Chapter 13
“Keep looking. I refuse to believe that she could just vanish into thin air!” Edward gritted out.
Nathan had really tried everything. He had even called Macie multiple times, but she wouldn’t answer.
Just as he was about to lose all hope, he called one last time–and this time, Macie picked up.
“Mrs. Fowler! Where are you?” Nathan asked excitedly.
“What do you need from me?” Macie returned his question with her own, her tone indifferent.
“Mr. Fowler-“Nathan blurted out but stopped himself just in time. He quickly came up with an excuse. “Mr. Fowler asked me
for a document, but I couldn’t find it, so I wanted to check with you. But you weren’t around, and we need the document
urgently…”
Macie was exasperated. Edward had lost something and couldn’t find it, yet he was now making his assistant ask her.
“Tell him to look for it himself,” Macie said coldly.
“Mrs. Fowler, Mr. Fowler has been in meetings all day long. He’s busy,” Nathan said. He was clever. He made his voice sound
urgent and flustered, as if he would burst into tears the next moment.
Even though Macie was annoyed by Edward, she knew better than to take it out on his assistant. Reluctantly, she said, “Check his
study. Look under the cabinets and on the floor in case it fell.”
“But I don’t have the guts to rummage through Mr. Fowler’s things. Why can’t you…” Nathan trailed off, voice trembling.
“I’m at the hospital. I don’t have the time. Just do it yourself,” Macie said bluntly
Nathan immediately agreed and hung up. He wasted no time in sending Edward a message. “I found her, Mr. Fowler. Mrs. Fowler
is in the hospital.”
Over in the meeting room, Edward had his hand resting on top of his phone. As soon as his phone vibrated, he glanced at the
screen and froze immediately.
He abruptly got to his feet. Grabbing his phone, he strode out, saying, “Keep going. I need to take care of something ”
Nathan was still looking up which hospital Macie was in when the door to his office was slammed open with such force that it
nearly came off its hinges.
“Where is she? Which hospital?” Edward stormed over to Nathan’s desk, anger almost palpable as he made his demands.
How could he have forgotten? Macie was hurt. She was in the hospital. She hadn’t run away from home.
Inexplicably, his anger subsided.
1/3
“M–Mr. Fowler, I’m still looking it up,” Nathan stammered.
+15 BONUS
Edward calmed down slightly and regained some rationality. Then, he thought of something and said, “Start with the hospitals in Oroville. That’s near my home.”
Nathan nodded hastily. However, Edward couldn’t wait any longer. He grabbed Nathan and dragged him along while he searched.
“I found her, Mr. Fowler! As you guessed, Mrs. Fowler is at the hospital nearest to your home. She’s in Room 316,” Nathan finally
announced.
“Please drive faster,” Edward told his driver. His expression was cold, his lips pressed into a hard line.
Now that Macie was found, he had time for other questions. “How did you know that she was at the hospital?”
“Mrs. Fowler finally answered the phone. She told me-” Before Nathan could finish, a loud bang came from the back seat. Edward had punched the seat in rage.
His expression was as dark as thunder. Rage overwhelmed him once again. He wanted nothing more than to interrogate Macie
right that second.
At the hospital, Macie’s tailbone was still hurting, so she lay on her stomach and chatted with the other patients in the ward,
trying to take her attention off the pain.
Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a crash. The entire room was startled, including Macie. She instinctively looked over at
the door.
The faint smile on her face disappeared when she saw who it was, replaced by cold indifference. Her hands clenched into fists.
Seeing this, Edward became more angry. Just moments ago, she had been talking and laughing with other people. Was she targeting her cold attitude only to him?
“You’re trying to make me angry on purpose, aren’t you, Macie? I thought you said that your phone was broken. How did you
answer Nathan’s call in that case?” he roared.
The fact that one of Nathan’s calls was deemed more important than the hundreds of missed calls he had made that morning
made him apoplectic.
“Have y
you lost your mind, Edward Fowler? This is a hospital. Don’t throw your tantrums here,” Macie said coldly, glaring at him.
“A hospital?” Edward sneered. “So you know this is a hospital. Did you act like you would be on the verge of death just to get a place here?”
Macie clenched her fists tighter. She wanted to prop herself up, but the pain in her back made her frown.
“Go on! Keep pretending! Make it look more real!” Edward snarled. He strode forward, grabbed her by the collar, and yanked her upright. “It’s just a burn on your foot! Did you really need to be hospitalized? Who are you putting on a show for?”
2/3
+15 BONUS
Macie couldn’t take it any longer. She raised her hand and slapped him.
The crisp sound echoed through the room. Edward froze for a moment, then flew into a rage. He shoved her hard.
Macie’s back hit the edge of the bed. She curled up, her back feeling like it had shattered completely. She could no longer hold back her tears.
“You’ve gotten too bold for your own good! How dare you hit me!” Edward said through gritted teeth. He was about to step forward again, but the other patients stopped him.
“Stop that! What are you trying to do to the patients?” A nurse rushed in just in time, drawn by the commotion, and immediately. intervened.
“Get out of my way! I’m her husband! She’s not hurt at all! She’s just pretending! I’m here to take her home!” Edward yelled.
“Husband? What kind of husband are you? She has a bone fracture! Did you not know that?” the nurse roared back. “How is she supposed to recover without staying in the hospital?”
Edward’s fiery rage was suddenly extinguished. He stood frozen, staring at Macie, who was curled up on the bed.
