Chapter 86

Angela POV

I tried to shift in Sean's arms as we exited the hospital's VIP wing, suddenly too aware of how intimately I was pressed against his chest.

I attempted to loosen my grip around his neck, but his response was immediate and commanding.

"Don't."

To emphasize his point, he deliberately loosened his own grip, making me instinctively tighten my hold.

"Sean!" I couldn't keep the fear from my voice as I clutched at his shoulders, my heart racing at the thought of falling.

I caught the ghost of a smile playing at his lips as he adjusted his grip, once again holding me securely. The winter air bit sharply as we emerged into the night.

Sean's Bentley idled at the curb, its dark exterior gleaming under the hospital's lights. Peter hurried forward to open the rear door, and Sean lowered me onto the leather seat with surprising gentleness.

"Take the rest of the night off, Peter," Sean instructed as he rounded the car. "I'll drive Mrs. Shaw home myself."

I watched Sean's reflection in the glass, noting how his knuckles were white against the steering wheel, tension radiating from his rigid posture.

"Christopher seemed very... attentive," he finally said, his voice carefully controlled. "You two appear quite close these days."

I continued staring out the window, watching raindrops chase each other across the glass. "He's an old friend who helped me when I needed it. Nothing more."

"Nothing more?" Sean's laugh held no humor. "The nurses seemed to think differently. They were quite impressed by his dedication to his girlfriend."

"Don't be ridiculous." I felt my voice sharpen involuntarily. "Well, it won't matter soon anyway. Elizabeth's surgery was successful, we can start the divorce proceedings as planned."

"Elizabeth needs time to recover properly. This isn't the right moment to-"

"There will never be a 'right moment,'" I cut in.

Sean opened his mouth to respond but suddenly grimaced, one hand flying to his chest. His face contorted with pain as he guided the car to the shoulder of the road.

"Sean?" I felt my anger evaporate instantly, replaced by genuine concern. "What's wrong? "

"I'm fine." he managed through gritted teeth. He caught my hand, pressing it against his chest where I could feel his heart racing erratically. "Just... stay like this for a moment."

I felt the frantic beating beneath my palm slowly steady. I tried to withdraw my hand, but Sean's grip tightened.

"Not yet," he murmured, his eyes still closed. The vulnerability in his expression made my throat tight with emotion.

Later that night, in my suite at the Park Avenue apartment, Sean lingered in the doorway. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have..."

"It's fine." I busied myself arranging pillows, avoiding his gaze. "We both know this marriage was just a business arrangement. There's no need to apologize for anything."

His expression darkened at my words, but he simply nodded. "I'll have additional security assigned to you. No one will hurt you again."

"Thank you." I kept my voice perfectly composed, giving nothing away. "Goodnight, Sean."

Forty-eight hours later, in the private parking garage beneath Shaw Tower, I finally broached the subject again.

Elizabeth had been moved to a private recovery suite, her condition stable and improving.

"We should tell Victoria and Alexander first," I said, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "I can take responsibility for the separation if you think that would be easier. Say that I've fallen for someone else, or-"

The screech of tires cut me off as Sean suddenly swerved into a corner of the garage, throwing the car into park with more force than necessary.

"Is that what you want?" His voice was dangerously quiet. "To tell everyone you've fallen for Christopher Blake?"

"That's not what I meant." I fought to maintain my composure. "I'm trying to make this easier for everyone. "

Sean's hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles went white.

"And you think that's what's best? "

"Isn't that what we agreed to?" The exhaustion of the past few days suddenly caught up with me, making my voice softer than intended. "You'll be free to be with Christina openly. Isn't that what you've wanted all along?"

"What I want," I heard him whisper, "is something I'm only now beginning to understand."