Chapter 4

Broderick pushed Catalina back into her hospital room. He locked the wheels of his chair and began to pace back and forth by rolling his chair in tight, agitated circles.

Catalina leaned back against her pillows. She watched him sweat. She did not say a word.

Broderick grabbed a plastic cup, filled it with water from the pitcher, and shoved it toward her. He was trying to play the attentive husband again.

Catalina looked at the water. "I am not thirsty."

Broderick slammed the cup down on the tray table. Water splashed over the rim. He rested his elbows on his armrests and rubbed his face.

"Listen," Broderick started, his tone shifting into something falsely casual. "I have a friend who just got admitted. She is very sick."

Catalina kept her face perfectly blank. "Which friend?"

Broderick waved his hand dismissively. "The daughter of a business partner. It does not matter. The point is, the hospital is out of VIP suites." He looked around Catalina's spacious, sunlit room. "I need you to give up this room for her."

Catalina felt the blood rushing in her ears. "You want me to move?"

Before Broderick could answer, the door swung open. Jami walked in. She was wearing a designer tracksuit and holding a hand to her forehead, looking perfectly healthy.

Jami stopped and gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh, my god. I am so sorry. I did not know Catalina was awake."

She walked over and stood right next to Broderick's wheelchair. She looked down at Catalina with pity. "Broderick, I can just take a standard room downstairs. I do not want to force your wife out. My migraines are bad, but I will survive."

The sheer audacity of the lie made Catalina's stomach muscles clench.

Broderick reached up and grabbed Jami's wrist. "No. Your migraines require absolute silence and the best care."

He turned his gaze back to Catalina. The fake warmth was gone. His eyes were hard and demanding. "You are moving to the standard ward downstairs. Your ribs are stable. You do not need this much space."

Catalina stared at the two of them. The rage inside her boiled over, burning away the last shreds of her patience.

She sat up straight, ignoring the sharp stab of pain in her chest. She locked eyes with Broderick.

"No."

The word dropped into the room like a stone.

Broderick blinked. He stared at her as if she had just spoken a foreign language. In two years of marriage, she had never denied him anything.

Jami immediately let out a dramatic sniffle. Her eyes filled with fake tears. "Broderick, please. I will just leave."

Broderick's face flushed dark red. He slammed his fist down on the armrest. "You are being incredibly selfish, Catalina! Have you no compassion?"

Catalina let out a harsh, barking laugh. She pointed at the thick plaster cast on her leg and the heavy bandages wrapped tightly around her torso.

"Compassion?" Catalina yelled, her voice echoing off the walls. "I have three broken ribs! And you want me to give up my bed for your mistress and her fake headache?"

Broderick flinched as if she had slapped him. The word 'mistress' hit him right in his ego.

"This is my room!" Broderick roared. His voice was deafening. "I pay the bills! I decide who stays in this suite!"

Catalina grabbed the nurse call button attached to her bed rail. "If you do not get her out of my room right now, I am calling hospital security."

"You would not dare!" Broderick screamed, rolling his chair closer to the bed, his face twisted in pure rage.

The shouting was so loud it rattled the glass of the door. Footsteps hurried down the hallway outside.