.

Good, because if anyone covered her face right now, I genuinely didn't know what I would do.

Then suddenly, I heard footsteps coming closer and suddenly the door opened.

My eyes snapped toward the entrance just as Hayes appeared with Olivia trailing behind him.

“Dom, I….I'm so sorry. I just saw your missed calls. Olivia had an attack and I was acco…scratch that, what's wrong with Sophie?” His voice trembled, his eyes darting in confusion and curiosity.

And for the second time since my entire life, I understood what it meant to want to kill someone.

“Kneel.”

“Huh?" I raised my eyes, staring sharp daggers at him.

"You bastard,” I ordered and he dropped to his knees immediately, “I said Kneel!”

“Sophie? Soph?" He looked at her motionless body and then turned to me again.

"What's —”

"Are you the husband of the deceased?” One of the doctors asked and I watched his brow tighten.

"Deceased? Who's deceased? What are—” He paused abruptly, realization slamming him in the face and his mouth trembled as he crawled towards the bed.

“That's not true. That's not…how could she…”

"Dom? It's not true right? Sophie's only throwing a tantrum right? I know you're in on it but I've already told her I have nothing to do with Olivia. This joke is just too—” My palm cracked on his face and he fell backwards in shock.

"How dare you? She called for you! I called you, Hayes. 23 times! Your wife was poisoned and d…" I quickly stopped myself.

If I admitted she was dead, then there was no need to act like I was still sane.

"I…it's not true. I…”

“Sir, we—" I looked up to Olivia and she pursed her lips.

“Soph…” Hayes crawled toward the bed again only for me to shove him backwards violently.

“Don’t touch her.”

“Dominic…” His voice cracked as he stared at Sophie’s pale face.

“Please…please tell me she’s alive.”

Alive? The word almost made me laugh.

Where the hell was this desperation when she had been calling him for help?

“Now you care?” I asked quietly.

Hayes froze.

“Do you know what condition she was in when I found her?” I took a step closer to him slowly. “She was coughing blood, Hayes. Blood.” His face turned deathly pale.

“I…I didn't know…”

“You didn't know?” My voice rose sharply for the first time. “Your wife begged you for help and you didn't know?”

“Dominic listen to me, Olivia suddenly collapsed and Sophie was already home so I thought—”

“You thought she was pretending?” I cut him off instantly.

His lips trembled as he opened his mouth to answer and shut it back up.

And judging from the look on his face, I already had my answer.

Rage nearly blackened my vision.

“She was poisoned.” Each word left my mouth slowly. “And while she was dying, you were accompanying another woman around the city like some pathetic idiot.”

Hayes’ breathing became uneven as his eyes snapped back toward Sophie.

“No…” he whispered weakly. “No, Sophie wouldn't…she can't…”

“Mr Laurent, I think this really isn't the time to fight…” Olivia suddenly spoke softly from the side.

My eyes moved toward her instantly.

“Shut up.”

The entire room fell silent again.

Olivia’s lips parted slightly in shock, probably not expecting me to speak to her that way.

I didn’t care.

“I need you both to get out. Now."

“Dominic, it's not true right? How can I leave? It's my wife we're talking about!" I raised my eyes, my lips curving up into a sadistic smile.

Beeeep!

I turned to the EKG monitor. Still a flatline, no heartbeat, no pulse.

“Your wife? You're her husband? Your fucking piece of trash deserves her? Get Out! Someone, call security.” In a few minutes, Hayes was dragged out while his green tea girlfriend trailed behind.

“What do we do with her body, Dr Dominic? We have to send her to the—"

Beeepp!

I looked up at the EKG monitor again.

There was a little slop just at the top.

“Isn't that a pulse?" One of the nurses asked subconsciously and my eyes widened.

I flew off my seat in an instant and rushed to her side, checking for a pulse on her wrist.

There was a really really faint pulse. Barely existent but it was hope.

A lot of hope.

"There's a pulse! Someone get the defibrillator. Pump.” I ordered.

After about 2 hours of trying to revive her, her lashes fluttered open.

"Dominic?” She slowly called out, her voice as tiny as a whisper.

I placed my hands into my pockets immediately, clenching and unclenching my fist while staring at her.

I clenched my teeth and took a deep breath in, before I did something stupid like, touching her face.