Forgiveness Isn't Free: James Davidson Returns

chapter 2

James Pov

Beep… beep… beep…

The sound was soft but steady. It was the first thing James heard.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. Everything felt heavy. His head. His arms. Even his eyelids. The light above him was bright and white. He blinked a few times, trying to understand where he was.

His mouth was dry. His body ached all over.

When he tried to sit up, something pulled at his arm. He looked down and saw a needle in his hand, with a tube connected to a bag. He was on a drip. A hospital, he realized.

Just then, the door opened. A nurse walked in. She looked surprised to see him awake.

“Oh, you’re up,” she said kindly. She walked over and checked the drip. “How do you feel?”

James’ voice was low and rough. “What… happened?”

“You were in a car accident,” she said gently. “Last night. You were brought here just in time. If help had come any later… you might not have made it.”

James blinked slowly, trying to remember. Then, like a flash, the memory returned.

The party. His wife, Rose. The way she ignored him. The way her parents looked at him like he was nothing.

James swallowed hard. The pain in his chest wasn’t just from the crash.

He remembered walking out of the party. The rain pouring. His heart breaking. He remembered getting in the car, angry and hurt. Driving fast. Not thinking clearly. And then—the light. The sound of metal crashing. Darkness. His hand trembled slightly on the bed.

The nurse noticed. “You’re safe now,” she said. “Just rest. The doctor will be in soon.”

A few minutes later, the doctor walked in. He was wearing a white coat and glasses.He was Luke, James friend. He gave James a small smile and picked up his chart.

“Good to see you awake, James. How are you feeling?” he asked, checking James’s heartbeat and eyes.

“I feel… weak,” James said honestly. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“Well, it wasn’t a truck,” the doctor said with a soft chuckle, “but the crash was serious. You have some bruised ribs and a mild concussion. But you’re lucky. You’ll recover with rest.”

James looked at the doctor, his eyes a little cloudy. “Did… did anyone call my wife?”

The doctor paused for a second, then lowered his voice. “Yes. We called her last night after you were brought in.”

James waited, his heart beating faster.

The doctor sighed. “She… didn’t come. She said, and I quote, ‘I’m not a doctor. I can’t treat him.’ She told us not to disturb her again. Said she had more important things to do. That she had guests to attend to.”

James stared at him, silent.

The doctor added carefully, “She didn’t ask about your condition. I’m sorry.”

" Honestly, I don't know why you are still with her" Luke said to him. " You are better than all this "

James turned his face away, looking at the wall. He didn’t speak. The pain in his chest grew heavier, but this time, it had nothing to do with the accident.

The room was quiet again.

The doctor Luke had left. The nurse came back for a moment to check the drip, then stepped out.

Now, James lay there alone, staring at the ceiling. The beeping sound of the machine beside him was steady, but inside him, everything felt broken. His wife didn’t come. She didn’t ask how he was. She didn’t care. James had hoped—just a little—that maybe she’d worry. That maybe she’d rush to the hospital, hold his hand, cry a little.

That maybe, somewhere deep down, she still loved him. But no. She had guests to attend to. Guests were more important than her husband lying half-dead in a hospital bed.

James blinked, trying to stop the tears, but one slipped out and rolled down his cheek.

He thought of her smile when they first met. How her eyes lit up when she laughed. How he believed she was his forever. He gave her everything—his time, his heart, his trust. And now? Now he was nothing to her. Just a burden. Just someone she thought was rich.

He turned slowly on the bed, facing the wall. His ribs ached, but his heart hurt more. A voice echoed in his mind—her voice at the party. “i'm busy, You are embarrassing both of us"

His hands clenched the bedsheet. She was right. He tried so hard to fit in. To be good enough for her, for her parents, for their fancy world. But no matter what he did, it was never enough. Now he wondered if it ever mattered to her at all. Maybe he was just… a mistake she wanted to forget. Another tear slid down his face. He didn’t wipe it.

He remembers how he met her, he sat in his sleek Aston Martin, the engine humming softly as he waited outside one of his company’s branches.

The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city. He glanced at his watch—his secretary was late. Then, he saw her. She walked out of the building like a breath of fresh air. Rose. She was beautiful. Her hair caught the light, her smile was bright, and she moved with a quiet confidence that made his heart skip a beat. He had never seen her before, but something about her stopped him. Without thinking, he stepped out of the car and walked toward her.

“Hi,” he said, trying to sound casual. She looked surprised but smiled politely.

“I’m James,” he said. “I work here. I couldn’t help but notice you.”

They talked for a few minutes. He learned she worked nearby, helping her father with their company, The Brook’s World. She was smart and funny, and James found himself wanting to know more.

Days turned into weeks. He kept finding reasons to see her. They went on simple dates—coffee, walks in the park, quiet dinners. He was falling in love.

But not everyone was happy.

One day, his grandfather called him into his study. The old man’s eyes were sharp.

“James,” he said firmly, “Rose isn’t right for you. She’s only after your money. A gold-digger. You must be careful.”

James shook his head. “I love her. That’s enough for me.” The grandfather sighed but didn’t argue further. He went ahead and married Rose.

The wedding was beautiful, and for a while, everything felt perfect. He even helped her father’s company grow.

The Brook’s World got bigger and stronger, thanks to his support. But kept so secret from her He didn’t tell her everything about his wealth. He hid some of his money, some of his power. He wanted to protect her. He wanted a simple married life.

Then came a year later, when he made a difficult choice. He made an agreement with his grandfather to fake that his company went bankrupt. To pretend he was broke.

He wanted to see how Rose would act when he wasn’t rich anymore.

At first, it was hard to hide the truth from her. But slowly, things changed. Rose became colder. She stopped smiling as much. The warmth in her eyes faded. Her parents, who once worshipped he, began to avoid him. The love that once felt so strong now felt like a lie.

James wondered how much she really cared. And he began to question everything he thought he knew about love.