Dumped By My Wife, Now A Single Father

Chapter 006

Colton's POV

The next morning, I woke before the alarm on my phone. For a few seconds, I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, trying to remember where I was. Then everything from the previous day came rushing back.

I sat up carefully, waiting for the ache in my ribs to settle before getting out of bed. The room was quiet, and the clothes someone had left for me were neatly arranged on a chair. I changed without paying much attention to them, then picked up my phone and called the hospital before leaving the estate.

“Felix is stable,” the nurse told me. “He is still unconscious, but there hasn't been any major change.” 

I closed my eyes briefly and nodded. “I'm coming.” Those two words were all I could manage before ending the call.

A driver was waiting outside when I stepped into the driveway. I stopped for a moment, looking at the car. It was another reminder that things had changed overnight, even though nothing that mattered to me had changed at all. I got into the back seat, gave the hospital's name, and spent the entire journey staring through the window.

When I arrived, I went straight to Felix's ward. The nurse allowed me inside, and the first thing I saw was his small body beneath the white blanket. The machines beside his bed continued their quiet rhythm, and the steady sound was strangely comforting.

I walked closer and pulled the chair beside his bed forward. “Good morning, son.” My voice came out low. There was no response. I sat down anyway and looked at his face for a few seconds before reaching out to adjust the blanket around his shoulders.

His hair was slightly messy, so I carefully smoothed it down with my fingers. “You look tired.” 

I paused, almost smiling. “I guess Daddy looks worse.” My attempt at humor disappeared quickly when I saw that his eyes remained closed.

I checked the monitor the way the nurse had shown me the previous day, making sure the numbers were still moving steadily. I didn't understand everything displayed on the screen, but I had learned enough to know that the steady rhythm meant he was still fighting.

I reached for his hand. His fingers were warm this morning, unlike the coldness I had felt when I carried him into the hospital. I held his little hand loosely, afraid that even a little pressure might disturb him.

“I came back,” I whispered. “I told you I would.” Felix didn't move, but I kept my hand around his. “So you have to keep your promise too. You need to wake up.”

I remained beside him for a long time without saying much. Sometimes I talked about nothing, the farm, the chocolate I had bought for his birthday, the toy truck he had left near the door. At other times, I simply sat there and listened to the machines.

Around midday, a nurse came in to check his temperature and adjust his medication. I moved my chair aside to give her space. When she finished, I pulled the blanket back over Felix and sat down again.

“You know,” I murmured, looking at him, “I still have that chocolate.” I swallowed. “It's in my bag. I didn't get to give it to you yesterday.” My fingers brushed gently over his hair. “I'll give it to you when you wake up.”

The door opened behind me.

I turned and saw Maita standing there.

She was dressed differently from the previous day, in a tailored suit that made her look more like the CEO she had described than the doctor who had treated Felix. She glanced at him first, then at me.

“How is he?”

“Still unconscious, but stable.” I looked back at Felix. “The nurse said his condition hasn't worsened.”

Maita nodded. “That's good.” She stepped farther into the room and remained near the foot of the bed. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

I turned toward her. “Did something happen?”

“Yes.” Her answer was immediate. 

“We need to make some changes to the arrangement.”

My hand remained on Felix's blanket. “What kind of changes?”

“We have a meeting to attend together.”

I frowned. “Together?”

“As husband and wife.” She said it plainly. “The board is already questioning my personal life. If we wait too long before appearing publicly, they will start questioning whether the marriage is legitimate.”

I looked at her for a moment. “I thought we had more time.”

“So did I.” She glanced at her watch. “But the pressure increased this morning. There is a board meeting coming up, and some of the shareholders will be watching closely.”

I lowered my eyes toward Felix. “What exactly do you expect me to do?”

“Appear beside me. Attend a few events. Have dinner with me in public. Let people see us together.” She paused. “Nothing complicated, but you need to understand that the marriage can't remain private.”

I nodded slowly.

Maita continued, “There will be photographs. Questions. People will want to know how we met, how long we've known each other, and why we decided to marry. You'll need to be careful about what you say.”

My jaw tightened. "And what am I supposed to tell them?”

“The truth, within reason.” Her expression remained calm. “You're my husband now. You don't need to explain every detail of our arrangement.”

The word husband sounded strange again.

I remained quiet.

“You'll be introduced as Sterling Colton,” she continued. “Your clothes, your behavior, the places you go, everything will be noticed. People will be looking for weaknesses because they already doubt me.”

My fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.

“I don't know anything about the company ”

“You don't need to know everything.” She paused. “You only need to learn enough not to let them use your ignorance against you.”

Something in her tone made the words easier to swallow than they should have been. There was no insult in it.

“I'll arrange someone to help you with your wardrobe and public appearances,” she said. “You'll also have security whenever you're with me.”

“Security?”

“Yes.”

I glanced toward Felix. “I don't need all that.”

“You might.”

Her answer was so firm that I didn't argue.

Maita walked toward the bed and looked at Felix for a moment. “Is his condition improving?”

“Stable,” I replied.

She nodded. “Then stay with him as long as you need today. I'll have the schedule sent to you tonight.”

I looked up. “What happens tomorrow?”

“Our first public appearance.”

My eyebrows lifted slightly.

Maita checked the time again. “Dinner.”

“With you?”

“Yes.”

I almost smiled at the absurdity of it. Yesterday, I had been begging her to save my son's life. Today, she was telling me to attend a formal dinner as her husband.

“Fine,” I said.

She nodded once and turned toward the door. Before leaving, she glanced back at Felix. “He'll be okay.”

I looked at her.

She didn't say anything else.

After she left, I returned my attention to Felix. I adjusted his blanket again even though it hadn't moved. Then I checked the monitor, watched his chest rise and fall, and settled back into the chair.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. I ate the meal a nurse insisted I take, drank some water, and spent most of the time beside Felix. Whenever his fingers shifted, I looked up immediately, hoping it meant something.

It never did.

By evening, the hospital lights had begun to brighten as the daylight disappeared outside the windows. I stood beside Felix's bed and gently touched his forehead.

“I'm leaving for tonight,” I whispered. “I'll be back tomorrow.”

His eyes remained closed.

I stayed there for another few seconds before finally letting go of his hand. Then I stepped out of the ward and walked slowly down the hallway, my body aching from exhaustion.

Outside the hospital entrance, the same driver waited beside the car. I slowed when I saw him open the door for me.

Then I saw someone familiar.

It's Lisa!