The room felt heavy with sorrow, its sterile white walls unable to contain the storm raging inside Harley’s heart. Her body was weak, tethered to machines that beeped in a steady rhythm, a cruel reminder of the fight she was waging for her health. The door creaked open, and a wave of warmth swept in — a stark contrast to the icy void Mark had left behind just hours earlier.
It was Ethan, Harley’s younger brother, who had been her unwavering source of strength through countless battles. His concerned gaze locked onto her tear-streaked face, reading the pain etched deep into her features.
“Ethan,” Harley croaked, her voice a fragile whisper, hoarse from exhaustion. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”
“I couldn’t wait,” he replied, rushing to her bedside. Taking her trembling hand in his, he added, “I knew you’d need someone here.” His touch was steady, grounding her in a moment where everything else felt like it was falling apart.
As Ethan sat, his eyes fell on the crisp, freshly signed divorce papers lying on the tray table. His brows furrowed, confusion quickly turning to anger as he pieced the puzzle together.
“Did he just…?” Ethan’s voice caught in his throat, unable to finish the unthinkable sentence.
Harley’s throat tightened. She swallowed hard before answering, “He did. Mark asked for a divorce while I was barely awake.”
A flash of pure fury crossed Ethan’s face. “That coward,” he spat, his voice trembling. “To do this now, when you’re fighting for your life… it’s unforgivable.”
Harley closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Maybe it’s better this way,” she whispered. “At least now I know where I stand.”
Ethan gripped her hand tighter, refusing to let go. “No, Harley. You deserve someone who sees your strength, who stays when things get hard. Someone who chooses you every single day.”
She forced a weak smile. “I just… I didn’t see it coming. Not like this.”
“You’re stronger than you think,” Ethan said firmly. “You’ve faced worse and come out fighting. This—” he gestured toward the papers, his voice breaking “—won’t be the thing that breaks you.”
The two sat in silence, the rhythmic beeping of the machines filling the void. But as Harley drifted into an uneasy sleep, Ethan’s resolve hardened. Mark might have walked away, but Harley would never face this alone.
What neither of them knew was that Mark’s betrayal would set off a chain of events that would change all their lives forever…
To be continued.
