Stuck in The Marriage Pact
Chapter 72: things are getting worse

Chapter 72: things are getting worse

Joe paced back and forth in front of the operating room while Hunter sat in the waiting chair with Collin. Occasionally, Joe glanced at them anxiously, as if deeply displeased by their presence.

"I can’t stay idle; I can’t let Isabella keep meeting him and believing he’s her former husband. He must leave this hospital immediately!" he thought anxiously before approaching them.

"I don’t want to talk to you," Hunter said, turning his face away immediately.

Joe gave a faint smile. "I don’t want to talk to you either. That’s why I want you to leave now!" he said firmly.

Hunter remained silent, his jaw clenched.

"I’m her husband," Joe said again.

"I’m her husband. Your marriage isn’t valid because I’m still legally her husband!" Hunter asserted, rising with the help of his cane. "You’re in the wrong here. You must have forged her identity or deceived the government department into believing she was single, allowing you to marry her!"

"Oh my God..." Joe laughed and put his hands on his hips.

Hunter frowned.

"Why are you always so foolish? You never solve the problems in your life, even though you know where they stem from!" Joe taunted while Hunter froze, frowning deeply. "Ask your mother how much money she gave me to buy a new house for Isabella, for all our needs... She even funded our wedding!" he added, raising an eyebrow with a sly smile.

Hunter exhaled sharply, clenching his fists while glaring at Joe.

"You shouldn’t be angry with me; be angry with your mother!" Joe jabbed Hunter’s chest with his finger before laughing and walking away.

"You son of a bitch!" Hunter muttered, his jaw tightening.

"Boss..." Collin stood up and placed a hand on Hunter’s shoulder.

Hunter looked at Collin.

"Return to New York. Go to the marriage department and investigate my status with Isabella," he whispered cautiously. "I’m sure my mother forged a divorce certificate and gave it to Joe so he could marry Isabella," he continued.

Collin nodded.

"Do it quickly. I don’t want him using his status as Isabella’s new husband to keep me from protecting her here," Hunter said softly.

"Okay, Boss... I’ll do it!" Collin replied firmly, glancing briefly at Joe, who also glanced back. "But you should be careful. Don’t let him exploit your weak condition... or conspire with your mother again to prevent you from staying here," he added.

"Don’t worry..." Hunter sat back down.

Collin left immediately.

Joe frowned, watching Collin leave without taking Hunter along. He quickly approached Hunter.

"What kind of man are you? Why didn’t you leave with your stupid assistant?" he asked loudly.

Hunter remained silent, unwilling to look at Joe.

"Why don’t you understand?" Joe asked, standing with his hands on his hips. "You are the reason for Isabella’s suffering. You can’t handle the people who want to harm her, especially your mother and the person responsible for your accident. You couldn’t solve those problems. How can you expect her to come back to you?"

"She’s my wife..." Hunter whispered.

"No more. She’s my wife, and I deserve to be with her!" Joe declared before grabbing Hunter’s cane and tossing it aside. "You can’t protect her from the villains around you. Even your mother is her enemy. But if she stays with me, she won’t have enemies because I don’t have enemies. No one will oppose our togetherness—not even your mother!"

"But the truth is, she’s in this condition because of you!" Hunter shot back, glaring up at Joe. "You failed to protect her, and now she’s suffering. I won’t let her keep going through this, and I don’t want my child to have a father like you!"

Joe laughed.

"Well, well, well... Say what you want!" He waved his hands dismissively. "It won’t change anything. I’ll call the police to get rid of you. I won’t let you keep claiming her as your wife. She’s mine... she’s mine!" he declared, leaning close to Hunter’s ear.

Hunter suddenly shoved Joe. "Fuck you!" he shouted.

Joe almost stumbled but, instead of getting angry, laughed at Hunter’s frustration.

"You can only get mad, but you can’t change anything. You’re just a loser!" he sneered until his attention shifted to the door opening nearby.

He quickly approached the doctor stepping out.

"Doctor... Is everything okay?" he asked.

The male doctor, dressed in blue scrubs with a head cover and mask, nodded before briefly glancing at Hunter and then back at Joe.

"I managed to clean the blood clots causing her condition to worsen. But..." he hesitated.

Joe frowned. "But what?"

"She suddenly started bleeding... and now she’s in a coma," the doctor explained, occasionally glancing at Hunter, who tried to stand but couldn’t.

"Oh my God..." Joe felt weak, slowly retreating and leaning against the wall.

"Sorry..." The doctor picked up the cane lying on the floor and handed it to Hunter.

"Is there still hope for her recovery?" Hunter asked, his eyes glistening with tears.

The doctor nodded. "Just pray and keep fighting," he replied.

Hunter sighed, staring blankly, his mind filled with thoughts of Isabella—her beauty, her sweet demeanor, and, of course, her pregnancy.

"Doctor..." he looked at the doctor again. "What about our baby? Can the baby survive under these conditions?" he asked sorrowfully.

"We’ll do our best to maintain her pregnancy and ensure the baby continues to develop well," the doctor replied, placing a hand on Hunter’s shoulder. "You must stay strong and believe," he added.

Hunter nodded.

The doctor glanced at Joe before looking back at Hunter.

"I don’t understand... Who is Isabella’s real husband? You or him?" he asked.

Hunter sighed. "It’s a long story, but she’s my wife, and that baby is mine," he said firmly.

"Okay..." The doctor nodded. "I’ll prepare the room for her."

"Give her the best care, and I want a nurse to watch over her constantly," Hunter requested. "No matter the cost, I’ll pay for it!"

The doctor nodded and returned to the operating room while Hunter sat quietly, his head bowed in sorrow.

Joe approached him. "You don’t need to cover the hospital costs. It’s my duty because she’s—"

"Stop!" Hunter cut him off, exhaling deeply before looking up at Joe weakly. "This isn’t the time to compete or argue about who deserves to be with her. No, not now. If you care about her, then let her get the best treatment, even if I’m the one paying for it," he said.

Joe said nothing.

"I don’t want to argue. I just want to focus on her recovery now. When she wakes up, she can decide who will truly be her husband," Hunter stated.

"Alright... We’ll see!" Joe nodded before walking away.

Hunter exhaled, gazing toward the operating room as he imagined Isabella. "My love... you have to stay strong. I promise, when you wake up, I’ll free you from all your burdens, including Joe. I’ll make sure he can’t claim you as his wife anymore. I promise!"