Important financial records were copied and preserved.
Everything was handled properly and documented.
Meanwhile, Jason never visited me.
Not once.
The following morning, Linda finally decided they should come to the hospital.
From what I later learned, it was not because she suddenly felt remorse.
She wanted me to tell everyone that what happened the previous evening had simply been an accident.
Jason came with her.
They entered my hospital room expecting to find me waiting.
Instead, they stopped in the doorway.
The bed was empty.
My belongings were gone.
A nurse approached Jason holding an envelope.
Inside was one sentence.
“You should hurry home.”
Jason stared at the note.
Then his phone rang.
It was the building manager.
His voice was unusually serious.
“Mr. Carter… you need to come back immediately.”
Jason’s expression changed.
Linda demanded to know what was happening.
But the manager refused to explain over the phone.
He only repeated that they needed to return.
Immediately.
And for the first time since Sunday night, Jason seemed to understand that while he had been ignoring me, I had been making decisions of my own.
He and Linda rushed out of the hospital.
What they did not know was that the empty hospital bed was only the first surprise waiting for them.
Part 2
“What happened?” Jason demanded over the phone.
“You’ll understand when you get here,” the building manager replied before ending the call.
Linda insisted they drive as quickly as possible, convinced someone had broken into the apartment.
When they arrived, two police officers were already waiting in the lobby with the building manager.
Jason pushed forward.
“What is going on? This is my apartment!”
The manager calmly corrected him.
“It’s jointly owned, sir.”
One officer handed Jason copies of the emergency protective order.
“You are prohibited from contacting your wife directly until the court hearing.”
Linda exploded.
“This is ridiculous! She’s lying!”
The officer looked at her without emotion.
“The hospital photographs, witness statements from neighbors, and surveillance footage suggest otherwise.”
For the first time, Linda went silent.
The elevator doors opened.
Jason rushed toward the apartment.
His key card no longer worked.
Neither did his fingerprint.
A locksmith opened the door for the officers.
Jason froze.
The apartment was nearly empty.
