Chapter 41

Angela POV

"Sir, please wait your turn!" A middle-aged woman called gently from behind the desk.

I looked around and realized there were several couples ahead of us, all sitting with the same heavy expressions, avoiding eye contact. We sat down in silence, the weight of the situation settling over us.

Then Sean broke the silence. "Did you eat breakfast?"

I blinked, surprised. "Huh?"

"Do you want something to eat?" there was a slight softening in his features.

"Are you asking me?" I asked, confused.

His eyes flashed with impatience. "Is there anyone else here but you?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

Without another word, Sean stood up. "I'll go get you breakfast. You wait here."

He walked toward the door before I could protest. His sudden shift in behavior left me confused. One minute he was cold, and the next he was going out to get me food.

By the time he came back with a cup of hot milk and a sandwich, the staff was already calling our names.

"Angela, Sean," the woman said, glancing up from her paperwork.

We hurried into the office.

"Is the property division settled?" she asked, barely looking up as she checked our IDs.

"It's settled," Sean replied, handing her a document before I could speak.

"Do you have children?" she asked without lifting her eyes.

"No," we answered at the same time.

I gripped the cup of milk, my fingers trembling slightly.

I glanced at Sean, his face unreadable. It was clear-he wasn't expecting this child. The long leave he'd given me last month was probably to give me time to take care of it, to end it quietly.

If he knew... if he knew the baby was still here, would he want it to stay?

I quickly pushed the thought aside. There was no need to tell him. He didn't need to know.

I set the breakfast he bought me aside, my appetite gone. The warm milk felt empty now, a gesture that didn't change anything.

"Can we get this done quickly?" I asked, my impatience showing.

The woman glanced up at me, understanding in her eyes. She nodded.

"No problem. I'll print the papers. You can sign them in a minute."

I turned to look at Sean. His gaze was intense, almost like he was trying to see through me.

"Angela," he said, his voice sharp with sarcasm. "Looks like these two years of marriage have really been tough on you."

"It wasn't tough," I said flatly. "Just... tiring."

Before he could respond, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and frowned.

"It's the sanatorium," he said, his voice low.

I felt a chill run through me. "Then answer it!"

He picked up the call, and I watched as his face grew darker with every word.

When he hung up, my heart sank. I grabbed his hand, fear creeping up inside me.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Elizabeth's in a coma," he said, standing up, his voice tight with urgency. "I have to go."

I followed him immediately, panic rising in my chest.

Behind us, the staff muttered as we rushed out.

"Where are they going all of a sudden?" one woman said. "If they weren't sure, they shouldn't have come."

I stepped out of the courthouse, my mind racing with all the things left unsaid between us.

But as I started to cross the street toward Sean's car, I was too distracted to notice the traffic light had turned red. My heart pounded, thoughts scattered, my body moving on autopilot.

Then, out of nowhere, a car barreled toward me.

Time slowed as I froze, panic flooding my chest. My legs felt heavy, unresponsive, and before I could take a single step back, the vehicle was too close.

"Angela!" Sean's voice cracked through the air.

In an instant, he was there, yanking me back with surprising force. My feet slipped, my balance faltered, and the next thing I knew, I was falling forward, landing hard against his chest.

We hit the ground with a thud. My lips brushed against his throat, just above the pulse point. Sean's arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly against him as if trying to shield me from everything around us.

For a moment, I was frozen, caught in the intensity of the position, the rush of emotions, the panic in his grip. His heart pounded against my chest, and I could feel the heat of his body beneath mine.

"Get up," he said, his voice strained but urgent, "How long are you going to stay on top of me?"

My mind snapped back to reality. I pulled my face away, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks as I realized what had happened. The world around us felt like it came to a screeching halt.

People were gathering, staring at us, their eyes wide with curiosity and judgment. My stomach dropped with embarrassment.

I quickly scrambled off him, my knees shaky as I stood up.

"Are you hurt?" Sean asked, his tone softer now but still laced with concern. His eyes searched me, looking for any sign of injury.

"No... I'm fine."I shook my head.

But my eyes flicked to his shirt-his white shirt-now smudged with dirt. His left shoulder had a small smear of blood on it.

"You're hurt," I said, my voice catching in my throat.

Sean didn't respond right away. He simply grabbed my hand tightly and led me toward the car.

The grip on my hand was firm, like he was trying to hold me together, to make sure I was real, that I hadn't been broken in the chaos of those seconds.

When we reached the car, he opened the passenger door for me. His face was pale, but his eyes were intense, and I could see the concern still etched there.

"You know how dangerous that was?" His voice was low, almost strained. "Didn't you see the red light?"

I thought he was angry, and my heart sank. I slid into the passenger seat, fumbling with the seatbelt, my hands still shaky.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I wasn't paying attention. I just I was so worried about Elizabeth, and I" I paused, glancing at him, noticing the blood on his shoulder again. "I'm sorry. I caused you to get hurt."

His expression softened for a moment, but his eyes remained clouded with something deeper, something I couldn't quite place.

I glanced at his shoulder, my voice barely audible. "Your shoulder is it hurting? Should I drive instead?"

Sean turned to face me, his eyes unexpectedly red and wet.

His usual composure was cracked, and for a moment, I saw the raw vulnerability beneath the surface. His voice softened, and he exhaled slowly.

"I'm fine. Just a scratch," he said gently. "But you don't ever put yourself in danger like that again, okay? You and my grandmother... you both can't afford to be hurt."