<b>Chapter</b><b>309</b>
<b>*</b>Jane,Allenjustreceivedthedivorcepaperswefiled<b>,</b><b>”</b>Thomassaid,unabletoholdbackawarning.“ButIranintohimwhen<b>leaving</b><b>the</b>hospital.Helookedprettyroughandmightcausetroubleforyouraunt.”
“I see,thanks.I’llheadoverrightawaytocheckonthings.”
Cherylwasinthecriticalphaseofhertreatment,andconsideringhowstresscouldaffectthestomach,thstthingshe<b>needed</b>wasafamilyfeud.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
Iendedthecandreturnedtotheprivateroom,whisperingtoChristine,“Chris,canyoutakeoverhere?Something’seup<b>with</b>AuntCheryl.Ineed tocheckonher.”
Herexpressionshiftedtoconcern.“Whathappened?I’llgowithyou.”
<b>“</b>It’sprobablynobigdeal,”I reassuredherwithapatontheshoulder,“Justkeepeveryoneentertainedhere,okay?Noneed<b>to</b>spoil<b>the</b>mood.”
Aftersayingthat,I grabbedmybag,saidmygoodbyes,andheaded<b>out</b>.
Markquicklygotup.“You’vebeendrinking.Let medrive<b>you</b><b>.”</b>
“Sure.”Iknewhewasthereforthedinnerbecauseofme,soitmadesensehe’d leaveifIdid.
Whilewalkingtothecar,Iasked,“Are yousureyoucandrive?<b>”</b>
“Haven’tevenhadachancetostartmydrink,”hesaidwithalighugh.
Reassured,Iclimbedinto his<b>car</b>.Whenwearrivedatthehospital,theground–levelparkingwaspacked<b>,</b>soMarkhadtosearchforaspotintheundergroundlot.
Worried aboutCheryl,Ihurriedahead.“I’llgoupfirst.”
Marknodded.“I’llberightthereafter<b>I</b>park.”
Exitingtheelevator,Iimmediatelyheardshouting.
Allenwasatthehospitalroomdoor,ranting,“Cheryl,ifyou havethenerves,openthisdoorandfaceme!Doyouthinkyoucanfilefordivorce?Andusingthattwo–biwyeryourniecefoundtoscareme…”
The doorswungopen.
Ihurriedover,findingCheryllookingbetter,“AuntCheryl…”
Whenshesawme,hertensefacerxedslightly<b>,</b>“Jane,what bringsyou here?”
“I…Icametocheckonyou,”Isaid.
AllenwasfumingwhenIshowedupandstartedblustering,Jane,don’tyouknowit’sasintodestroy<b>one</b>marriage?Afterdecadeswith<b>your</b><b>aunt</b><b>,</b>youwanttopushhertodivorceme,huh?”
Cherylimmediatelymadeitclearthatithad nothingtodowithme.“Jane’snotinvolved.Iwant thedivorcemyself<b>!</b><b>”</b>
“Andwhofoundyouthawyer?Who’s<b>paying</b>foryourtreatmentnow<b>,</b>ifnother?I’llrepeatit.Ifyou want<b>a</b>divorce<b>,</b>fine,butremember,I’mentitledtohalf ofeverything!”Allenshamelessly dered.
Ilookedathimwithdisgust.“Wehaven’tsettlesttime’sscoreyet<b>.</b><b>”</b>
HewasinvolvedwithMargaretindruggingme,whichwas utterlydespicable.
“Whatareyoutalkingabout<b>?</b><b>”</b>Heshiftedufortably,“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.Lasttime,youcameto me.That was onyou.”
‘Fine,thenletmemakemyselfclear.Myfinancesarenoneofyourbusiness,”<b>I</b>said<b>,</b>visiblyfrustrated.“<b>And</b>stop botheringAuntCheryl.Letherrecoverin<b>peace</b><b>!</b><b>”</b>
“Huh,<b>I’d</b>liketoseehowyouwillmakemeleave.I’mnotgoinganywhere today,”Allenpostured,yingtheperfectscoundrel.
“Thenenjoy<b>your</b>vigil,”Isaid,attemptingtobypasshisgoonsto<b>enter</b><b>the</b>room.Suddenly,heblurted outindesperation,“<b>Didn’t</b>youwanttoaskmeifit’struethatyou’re<b>not</b><b>a</b>Webster<b>?</b><b>”</b>