Chapter 16
Brad strode into the hospital room with Nick in tow, his pace brisk, his expression grim.
“How did you even know I was in the hospital?” Sally looked up at them warily, eyes calm but guarded.
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“A friend at the hospital called me,” Brad replied, voice turning cold. “Said you were rushed in for emergency treatment. So I brought Nick to check in on you.” His gaze sharpened. “But seriously–do you even know your limits? The orphanage doesn’t have security anymore, so you–an outsider–thought it was smart to go in and play hero?”
The moment his voice dropped, the room turned icy with tension.
“Brad, do you hear yourself right now?” Abigail shot up from her chair and planted herself between the bed and the man, facing him with fire in her eyes. “When Sally got there, security hadn’t arrived yet! The place was practically an inferno, full of children! What was she supposed to do? Just stand by and watch them burn?”
“I’m just saying,” Brad said, frowning, “she’s not equipped to handle a rescue, and she nearly got herself killed. In the end, the rescue team had to take care of her too–she made things worse.”
JExactly!” Nick chimed in from the side, crossing his arms. “Mom, you’re always timid and scared of trouble. Why would you even get involved in something like that?”
Sally’s heart turned cold.
She’d nearly lost her life–literally dragged herself out of the flames–and this was the first thing these two said to her? Not “Are you okay,” not “We were worried,” but complaints, blame, and criticism?
What a joke.
Timid? Scared? She never imagined her own son would describe her that way.
After everything she’d done–after all the years–they still saw her like this?
“What do you mean timid?” Abigail snapped, her brows furrowed with fury. “Your mom ran into a burning building to save kids! And you have the nerve to call her scared? Nick, how can you say that to your own mother?”
Nick scowled at Abigail but didn’t dare say another word. Maybe it was the intensity in her tone, or maybe the sharp glare in her eyes–but the boy backed down.
“Why are you yelling at a child?” Brad barked, quickly pulling Nick behind him like a shield. His glare toward Abigail burned with anger.
“I’m just stating facts,” Abigail shot back. “Sally being stuck with you two is probably the worst luck she’s had in her life.”
Brad’s expression twisted with rage. His brows furrowed tight, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
He knew Abigail had never approved of his marriage to Sally. That was nothing new.
But even back then, she’d never confronted him like this to his face. Now she had, and it stung.
Before he could speak, Sally–who’d been silent all this time–finally spoke, her voice quiet, emotionless. “Brad. Please take Nick and leave. I don’t want either of you in my room.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed sharply, that dangerous cold gleam now unmistakable.
‘I brought my son here to see how you were doing, and this is how you treat us?” he said.
“I’m tired, Sally cut him off, even colder than before. “I need to rest. Please leave.”
“Fine, Nick muttered, tugging at his father’s hand. “Let’s go, Dad. If Mom doesn’t want us here, why bother?”
Brad hesitated for a second, lips twitching with things unsaid, but Nick kept pulling, so he turned and walked out.
The door shut behind them. Brad and Nick walked toward the elevator in silence, both visibly seething. Neither said a word.
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10:23 AM
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Chapter 16
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal a tall figure standing calmly inside. Brad blinked in surprise when he recognized who that was
Jaxon?‘ he called out.
Jaxon–tall, composed, dressed in black–lifted his eyes, pausing in mid–step. “What are you two doing here?”
Brad noticed the fruit basket in Jaxon’s hand and quickly looked away, his expression unreadable.
“Got a call from a friend at the hospital,” said Brad. ‘Said Sally was brought in after the orphanage caught fire. We came to check on her”
“Mom kicked us out…. “Nick grumbled, puffing out his cheeks in frustration.
“Did she now? Jaxon’s lips curled into a faint, ambiguous smile.
“Enough talking about me. Are you here to visit someone too?” Brad asked, his tone casual but probing.
Something like that.” Jaxon gestured at the elevator. You should get going. The elevator’s here.”
“Right, nodded Brad. “We’ll catch up another time.”
Nick waved Jaxon goodbye, and followed Brad into the elevator. Jaxon gave a small nod but didn’t respond.
Once the elevator doors slid shut, he turned on his heel and walked calmly toward Sally’s room.
When Sally had been wheeled into the ER, he’d been away at a construction site dealing with a crisis on one of the group’s projects. He had only just wrapped things up.
He came because he needed to see her. Sally had nearly died saving those kids. And knowing that, he couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
Inside the hospital room, it was quiet. Abigail had gone to grab dinner, leaving Sally alone.
When the knock came at the door, she assumed Brad had returned to pester her again.
But when the door swung open and she saw that tall figure in a sleek black suit holding a fancy fruit basket, her eyes widened.
Sally’s hand clenched the blanket on instinct. “Mr. Zale? What are you doing here?”
“The director wanted to come tonight, but something came up last minute,” Jaxon said as he placed the fruit basket gently by the bed. “So I came on behalf of the orphanage.”
“Thank you.” Sally dipped her head, voice softer now.
Jaxon glanced around before sitting down. “Your friend?”
“She stepped out to grab dinner for me. She’ll be back soon. Sally answered.
Jaxon didn’t reply, and a silence settled over them like snow. Finally, Sally bit her lip and whispered, “Mr. Zale… thank you. For saving me.”
You were unconscious‘ he said, tilting his head slightly, a faint trace of suspicion flickering in his eyes. “How do you even know it was me?
“I saw you,” she murmured. Just before 1 blacked out. You came in and pulled me away from the falling chandelier…”
She didn’t know he’d also performed CPR and mouth–to–mouth after that. That part was a blank.
admire your bravery, Mrs. Zale,” he said suddenly, leaning back in the chair, legs casually crossed, one arm resting behind her. There were a lot of people there, but you were the only woman who ran into the fire.”
The unexpected compliment made Sally’s heart skip a beat. After all the belittling words she’d heard from Brad, this felt like a strange halm.
The contrast almost made her laugh out loud.
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10:23 AM
Chapter 16
“Maybe it’s just the instinct of a mom,” she said lightly. “You see a bunch of children in danger, you don’t think. You just move. And I wasn’t the only one. Security came eventually. And… there was you too.”
Jaxon lifted up his gaze to meet Sally’s eyes. And for a split second, the room felt too still, too quiet.
Then Jaxon’s gaze deepened, and he leaned forward slightly. “You do realize,” he said softly, “you nearly died… right in front of
me.”
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