Chapter 4: The Truth That Broke Him
At the hospital, doctors rushed Catherine into emergency surgery.
Lily sat between Maria and June, clutching her mother's scarf with both hands.
Richard remained outside the operating room.
Alone.
For the first time in years, no one stood beside him.
Hours later, an elderly obstetrician stepped through the doors.
"Mrs. Hargrove survived."
Richard exhaled.
"But..."
The doctor removed his glasses.
"The pregnancy didn't."
The hallway fell silent.
Richard stared blankly.
"What?"
"The trauma caused irreversible complications."
"You arrived too late."
Those four words shattered the last illusion Richard still held.
He slowly looked at the dried blood still staining the tip of his polished cane.
He hadn't struck Catherine.
But he had still destroyed everything.
Inside the recovery room, Catherine quietly signed divorce papers her attorney had prepared months earlier.
Without hesitation.
May you like
Without tears.
She was simply finished.
