Chapter 3
During my three-day stay in the hospital, Jimena Foster visited me every day after work. On the surface, everything seemed normal. But I knew that every night, she was meeting with Francisco Gilbert.
From his frequent social media updates, I saw they went stargazing at the beach and traveled across the city for barbecue. Even tonight, when Jimena claimed she had an overnight shift, she was actually at a hotel with him. In a video Francisco posted, he asked her repeatedly if he had a place in her heart. Just when I thought she wouldn't answer, she softly confirmed it. At that moment, my heart shattered completely.
The next morning, Jimena arrived unusually early, carrying breakfast as she entered my hospital room. I noticed the name on the breakfast packaging—it was from a place more than six miles away, close to the hotel she visited with Francisco.
"Why'd you go so far to get breakfast?" I asked.
Jimena paused for a moment as she unpacked the meal. "I had nothing better to do this morning, so I drove there. You like this place, right?"
"You go ahead and eat; I have a meeting in the department," she said before leaving.
No sooner had Jimena left than the door swung open again. To my surprise, I was calmer than I had anticipated when I saw Francisco standing there. Before he could say anything, I told him Jimena wasn't around.
Francisco looked momentarily caught off guard, then smirked slightly. "I know she's not here. I'm just dropping off her coat."
Returning a coat? I chuckled dryly. If he really intended to return it, why bring it to me? I glanced at the coat in his hand, took it, and tossed it aside. "Thanks," I replied coolly.
Clearly irked, Francisco asked why I wasn't curious about why he had her coat. I continued eating my breakfast indifferently.
"What does one coat prove? For all I know, she could have just handed it to you casually," I replied.
Francisco glared at me, frustrated. "Yesterday, she..."
Before he could finish, Jimena suddenly burst in. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her expression hardening when she saw Francisco.
"Just returning your coat," Francisco replied, still smarting from her previous coldness.
"Thank you for yesterday," Jimena said dismissively, clearly eager for him to leave.
Hurt, Francisco gave her a wounded look before turning and exiting the room. As soon as the door closed, Jimena hurried to explain, "Kayden, don't listen to his nonsense. There's nothing between us. He didn't have any clothes when he left the hospital yesterday, so I lent him my coat. I didn't expect him to bring it here and make a scene."
I finished my last spoonful of cereal and slowly responded, "He didn't say much, only that he was returning your coat."
A flash of regret crossed Jimena's eyes—probably for saying too much. She stood there awkwardly and muttered, "Alright then."
Just then, her phone rang. I saw the name "Francisco" flashing on the screen. Jimena glanced at her phone and quickly said there was an emergency in her department and left.
Watching her lie more smoothly with each passing day, I chuckled bitterly and began drafting a divorce agreement for myself. When Jimena returned, her lips were slightly flushed. I glanced at her, then averted my gaze, while she instinctively touched her lips.
Seeing the divorce papers open on my screen, Jimena looked panicked for a moment. "Kayden, you're a corporate lawyer, right? Why are you looking at divorce documents?"
I replied nonchalantly, "Just preparing something for a friend."
Jimena seemed to want to ask more, but her phone rang with a distinctive ringtone from her department. "There's a patient that needs immediate attention; I have to go," she said, rushing out.
Watching her hurried departure, I buried my head back in the divorce papers, determined to focus on my future without her.
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