“President Anderson, why don’t you take a break? I can stay and keep watch,” Lauren said.
I shook my head. With Mom still in surgery, how could I rest?
“There’s something I need you to handle,” I said, looking at her. “Take back the branch company I gave to Emily’s parents, and make an official announcement about my divorce from her. Also, run a full investigation on Grant. I want the results within a week.”
“Yes, sir,” Lauren replied firmly before leaving.
After she left, I sat down on the bench outside the operating room, feeling drained. My phone kept ringing, relatives and friends calling to ask about Mom. But not one call came from Emily.
Three hours into Mom’s surgery, Grant posted on social media. He and Emily were sitting together in a bar booth, surrounded by his noisy friends, the table full of empty bottles.
Emily’s face was flushed, her eyes half-closed as she leaned against Grant’s chest.
I clicked like on the post. Before I could even lower my phone, Emily called.
I couldn’t describe what I felt. While my mother was fighting for her life in surgery, Emily hadn’t made a single call to ask about her, yet the moment it involved Grant, she called right away.
As soon as I answered, her sharp voice came through the phone.
“What’s with your like? So what if I had a few drinks with Grant and his friends?”
“Just because I married you, I can’t even choose who I drink with anymore?”
Before I could speak, Grant’s voice came from the background.
“Emily, don’t say that. He’s just worried about you.”
“Worried? He doesn’t trust me; he just wants to control me.”
“Alright, alright, Emily, stop. It’s late. I’ll take you home.”
“Go home? No way. We’re drinking till morning! Come on, keep drinking!”
“Haha, Emily, you’re amazing!”
“Emily, cheers to you!”
The noise from Grant’s friends filled the line.
“Brother-in-law, don’t be angry. I’ll talk to Emily. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she gets home on time tonight.”
Hearing that, I hung up without a word. Make sure she gets home on time? Whatever. I didn’t care anymore.
In the fifth hour of Mom’s surgery, Emily’s number showed up again.
“Brother-in-law, something’s wrong! Emily was in a car accident. Come quickly!”
My heart clenched, and I stood up before catching myself. I forced my voice to stay calm.
“If she’s in an accident, call the police and the insurance company.”
“Brother-in-law, she’s bleeding a lot! She keeps calling your name!”
Hearing that made my chest ache. No matter what had happened, my feelings for Emily weren’t something I could just erase.
I looked at the light above the operating room that was still on and called Lauren.
“Come stay at the hospital for me for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes, President Anderson.”
After hanging up, I grabbed my car keys and rushed to the bar.
When I arrived, I saw Emily leaning against Grant, her face flushed as she laughed with his drunk friends.
I froze, then it hit me: she had lied to me, right when my mother was still in surgery. A cold feeling ran through me, followed by a wave of anger.
Grant smirked at Emily. “Emily, didn’t I tell you? In your brother-in-law’s heart, you’ll always come first. Even when his mom’s in surgery, one call from you and he comes running.”
“Hmm.”
Emily lifted her chin slightly, a look of satisfaction on her face.
“Good job.”
Around them, Grant’s friends burst out laughing.
