Chapter 13 Love and Not Love
Not long after Wendy left, Henry woke up.
Finished
Stella, still fuming, caught sight of the look on Henry’s face—quiet and dejected. She quickly turned to comfort him.
“Henry, don’t overthink it. My sister still loves you the most. Why else would she rush to get you. to the hospital like that? Trust me, she’s not going to let Chase off casy.”
Henry gave a soft smile and lowered his head, calm and gentle.
But was that really true?
He wasn’t so sure Wendy’s heart belonged to him alone.
Her expression had held panic–but when she looked at Chase, there was something else there too. Disbelief.
And he was certain he hadn’t imagined it–they came out of the same room.
The Quinn estate was massive, almost unbelievably so. There were rooms everywhere. If Stella’s story was true–if Chase and Wendy had long stopped caring about each other, and hadn’t shared a bed in ages–then why had the two of them spent the night in the same room?
He’d acted in such a hurry because he saw it.
Chase held a place in Wendy’s heart–a place he didn’t want to leave untouched.
He had to make sure Chase didn’t become what he once was.
So this was the only move left.
“Stella, I’m fine. You should go home.”
Back at the house, Wendy couldn’t find Chase. She flew into a rage, and no one dared speak up. It wasn’t until Mandy came downstairs that everyone finally saw hope.
“What’s all the noise about?” Even in a bathrobe with a shawl wrapped casually around her, Mandy’s presence was commanding. She had once dominated the business world, and even years after stepping down from Quinn Group, her aura hadn’t faded.
“Mom, where’s Chase?”
Mandy looked up, full of frustration. She didn’t know what kind of spell Henry had cast on Wendy. It had been years. Wendy had met better, more suitable men. But the moment Henry came back, everything fell apart again.
That Chase couldn’t hold onto Wendy was expected. But for a smart woman like her daughter to still be so blind to her own heart–that was just baffling.
Chapter 13 Love and Not Love
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some random man on stage, and now you’re starting drama first thing in the morning. What is it –you’re afraid I’m living too peacefully? That I’m not dying fast enough?”
Wendy backed down at once.
“He hurt Henry. I have to get an explanation.”
“Explanation for what?” Mandy, as always, took Chase’s side. “He’s your husband. You’ve been together five years. You don’t trust him–fine. But you’d rather stand up for some outsider? Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If Henry couldn’t marry you back then, he’s not going to now either.”
“Mom!”
What was she even talking about?
It’s not like she planned to divorce Chase just because Henry came back.
Mandy gave a short snort and waved off the butler, who brought over her coffee. Then she turned to Wendy and said flatly. “Miss Wendy, Mr. Chase left a while ago. If you ask me, he’s not the kind of man who’d do something like that.”
With everyone in the house speaking up for Chase, Wendy grew increasingly irritated.
The real victim was still lying in the hospital, and somehow the supposed attacker was the one. getting everyone’s sympathy.
Her thoughts drifted back to the days when she’d once wanted to run away with Henry.
She’d always been rebellious. And now that she held real power in her hands, no one could stop them from being together.
At the hospital, Chase had already done two surgeries back–to–back. He’d only just sat down to rest when someone called him into a meeting to discuss upcoming operations. He’d been so busy, he’d completely forgotten about Henry.
Until Wendy showed up.
As an investor, her presence at the hospital wasn’t unusual. She sat in the office assigned to her and asked to see Chase.
“Chase, Madam Wendy wants to see you.” Mr. Lance looked worried. “She’s one of the hospital’s investors. I hear she’s got a temper. Be careful.”
Chase put down the report he’d just finished reviewing and sighed.
Wendy’s temper was no mystery to him–he’d lived with it for five
years.
“Got it.”
He knocked on her office door, and from inside came a curt response. As soon as he opened it, something flew straight at his forehead. He couldn’t dodge in time, and blood immediately began
Chapter 13 Love and Not Love
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He’d known it would be like this. That’s why he’d insisted on coming alone, without anyone to lead the way.
This floor was nearly always empty. It was reserved for hospital administrators, so hardly anyone ever came up here. Except for Wendy.
No one else would be sitting in that office.
After a few silent seconds, Chase stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
“What do you want?”
The sight of him only infuriated Wendy more.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t whine about the pain. The blood from his forehead trailed down his face, his eyes faintly red.
Once, that expression might’ve stirred compassion in Wendy. But now, all she could see was Henry–bleeding, covered in red.
Compared to that, what was a scratch on Chase?
“Chase, what’s your problem with me and Henry?” Wendy leaned forward slightly, fists clenched. on the desk, banging twice. “If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me. Why would Henry? He didn’t do anything wrong. He’s even trying to protect you!”
Before coming in, Wendy had gotten a call from Stella–Henry was awake.
you hurt
Henry had told her to calm down. Said Chase probably acted in a moment of frustration. That the injury wasn’t serious. That she shouldn’t make things harder on Chase.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t need Henry to protect me.” Chase stood on the opposite side of the desk, calm and composed, even though his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I already told you. I didn’t hurt Henry. I don’t need to explain myself.”
“Then how did he get injured? Are you saying he did it to himself?! Chase, your excuses are getting worse and worse. He nearly died–just to frame you?!”
Chase let out a laugh. “Anyone with a medical license could tell you that his wound wasn’t serious. He nicked a blood vessel, that’s all. If that’s enough to kill him, then maybe his body’s too fragile for this world.”
“Chase! You still won’t admit what you’ve done? What happened to you?!”
T
He didn’t want to explain anymore. They were already divorced. Whether she believed him or not didn’t matter. Let her sue him if she wanted. Jail might be easier than watching her like this.
With that thought, Chase turned to leave.
“Did I say you could go?”
134 PM c
Chapter 13 Love and Not Love
A crystal ashtray spun on the carpet, finally rolling to a stop at his feet.
Finished
The difference between love and not love couldn’t be clearer. Henry suffered a minor injury, and Wendy was beside herself. But she could throw something like that at him without blinking.
What a joke.
“If Henry wants to press charges, let him,” Chase said. Then he pulled open the door and left.
Moments later, the sound of things being smashed echoed from the room behind him.
