Chapter 5

I rushed to Greg's office, panic gripping me. Inside, Elizabeth lay on a couch surrounded by several doctors and nurses. My legs felt weak, and I nearly stumbled. Behind me, Tom caught my arm, his calm voice steadying me. "Don't worry. With the doctors here, your mom will be fine." I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. But when I saw Elizabeth being wheeled into the emergency room, I couldn't hold it together. Leaning against the wall, I slid to the floor, my mind in turmoil. Elizabeth was already in the late stages of liver cancer, her body frail and weak. And now, Gavin's scandal had caused her to collapse. What if something happened to her? I shook the thought away and immediately dialed Gavin's number. He had to explain everything to Elizabeth himself, to clear this misunderstanding. The phone rang for over ten seconds, but no one answered. Just as despair began to set in, the call finally connected. "Hello, honey, you—" Before I could finish, Mandy's voice came through. "Grace, Gavin's gone out to get medicine for me. He left his phone here. Is there something urgent? I can relay the message to him." My throat tightened, and no words came out. Through tear-filled eyes, I saw the phone being taken from my hand. Startled, I looked up to meet Tom's deep, steady gaze. The dam broke, and tears streamed down my face. "Don't cry." Tom's brow furrowed slightly. His hand reached toward me, but he hesitated, clenched it into a fist, and withdrew. I turned away, wiping my tears with trembling hands. "No matter how upset you are, don't harm yourself. Get up—it's cold on the floor," Tom said, lifting me to my feet and guiding me to a nearby bench. "Thank you," I murmured sincerely. The hour-long wait felt like an eternity. When the red light above the emergency room finally dimmed, I shot to my feet and rushed to the door as Dr. Hill stepped out. He glanced briefly at Tom before turning to me. "Don't worry, Ms. Summers. Your mom is stable now, but her body is still very weak and needs rest." "Can I see her?" "Yes, but keep it short." "Thank you, Dr. Hill." I hurried toward the patient room but stopped halfway, suddenly remembering Tom. When I turned back, I saw him leaning casually against the wall, speaking with Dr. Hill. Whatever Dr. Hill said made Tom frown slightly, his dark eyes sharp and commanding, exuding an overwhelming sense of authority. Dr. Hill gave a sheepish smile, raising his hands in mock surrender. The two seemed to know each other well. Realizing they had matters to discuss, I turned back and headed to the patient room. Inside, Elizabeth was still asleep from the exhaustion of the operation. Her gaunt hand rested in mine as I sat by her side. Looking at her tired but peaceful face, my tightly wound nerves finally relaxed, and I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. Covering my mouth, I sobbed quietly, pouring out all the frustration and sorrow I had been holding in. I didn't know how long I cried. When I finally wiped my tears and took a deep breath, I reminded myself that tears wouldn't solve anything. I needed answers. I had to confront Gavin about what had happened today. If he couldn't give me a satisfactory explanation, then divorce might be the only option. The thought made my chest tighten with sorrow. 12 years. I had loved him for 12 long years. How many sets of 12 years does a person get in their lifetime? Perhaps I had been wrong from the start. Knowing he had someone else in his heart, why had I believed I could eventually warm it? Now that Mandy was divorced, the only obstacle between them was me. To Gavin, Mandy would always be special. If I didn't clarify things now, I might find myself facing a divorce when Gavin came to his own conclusions. It was better to end it swiftly than drag it out. "Don't cry anymore." A tissue appeared in front of me. My brother, Alex, stood there, his expression a mix of irritation and concern. "Alex," I felt the tears welling up again. He frowned, dabbing at my tears with the tissue, his movements surprisingly gentle despite his gruff demeanor. "I told you from the start that Gavin wasn't the right guy for you. But no, you just had to marry him, stubborn as a mule…" Seeing me lower my head, he sighed heavily and ruffled my hair. "What's going on with Gavin and that actress? If he really cheated on you, I'll make him pay, even if it costs me everything!" "No." I shook my head instinctively, unsure if I was trying to convince him or myself. "Gavin and Mandy grew up together, that's all. Besides, I was there too." "You were?" "Yes." "Then it must be a misunderstanding." Alex pursed his lips, glanced at Elizabeth's frail figure on the bed, and took a deep breath. "Dr. Hill said Mom's body can't take any more stress. If this really is a misunderstanding, bring Gavin to the hospital tomorrow and clear things up for her. She deserves peace of mind." A lump rose in my throat, and I nodded. "Alright, I will." After a brief conversation, Alex shooed me away, insisting I get some rest. As I opened the patient room door to leave, I noticed a tall figure standing at the end of the hallway. Tom White? He hadn't left! As soon as he saw me step out, he stubbed out his cigarette in the nearby bin and strode toward me. "Is your mom okay now?" "She's fine," I was surprised he had waited for so long and felt a twinge of guilt. "Thank you, Tom." "What's with the formalities?" Tom raised an eyebrow, his posture lazy but his smile warm. "Come on, I'll drive you home." Soon, the car slowly pulled into the Gould family estate. As I stepped out of Tom's car, my mother-in-law, Amelia Foster, hurried out of the house to greet us. "Tom?" Her face was full of surprise as her gaze darted back and forth between Tom and me. "Why are you the one bringing Grace home?" "I went to Gavin's office to look for him, but he wasn't there. I ran into Grace on the way, so I offered her a ride back," Tom replied casually. "Gavin wasn't at the office? That boy is so busy these days; I hardly ever see him!" Amelia muttered absentmindedly before quickly shifting the topic. "It's so rare for you to visit, Tom. You're not leaving today. Stay and have lunch with us!" I stood quietly to the side, not saying a word. Since Gavin and I got married, Tom had rarely visited the Gould family home. Then he suddenly enlisted in the military, disappearing from our lives for years. In the past two years, Gavin had barely mentioned Tom's name, leading me to believe their childhood friendship had faded with time. Just as I assumed Tom would politely decline the invitation, he surprised me with a laugh. "It's been ages since I've had your cooking. During my time in the military, I've dreamed about it so much I couldn't sleep!" I was startled by his decision to stay and glanced up at him in surprise, only to find his gaze already on me. Caught off guard, I quickly lowered my head, unsure why his attention had shifted to me. "You sweet talker!" Amelia said with a laugh. "But all that charm, and you still haven't brought home a wife. Gavin's been married for two years now. When will it be your turn?" Tom chuckled, his eyes briefly flickering back to me. "I guess I just don't have Gavin's luck." "You always have an answer for everything!" Amelia scolded him playfully, and the two of them continued chatting and laughing as they walked toward the living room. Just then, the sound of an engine roaring cut through the air. Amelia stopped and turned back. When she saw the familiar black Maybach pulling into the driveway, her face lit up with joy. "Gavin's back!" she exclaimed happily. But the moment the car door opened, and the person who stepped out was revealed, her smile froze on her face. It wasn't Gavin. It was Mandy Green.