When He's by Her Side

My father had suddenly suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the emergency room. I anxiously waited outside the operating room and trembled as I called my fiancé, Heath Summers.

I was hoping he would come to the hospital and stay with me. But before I could even speak, Heath interrupted me.

"Naomi, you finally decided to call me. Don't take what I said to heart. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, will you?" On the other end of the line, Heath kept repeating Naomi Wright's name over and over.

I felt like the blood in my veins had frozen.

In the past, whenever Heath and I argued or gave each other the silent treatment, he never apologized—it was always me swallowing my pride to make amends.

I had thought his refusal to apologize was simply a matter of pride, a stubbornness he could never overcome. It turned out that he was only prideful when he was dealing with me.

I had no time to dwell on the hurt or to think about our relationship. My mind was consumed by the image of my father in the operating room.

It wasn't until 8:00 am the next day that the red light above the operating room door finally went off. I rushed forward with trembling legs as I asked, "Doctor, how's my father?"

The doctor cut me off apologetically. "I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

I immediately collapsed to the floor. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I grew up in a single-parent household. My father had raised me alone, and he had poured his heart and soul into making sure I had everything I needed.

Just as I'd started working and was finally in a position to care for him, life had taken him away from me.

As I stumbled downstairs in a daze, I turned a corner and saw Heath standing there. For a moment, my aching heart felt like it had found a place of solace and a place to heal.

Just as I was about to rush over and hug him, to let myself cry in his arms, I saw a slender hand looped around his arm. He was leaning down and whispering softly into Naomi's ear.

Seeing this, I felt a surprising calm wash over me. I walked over mechanically and asked Heath, "You abandoned me so you could be with her?"

Heath's work kept him busy with constant overtime and late nights. Unless it was something urgent, I rarely dared to call him.

However, today was Monday. It was a regular workday, and here he was accompanying Naomi to see a doctor. Heath frowned at my words. It was like he thought I was being petty over nothing.

"Naomi has had three miscarriages. She's finally pregnant, and I'm here with her for her prenatal checkup. Stop making a scene."

His words were full of concern for Naomi. There was no regard for why I might have been at the hospital in the first place.

I laughed bitterly. "Well, is she carrying your child?"

"Of course not." Heath's frown deepened. "The baby is obviously her husband's."

My eyes filled with tears as I pressed him further, "So, is her husband dead? If it's not your child, why are you so eager to accompany her to a prenatal appointment?"

"Penelope Camden, have you had enough?" Heath snapped. "Naomi's husband is away on a business trip. This child is precious, and I happened to upset Naomi recently, so I'm just here to make amends."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. "Did it ever occur to you to ask why I'm at the hospital?"

It was as if the thought had just struck him. Heath then asked, "Is your father's heart acting up again?"

I let out a cold laugh. His concern came far too late. So this was what I meant to him—the fiancée who had stood by his side for seven years was less important than Naomi, a woman who was already someone else's wife.

"The engagement is off. Let's break up." I threw the words over my shoulder as I turned and walked away.

Naomi asked Heath hesitantly, "I shouldn't have asked you to come with me, should I?"

Heath shook his head. "It's not your fault. She's just throwing a tantrum. She'll calm down in a couple of days."

Then, he called his secretary, Grant Wells. "Get me in touch with the best cardiologist in Sunderville."