as he hurried down the corridor. He was moving so fast he a

ll known here-major investors and longtime supporters of the hospital. But

om

t his ribs as he rounded the f

re i

ince Genevieve had left, the tight knot of uncertainty in his chest started to loosen. She was here. Close e

d for the

d grab it, the

t and nearly walk

men

ly worried about Alain before. He'd known the man was close to Genevieve-a trusted friend always somewhere in the background. B

brief flash of relief on Desmond's face dis

gh from too many sleepless nights a

under his eyes, stubble covering his jaw. It was obvious the man hadn't been taking

said quietly, his ton

d tried to step past hi

sing his voice or making a scene, c

ned. "What do

e relaxed but immovable. "The doctor made it clear. Genevieve ne

isitors?" He shook his head in disbelief.

Alain's face. "No," he said softly, not hiding th

a moment. Guilt wrapped tight around his heart, making it hard to breathe. But under

d of pride. "I know I hurt her. I know I don't deserve her fo

e thought about that before you stood on stage

because it was true. When he looked back at Alain, the f

d times," he said, his voice crackin

," Alain re

lowed down, picking up on the te

e's finally asleep," he said, his voice softening even as

of me.* Desmond dropped his gaze to the

up badly, but he wasn't about to let Alain stop him. "I need five mi

ut Genevieve to let you in there right n

ou care* about her?" he snapped, jealousy and anger flarin

Alain shot back, not hiding how deeply he

sn't your decision!" His voice echoed down

ly, "your wife is lying in that bed b

lway wen

he closed door, then

bbed his a

er than he meant to. "I ha

t the moment you sto

d pushed the door ope

e. Her face was pale, an IV line tucked under the blanket on her arm, and the heart monitor beeped ste

is lungs. He'd pictured this moment so many times,

m in, voice low an

enevieve stirred. Her fingers twitched against the blanket. A s

aw standing at the foot