The Cherished Wife



"You're questioning my manhood?" Jordan scoffed. "You said I should come to visit Mom and Dad, and here I am. Don't push your luck, Layla."

Jordan had enough of Layla's drama and turned to head into the hospital. Layla stood there, fuming, and yelled after him, "Don't play dumb, Jordan. You're still hung up on Tania, that little tramp, aren't you? Well, get over it. She's never going to fall for you!"

"Layla, just stop, will you?" Jordan said through clenched teeth. "Look at yourself. Do you even remotely act like the refined lady you're supposed to be?" He would not have ended up with her if she had not tricked him in the first place.

Layla's face contorted with fury, her hands balled into fists. "I never was that perfect lady, and you know it. So what if Tania is? She still spent over twenty years being treated like an orphan."

"Despicable!"

Jordan threw his hands up in frustration, too tired to keep up with Layla's nonsense. He did not want to make a scene anymore.

Upstairs, Henry had been vigilantly by Nancy's side ever since Peter left. Sean had managed to get a doctor to check on Nancy, and only when they were sure she was stable did Henry allow himself a moment of relief.

"Don't worry. Charles and Peter are on it. Anna will be back before you know it," Sean comforted him.

"I sure hope so." Henry let out a weary sigh. Those days, he was plagued by sleepless nights, his dreams a jumble of his youngernoveldrama

days and the precious moment

with Nancy. Then, the dreams would twistinto nightmares about their child being snatched away, lost to the world for over two decades,

waking Henry in a cold sweat.

A knock and muffled arguing came from outside. Henry's brow creased with concern, and Sean straightened up, glancing toward the door. When Layla appeared, a fierce glint sparked in his eyes.

As Layla was about to step into the hospital room, Henry intercepted her. "What are you here for?"

"Dad, I heard Mom was sick and in the hospital, so Jordan and I thought we'd drop by to check on her!"

"But Dad..." Layla could not stand the thought. Why should she, the darling of the Hoffman family for over two decades, step aside for Tania, a nobody? Tania was just a lowlife, not even in the same league as her.