Chapter 7
Claire spent the rest of the day walking the hospital floors.
She visited the ICU first. The nurses and doctors looked up as she entered, unsure how to react. Yesterday, she had been one of them. Today, she was their boss.
Mr. Harris was still in his bed, watching television. He brightened when he saw her.
“Nurse Claire! I heard what happened! You own the place!”
Claire laughed and sat beside him. “I guess I do. How are you feeling today?”
“Better now that you're in charge.” He patted her hand. “Your father was a good man. He'd be happy to see you taking his place.”
Claire's throat tightened. “Thank you, Mr. Harris.”
She moved from room to room, speaking to patients and staff alike. She wanted them to see her. To know that the owner wasn't some distant figure in an office. She was someone who had worked beside them. Someone who understood.
By the time she reached the pediatric wing, word had spread. The nurses greeted her with smiles. The doctors nodded respectfully.
But not everyone was happy.
In the hallway outside the administrative offices, she encountered three of the board members—men Marcus had appointed. They stood in a cluster, looking angry.
“Claire,” said Robert Vance, the oldest of the three. “We need to talk.”
“Of course,” Claire said. “My office is available.”
“Your office?” Vance scoffed. “This is absurd. You can't just walk in here and take over. We have bylaws. Procedures.”
“Your bylaws say the owner has final authority,” Claire said calmly. “And I am the owner.”
“Your father never should have—”
“My father built this hospital,” Claire interrupted. “And he knew exactly what he was doing when he left it to me. Now, if you gentlemen have concerns about hospital operations, I'm happy to listen. But if you're here to threaten me or question my authority, you can save your breath.”
The three men exchanged looks. They had expected the quiet, accommodating nurse they had seen at board meetings over the years. This woman was a stranger.
“We'll be in touch,” Vance said coldly.
They turned and walked away.
Claire watched them go. She knew this wasn't over. The board members had benefited from Marcus's leadership. They had received bonuses and perks. They would not give up their power easily.
At 5:00 p.m., she left the hospital.
The drive home was quiet. She turned off the radio and thought. She had won the first battle. But the war was just beginning.
Marcus was gone from the hospital, but he was still her husband. He was still Sophie's father. And he was still dangerous.
When she pulled into the driveway, she saw Marcus's car parked in front of the house.
Her heart raced.
She grabbed her phone and texted Jonathan: He's here.
Then she called Mrs. Henderson. “Is Sophie still with you?”
“Yes, dear. We're just finishing up some cookies. Is everything okay?”
“Can you keep her for another hour? I have something I need to take care of.”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Claire hung up. She took a deep breath, opened her car door, and walked toward the house.
Marcus was in the living room, sitting on the couch, drinking whiskey. He looked up as she entered. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair was messy. He had been drinking.
“Claire,” he said. His voice was slurred. “You ruined everything.”
“You ruined everything yourself, Marcus,” she said. She stayed near the door, ready to run if she needed to. “You had everything. A wife who loved you. A daughter who adored you. A career. And you threw it all away for greed and some cheap affair.”
“Cheap?” Marcus stood up, swaying slightly. “Sabrina understood me! She respected me! All you ever did was work! You were never there!”
“I was working because you told me we needed the money! I was taking extra shifts so you could climb the corporate ladder! I wrote your proposals! I fixed your mistakes! I gave up my medical career for you!”
Claire's voice rose with every word. Years of suppressed anger poured out.
“I gave up everything! And you repaid me by stealing from my father's hospital. By plotting to take my daughter. By humiliating me in front of everyone I work with!”
Marcus stared at her, his face twisted with rage and drink.
“You think you're so smart now,” he said. He took a step toward her. “You think you've won. But you haven't. I still have friends. Powerful friends. I'll take this hospital from you. I'll take Sophie. I'll make sure you never see either of them again.”
He took another step.
Claire backed up, her hand reaching for the doorknob.
“Get out of my house, Marcus.”
“Your house?” Marcus laughed. It was an ugly sound. “I paid for this house. I paid for everything. You have nothing without me.”
“I have the hospital. I have my father's money. And I have Sophie.”
Marcus lunged.
Claire turned and ran for the door. She fumbled with the lock, her hands shaking. Marcus grabbed her arm from behind, spinning her around.
“You're not going anywhere!”
“Let go of me!” Claire struggled. She kneed him in the groin.
Marcus grunted and doubled over. Claire wrenched free and pulled open the door. She ran outside, just as Jonathan's car pulled into the driveway.
“Claire!” Jonathan jumped out and ran to her.
“He's inside,” Claire gasped. “He's drunk. He tried to—”
Jonathan pulled her behind him and walked toward the house. Marcus appeared in the doorway, holding a lamp above his head.
“Get off my property!” Marcus shouted.
“Your property?” Jonathan said calmly. He pulled out his phone. “I've already called the police, Marcus. They're on their way. And I have a restraining order application ready to file. If you so much as touch Claire again, you'll spend the night in jail.”
Marcus stared at him. The lamp slipped from his hand and crashed to the porch.
The sound of sirens grew closer.
May you like
Marcus looked from Jonathan to Claire. His face was a mask of hatred.
“This isn't over,” he whispered.
