Chapter 4A Love That Lingers

“...I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect my driver to be so careless...”

Luna’s injuries weren’t serious—just a few scrapes and bruises. She had insisted on a quick bandage and nothing more, but Olivia wouldn’t hear of it. She firmly pressed for a full medical examination.

“Seriously, I told you I’m fine,” Luna protested, waving her hand dismissively. “You’re making a big deal out of nothing—”

Her words faltered when she turned to look at Olivia, whose face had gone ghostly pale. Luna’s expression tightened with alarm.

“Olivia… is it your stomach again?!”

Olivia’s condition had worsened. Her chronic stomach issues had reached a critical point, and the doctor was stern as he delivered his instructions.

“You need to be admitted immediately,” he said. “We’ll monitor your condition and decide whether surgery is necessary.”

Under normal circumstances, this was something you’d call family about. But Olivia’s family lived hundreds of miles away, and her marriage to Adam had left her isolated. His social circle, his status—it had all created invisible walls that kept her from forming close friendships in the city.

Left with no choice, she called Adam. Ten times.

Not a single call went through.

Of course, she thought bitterly. He’s with Hannah. Probably too busy to even glance at his phone.

She lowered the phone, her fingers tightening around it. I shouldn’t have called so many times. I should’ve known better.

“Your husband’s not coming, is he?”

Luna, who had been sitting nearby, furrowed her brows, her frustration evident on her face. She hesitated, as though holding back harsher words, but the look in her eyes made it clear she was angrier than Olivia herself.

Olivia, on the other hand, seemed calm. She set the phone down and, with a faint smile, slipped the wedding ring off her finger.

“We’re almost divorced,” she said softly. “Not being able to reach him… well, that’s to be expected.”

Luna fell silent, though her frown deepened. It was the doctor who spoke next, his tone blunt but not unkind.

“You’re still wearing the ring, so I assume you’re in the waiting period before the divorce is finalized? Once you get in touch with him, make sure he comes to sign the paperwork.”

Olivia forced a small, polite smile, but her mind was elsewhere. Five years of marriage. Five years of sacrifices. And for what?

She thought about all the ways she had tried to take care of Adam. How she had learned to cook his favorite meals, only to ruin her own health by skipping meals herself. How she’d studied tirelessly to fit into his world, mingling with the wives of CEOs and senators, only for Adam to take his secretary—or worse, Hannah—to every gala.

She thought about the time she had spent hours baking him a birthday cake, only for Adam to wrinkle his nose and throw it in the trash. “I hate cake,” he’d said coldly.

Her stomach issues had been plaguing her for four years now. Adam hadn’t even noticed.

And now, sitting in this sterile hospital room, Olivia couldn’t think of a single moment where Adam had made her feel cared for. Not one.

Adam wasn’t coming.

After a long silence, Luna spoke up, her voice cutting through Olivia’s thoughts.

“I’ll sign for her,” she said to the doctor.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “You’re her friend?”

“Yes,” Luna said firmly.

The doctor nodded, his expression softening with quiet sympathy. “Honestly, that’s probably for the best. If her husband can’t even be reached when she’s this sick, he’s not much use anyway. Having a friend by her side is worth more than a husband like that.”

Luna smiled at Olivia, her confidence unwavering. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you.”

Luna worked remotely as a freelance writer, so she had the flexibility to balance work while keeping an eye on Olivia. Between her cheerful presence and easygoing nature, she was a comforting distraction from the ache in Olivia’s chest.

It wasn’t until three days later that Adam finally realized Olivia was in the hospital.

He arrived in a hurry, his face a mix of worry and irritation. But the first words out of his mouth were sharp, cutting straight to the point:

“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

The accusatory tone hung in the air, and Adam seemed to realize his mistake. He cleared his throat and softened his voice, adding, “You should’ve called me. I could’ve arranged for a private doctor. There’s no reason for you to be in a public hospital. What if the press finds out? It could damage the company’s image.”

Olivia stared at him, stunned by the sheer absurdity of his words. For a moment, she thought about explaining. About telling him how many times she had called, how she had waited and waited, only to be met with silence.

But instead, she let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

“Weren’t you busy taking care of Hannah?” she said, her voice calm but laced with bitterness. “And the company’s been keeping you so busy lately. I didn’t want to add to your stress.”

Adam’s expression shifted. A flicker of guilt crossed his features as he reached out, his calloused hand covering hers. But as his thumb brushed her skin, he froze.

His eyes fell to her left hand.

“You took off your ring?” he asked, his voice low, almost disbelieving.