The Husband She Left Behind

Chapter 4

A deep, respectful voice immediately answered. "Understood, Commander. We will prepare everything."

Darren ended the call, with his eyes remaining fixed on the city lights.

Far away, somewhere across the city, Vanessa was undoubtedly still sitting beside Adrian's hospital bed.

For the first time in three years... Darren no longer cared. He slipped the wrist device back into its protective case, locked the suitcase, and quietly walked out of the honeymoon suite.

Outside the hotel, he boarded a taxi home.

Meanwhile, inside the VIP ward of Lifeway Hospital, Vanessa Hartwell slowly opened her eyes and a dull ache shot through her neck.

She frowned and instinctively rubbed her shoulder before realizing she had fallen asleep on the companion chair beside Adrian Knox's hospital bed.

Her elegant coat, worn over parts of her wedding attire the previous night, was badly wrinkled from spending hours in the uncomfortable chair, and her neck ached.

Just then, a weak groan came from the bed. She shot to her feet, all traces of exhaustion vanishing. "Adrian!" she cried, hurrying to his bedside.

"How are you feeling?" she asked anxiously, gently placing a hand against his forehead. "Are you dizzy? Does your stomach still hurt?"

Adrian slowly opened his eyes. The moment he recognized her, tears welled up almost immediately.

"Vanessa..."

His voice trembled.

"W-Why... why are you still here?"

Vanessa looked slightly surprised. "I stayed to make sure you were alright."

Adrian's tears began falling. "But... last night was supposed to be your wedding night with Mister Vale."

He wore a look of feigned guilt mixed with disbelief. "You should've gone back."

Vanessa looked at him quietly. Hearing those words stirred sympathy inside her. She completely forgot that only hours earlier Adrian himself had repeatedly begged her to remain at the hospital.

Now, seeing him blame himself so sincerely, she felt only pity.

"It's alright," she said softly.

Immediately, she checked his pulse before placing another hand against his forehead.

"No fever." She exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

"You really frightened me." Her voice became firmer. "How many times have I told you not to drink so much?"

Adrian lowered his head, looking like a child being scolded. "I'm sorry..."

Vanessa's stern expression gradually softened. "You really need to take better care of yourself."

"I know..." Adrian wiped away another tear, then he said, "Vanessa... I... I called Mister Vale last night."

Vanessa blinked. "You what?"

"I wanted to apologize."

Her expression changed immediately. "You called Darren?"

Adrian nodded. "You weren't answering my calls... I wanted to tell you not to come... But..." He swallowed. "The nurse checked my emergency contacts and called you herself. I didn't know she'd actually do it. I just wanted to apologize to Mister Vale afterwards."

Vanessa frowned slightly. "What did Darren say?"

"He... didn't say anything," Adrian lowered his eyes. "Not one word. I think... he might be angry."

Vanessa stood silently for several seconds. She picked up her own phone and checked the call history.

Sure enough... she saw several missed calls. Then the hospital's number. She frowned briefly. For a moment, something about the sequence felt odd, but the thought passed almost as quickly as it came.

She did not stop to question how a nurse had managed to access Adrian's locked phone. Nor did she wonder why the nurse's calls reached her while Adrian's apparently did not.

Instead, she looked back at Adrian's anxious expression. "It isn't necessarily like that."

Adrian looked up. "Darren has always been a man of few words."

She smiled reassuringly. "His silence doesn't automatically mean he's angry."

Adrian looked unconvinced. Slowly, he struggled to sit upright. "No... I should apologize properly. I'll go see him myself."

Before he could rise any farther, Vanessa quickly pressed both hands against his shoulders. "Absolutely not." She gently but firmly eased him back onto the pillow.

"Vanessa..."

"No." Her tone left little room for argument. "The most important thing for you right now is recovering." She tucked the blanket around him again. "I'll explain everything to Darren myself. He'll understand."

Adrian still looked worried. "But what if—"

"He won't be angry."Vanessa interrupted confidently. "If Darren were truly bothered by these kinds of things..." She smiled faintly. "He would've shown it long ago."

Those words finally seemed to reassure Adrian. His tense shoulders gradually relaxed and a small smile appeared despite his pale face.

"Vanessa... Thank you. You really are ...beautiful and kindhearted." He smiled sweetly. "And Mister Vale... is truly magnanimous."

Vanessa laughed softly. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

Seeing his emotions finally settle, she stood and stretched carefully. Her neck gave a painful crack. She winced, glancing toward the clock. "You must be hungry."

"A little..."

"I'll buy you something nutritious." She picked up her handbag. Just as she reached the door— she heard Adrian's voice.

"Vanessa..."

She turned around.

Adrian's eyes glistened with tears once more. "Thank you for staying with me."

Vanessa smiled warmly. "Stop worrying. Get some proper rest." Then she quietly left the ward.

As soon as the door closed, Adrian remained motionless with his gaze fixed on the closed door for a very long time.

A few seconds ticked by. Then, the corners of his lips slowly rose, and a deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.

The fragile patient who had cried only moments earlier was gone. In his place remained someone quietly savoring a successful performance.

His eyes narrowed slightly. Everything had unfolded almost exactly as planned.

Nearly two hours later, after helping Adrian eat a light breakfast and ensuring the doctors had everything they needed, Vanessa finally remembered something.

"Darren..." Her smile faded. She remembered Darren had spent the entire night alone, so guilt immediately flooded her heart. She hurried out of the hospital and returned to the Aurora Palace Hotel as quickly as possible.

Using her room key, she pushed open the suite door. "...Darren?"

The room was empty. The untouched decorations remained, and the bed had barely been disturbed. But then, she noticed that Darren’s suitcase was gone.

Vanessa froze. Her guilt quickly shifted into disappointment.

"He actually left?" She frowned. "He couldn't even wait for me?" An uneasy feeling crept into her chest. For the first time, she wondered if Darren might truly have been angry.

But after another moment, irritation gradually replaced that uneasiness as she folded her arms.

"I'm the one who spent the night in the hospital because someone nearly died. Was it really necessary for him to leave like this?"

Her dissatisfaction grew. "He's making such a big issue out of something so small."

After calming herself, she believed Darren must have gone home. Without wasting more time, she hailed another taxi.

The familiar front door opened quietly. "Darren?" There was no answer, until she stepped inside and saw him. He stood before the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.

His back faced her. Vanessa smiled gently, relieved to find him home. She quietly crossed the room and, without a word, slipped her arms around his waist from behind.

Resting her cheek lightly against his back, she let out a soft laugh. "Happy marriage to us."

Her voice turned playful as she gave him a gentle squeeze. "I'm going to freshen up first. And then... Maybe we can continue what we started last night."