Chapter 36
Olivia
I nodded, swallowing hard. “And the cost?”
“Don’t worry about that right now.”
“Nick.”
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He sighed. “Insurance will cover part of it, but there’s a significant out–of–pocket. Plus the recovery. medications, follow–up care… it adds up.”
“My company will take care of it,” I said firmly.
Nick’s eyebrows shot up. “Carter Enterprises has that kind of health coverage?”
“It’s… complicated. But yes, we’ll have the money.”
He studied my face, clearly wanting to ask more questions but too tired to push. “If you say so. Where’s Ethan?”
“He’s not here yet?”
“Probably still on his way. I left him a message.”
I checked my phone. No texts from our younger brother. “I’ll try him again.”
Before I could dial, Mom returned with two cups of coffee. She handed one to me.
“Thank you.” I took a sip of the bitter hospital brew. “Has anyone called Aunt Cynthia?”
“I’ll do it once we know more,” Mom said, sitting back down. “No sense worrying her until we have actual
news.”
We settled into the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, the three of us forming a small island in the quiet hallway. A nurse came by to check on us, promising updates soon. Time stretched and contracted in the strange way it does in hospitals, minutes feeling like hours.
“Oh!” Mom suddenly exclaimed, turning to me with wide eyes. “I almost forgot with everything happening. I saw your picture in the news yesterday.”
My stomach clenched. “My picture?”
“You and Alexander Carter.” She lowered her voice, though no one was nearby to overhear. “The CEO of your company? The article said you two were dating.”
Nick’s head swiveled toward me. “You’re dating Alexander Carter? The Alexander Carter?”
I nearly choked on my coffee. This was not the time or place I’d planned to have this conversation. I glanced
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Chapter 36
at my mother’s expectant face, then back at Nick’s wide eyes.
“It’s… recent,” I said carefully. “We were going to tell everyone next week at Sunday dinner.”
“But you work for him,” Mom said, her brow furrowing with concern. “Isn’t that complicated?”
I set my coffee down, buying myself a few seconds to organize my thoughts. “We actually dated briefly before I joined Carter Enterprises,” I explained, reciting the cover story Alexander and I had agreed upon. “It didn’t work out then because of timing issues.”
“You never mentioned dating him before,” Nick pointed out, crossing his arms.
“Because it was brief and ended before it got serious,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “When I got the job at Carter, I decided to keep it professional and not mention our history. I wanted to be judged on my work, not my personal connections.”
Mom’s expression softened. “That makes sense. You’ve always been so focused on your career.”
“Exactly,” I nodded, relieved she was accepting the explanation. “We reconnected recently at a company event, and… well, we realized there were still feelings there.”
Nick leaned back in his chair, studying me. “So the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world just happens to be your ex, and now you’re back together? That’s some romcom stuff right there.”
I forced a laugh. “Life is strange sometimes.”
“And now it’s all over the news,” Mom added, reaching for her phone. “Look, there are pictures of you two at that fancy restaurant downtown.”
She held up her screen, showing me the same photos I’d already seen–Alexander and me leaving Maison Laurent, his hand possessively at my waist, my face partially obscured as I looked down.
“You look beautiful, honey,” Mom said, zooming in on the image. “That dress is gorgeous.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks warm. “Can we maybe talk about this later? I’m more concerned about Dad right now.”
Nick’s expression immediately sobered. “Of course. Sorry, it was just a surprise.”
“I know,” I sighed. “And I promise we’ll have a real conversation about it soon. I was planning to tell you all next weekend.”
Mom patted my hand. “I think it’s wonderful. You deserve someone special, and Alexander Carter doesn’t seem like the kind to cheat. He could have anyone, so why would he?”
If she only knew the real terms of our arrangement.
“Mom, can we please focus on Dad?” I asked, more sharply than I intended.
She blinked, hurt flashing across her face. “Of course, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
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Chapter 36
I immediately felt guilty. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just worried.”
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“We all are,” Nick said, ever the peacemaker. “Let’s take a deep breath. Dad’s stable, and the doctors are taking good care of him.”
We fell into silence, the beeping of distant monitors and the squeak of nurses‘ shoes on linoleum the only sounds in the corridor. After a few minutes, a doctor in blue scrubs approached.
“Mrs. Morgan?” she addressed my mother. “Your husband is awake now if you’d like to see him.”
Mom was on her feet instantly. “Yes, thank you.”
“Just two visitors at a time, please,” the doctor added.
“You two go,” I said to Mom and Nick. “I’ll wait here.”
As they disappeared into Dad’s room, I slumped back in my chair, exhaustion washing over me. The events of the past few weeks felt like a bizarre dream: Ryan’s betrayal, Alexander’s proposal, the contract, and now Dad’s heart attack. It was too much to process all at once.
I pulled out my phone, staring at the screen for a moment before making a decision. Alexander needed to know what was happening, especially since I might need to take time off work. Plus, with the news about our “relationship” now reaching my family, we needed to coordinate our stories.
I stepped away from the waiting area, finding a quiet corner near a window overlooking the hospital parking lot. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the asphalt as I dialed Alexander’s number.
He answered on the second ring, his voice alert despite the early hour. “Olivia?”
“Hi,” I said, suddenly unsure how to continue. “I’m sorry to call so early.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked immediately, surprising me with his perception.
I leaned against the window, watching an ambulance pull into the emergency bay below. “My dad’s in the hospital. Heart attack. He’s stable, but… it looks like he might need that surgery sooner than we thought.”
There was a brief silence on the other end. “I’m sorry to hear that. Which hospital?”
“Cedar–Sinai.”
“They have an excellent cardiac unit,” Alexander said, his tone shifting to something more businesslike. “I know several of the top surgeons there. I can make some calls and ensure he gets the best care available.”
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