Forgiveness Isn't Free: James Davidson Returns

chapter 3

James POV

The day was passing slowly.

James lay in his hospital bed, waiting. Waiting for Rose. Waiting for her parents.

But no one came.

The room was quiet except for the steady beep of the machine beside him. Each sound felt louder in the silence.

He thought about the past—their wedding, the promises, the smiles. Now, all that seemed far away, like a dream that had ended badly.

Hours passed. Nurses came in and out, but no visitors. James felt the loneliness deep in his chest. The pain from his ribs was small compared to this.

Even his phone didn’t ring.

At last, just before evening, the door opened again.

This time, it wasn’t Rose or her parents.

It was his grandfather, Mr. Davison.

He walked in with a slow, confident step, a small smile on his face. “So,” the old man said, looking at James with sharp eyes, “still waiting for your wife to show up?”

James didn’t answer.

Mr. Davison sat down beside the bed, folding his hands. “I told you she wasn’t the right one for you,” he said, his voice calm but mocking. “But you didn’t listen. You went ahead and married her.”

James looked down.

“Now, see how she treats you. Like you don’t even exist. Like you’re a stranger.” James felt anger rise inside him but said nothing.

Mr. Davison leaned closer, his smile widening. “It’s time, James. Time to stop pretending. Time to get back to your glory.” James looked up, surprised.

“What do you mean?” he asked quietly.

“You hid your true power from her, didn’t you?” his grandfather said. “Now it’s time to show the world who you really are. No more hiding. No more pretending.”

James closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.

The man was right. He had lost so much already—love, respect, trust. But maybe there was still a chance to take back what was his. To stand tall again.

Mr. Davison stood up, giving James a final look.

“Rest now. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” And with that, he left the room, leaving James alone again.

The room was quiet again after Mr. Davison left. James sat up slowly, ignoring the ache in his ribs. His mind was spinning, but his heart felt… steady. For the first time in days, he was thinking clearly.

He looked around the room. The empty chair beside his bed. The untouched flowers the nurse had brought. His phone lying silent on the table.

Not a single missed call. Not a single message from Rose. He took a deep breath and reached for his phone.

His fingers moved slowly at first, then with purpose. He scrolled through his contacts and stopped at a name saved under just one letter: D.

He tapped it and put the phone to his ear.

It rang once.

Twice.

Then a voice answered, deep and respectful. “Boss.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the word settle in his chest. It had been so long since someone called him that.

“I need you to do something,” James said quietly.

“Yes, Boss. Say it.”

“I want a divorce paper drafted immediately,” James said, his voice calm but cold. “Put everything in order. Make it clean. No delay.”

There was a short pause on the other end. “Yes, sir. I’ll have it ready in less than an hour.”

“Good,” James continued. “After that, come pick me up from the hospital. I’m done lying in this bed.”

“But the doctors said—” “I said I’m done.” Another pause. “Yes, Boss. I’ll be there.”

James ended the call and dropped the phone beside him. He leaned back slowly against the pillow, his chest rising and falling.

It was over.

The marriage.

The pretending.

The waiting.

He had loved Rose with everything he had. Even after her coldness. Even after the lies. But now… now he was done holding on to someone who let go first. He wasn’t the same man who walked out of that party, heartbroken and blind.

He was James Davison.

And it was time the world remembered that.