The Bride Widow
Chapter 131: Ch 131: A moment of resolve - Part 2

Chapter 131: Ch 131: A moment of resolve - Part 2

The stillness of the hospital room was interrupted by the sudden vibration of Anabella’s phone on the bedside table.

The sound was jarring, breaking through the soft hum of the machinery that had been her only companion for the past hour. She stared at the device, her heart sinking as she saw the name flashing on the screen—Clair.

Anabella hesitated, her hand hovering over the phone. Part of her wanted to answer, to hear Clair’s warm and reassuring voice.

But another part—the part weighed down by guilt and exhaustion—wanted to ignore it, to avoid having to explain herself or lie. She couldn’t let Clair know where she was. She didn’t want to see the worry on her friend’s face or hear the inevitable scolding for pushing herself too hard.

But the phone continued to vibrate insistently, and Anabella knew Clair wouldn’t stop until she answered. With a resigned sigh, she picked it up, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Hello?"

"Anabella," Clair’s voice came through, soft yet tinged with concern. "Where are you?"

For a brief moment, Anabella considered telling the truth. But the weight of her guilt stopped her. She couldn’t burden Clair with this. She forced a small smile, even though Clair couldn’t see her, and replied, "I’m at home. Just resting."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Anabella’s heart raced. Clair wasn’t easily fooled, and Anabella could almost feel her friend’s suspicion growing. "You don’t sound like you’re at home," Clair said finally, her tone sharper now.

Anabella swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "I’m fine, Clair. Really. I just needed some quiet time."

Another pause, longer this time. Anabella could hear Clair breathing, could almost imagine her pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. Finally, Clair said, "Alright. If you say so." But her voice lacked conviction, and Anabella knew she wasn’t convinced.

The call ended abruptly, leaving Anabella staring at her phone, her chest tight with unease. She had lied to Clair before, but never like this. The guilt gnawed at her, but she pushed it aside, convincing herself that it was better this way. Clair didn’t need to know.

Still, as the minutes passed, a nagging feeling crept over her. Clair’s voice, her tone—it didn’t sound like someone who was going to let things go.

Anabella couldn’t shake the feeling that Clair knew exactly what was going on and that it wouldn’t be long before she acted on that knowledge.

______

Anabella sat in her hospital bed, staring at the faint cracks in the ceiling tiles. Her mind was a whirlwind of guilt and self-doubt. She had lied to Clair, her friend who had always been there for her. The weight of her deception pressed heavily on her chest, suffocating her more than the sterile air of the hospital room ever could.

Why had she lied? Would it really have been so terrible to admit where she was? These questions circled endlessly in her mind, but no answer satisfied her. Deep down, she knew the truth. She hated being seen as weak or helpless, and admitting that she had collapsed, that she was in the hospital because she had pushed herself too far, felt like admitting defeat.

Meanwhile, miles away, Clair paced the length of her living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. "She’s lying," Clair said firmly, her voice filled with a mix of anger and worry. "I could hear it in her voice, Noah. Something’s wrong."

Noah leaned back against the couch, watching her with calm but determined eyes. "Then let’s find out what’s going on," he said, his tone soft but resolute.

Clair nodded, already pulling on her coat. Noah followed her, grabbing the keys from the counter. They didn’t need to discuss it further. Both of them were too protective of Anabella to let this slide.

When they arrived at the hospital, Clair marched straight to the reception desk, her heels clicking against the polished floor with an air of authority. "We’re here to see Anabella," she said, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

The receptionist, a young beta who looked slightly overwhelmed by Clair’s presence, glanced at her screen before shaking her head. "I’m sorry, but I can’t release any patient information without their consent. It’s hospital policy."

Clair’s lips tightened into a thin line. "I understand policy," she said evenly, though the edge in her voice suggested she didn’t intend to let it stop her. "But this is important. She’s our friend, and we’re concerned for her well-being."

The receptionist looked apologetic but unmoved. "I really can’t. I’m sorry."

Noah stepped forward, placing a hand on Clair’s shoulder to calm her. He leaned in slightly, his presence subtle but commanding. "We’re not asking for anything unreasonable," he said softly, his tone soothing but carrying a quiet authority that was hard to ignore. "We just want to make sure she’s okay."

Still, the receptionist didn’t budge, and Clair’s patience snapped. She stepped aside, pulling her phone from her pocket. Noah watched her with a knowing smile as she scrolled through her contacts.

"Who are you calling?" he asked, though he already had an idea.

Clair didn’t answer right away, her focus on the phone. When she found the number she was looking for, she pressed call and held the phone to her ear. After a brief conversation, she hung up and turned back to the receptionist.

"You’ll be hearing from Dr. Harris shortly," Clair said smoothly, naming a senior figure at the hospital.

The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t respond. A few minutes later, her phone rang, and she answered it with a nervous, "Yes, sir."

When she hung up, she looked back at Clair and Noah, her expression a mix of reluctance and resignation. "Room 312," she said quietly, avoiding their eyes.

Clair gave a curt nod of thanks, and she and Noah headed down the hallway without another word. Though she didn’t say it aloud, Clair’s chest tightened with both relief and trepidation. She didn’t know what state they would find Anabella in, but she was determined to get to the bottom of this and support her friend, whether Anabella liked it or not.

As they approached the room, Clair’s mind raced with possibilities, but one thought remained constant—she wouldn’t let Anabella face this alone.