Too Late For Regret: The Surgeon Heiress

Areli sat perfectly still on the center cushion of the dark green velvet sofa. Her spine was straight, her shoulders pulled back. She kept her eyes locked on the antique wooden grandfather clock standing against the far wall of the penthouse. The heavy brass pendulum swung back and forth behind the glass case. Tick. Tock. Each mechanical sound echoed loudly in the massive, empty living room. It was their third wedding anniversary. The hands on the clock showed it was exactly twenty minutes past midnight. She reached out and lifted the crystal wine glass from the polished glass coffee table. The red wine inside had been poured three hours ago. It was completely cold now. She brought the thin rim of the glass to her lips and took a small, slow sip. The liquid tasted bitter and flat on her tongue. She swallowed, feeling a cold trail slide down her throat and settle heavily in her stomach. Then, a soft chime broke the silence. The private elevator at the end of the hallway had arrived. Areli set the crystal glass back down on the table. She pulled her hand away immediately. She stood up from the sofa. Her bare feet moved across the cold hardwood floor as she walked straight toward the grand entryway. Her heart picked up its pace, thumping a steady rhythm against her ribs. The heavy steel doors of the private elevator slid open with a smooth mechanical hum. Courtland Roman stepped out of the elevator car first. He was already reaching up, pulling at the knot of his dark silk tie, loosening it around his neck with a tired, aggressive pull. A second later, Holli Delgado stepped out from the elevator, following right behind him. Areli stopped walking. Her feet froze to the floorboards. Her eyes immediately dropped to Holli. Holli was wearing Courtland's oversized black suit jacket. The broad shoulders of the jacket swallowed Holli's small frame. The sleeves hung down past her fingertips. The polite, welcoming smile that Areli had prepared vanished from her face. The muscles in her cheeks went completely slack. Courtland walked past the entryway table. He tossed his heavy metal car keys onto the solid marble surface. The keys hit the stone with a sharp, loud clatter that made Areli flinch. "Why did you bring an outsider here on our anniversary?" Areli asked. Her voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. Courtland stopped pulling his tie. He frowned, his dark eyebrows pulling together. He stared at Areli, clearly annoyed by her tone. "Holli's apartment door lock is broken," Courtland said. His voice was cold and dismissive. "She needs to stay here for the night." Holli took a small step forward, then quickly shrank back, hiding her body slightly behind Courtland's broad shoulder. "I am so sorry, Areli," Holli said. Her voice shook, thick with fake tears. "I really didn't mean to intrude on your special night." Areli stared at the younger woman. "The building you live in has twenty-four-hour armed security in the lobby," Areli said, her words sharp and precise. "You are in absolutely no danger." Holli gasped loudly. She suddenly brought her hand up, clutching the fabric of the jacket tight against her chest. She sucked in a harsh, ragged breath. Holli's knees buckled. She collapsed straight down onto the hardwood floor, her legs folding under her. Courtland's face went pale. He immediately dropped to his knees, squatting down beside Holli to check her breathing. Areli's body reacted before her mind did. Years of intense surgical training kicked in. She took a quick step forward, reaching out to check Holli's pupil dilation to confirm if the panic attack was real. Holli saw the hand approaching. Her eyes widened in exaggerated terror, and she let out a piercing, hysterical scream. "Don't touch me! Please, keep her away!" The panicked shriek echoed off the high ceilings, instantly igniting Courtland's protective instincts. Hearing her cry out in fear, Courtland's mind bypassed all logic. He completely misunderstood Areli's clinical movement as a physical attack. He threw his arm out, his muscles bunching under his suit jacket. He shoved Areli's shoulder with all his body weight, driven entirely by a blind urge to protect the crying woman. The massive force caught Areli completely off guard. She stumbled backward, her feet slipping on the smooth floor. Her lower back crashed hard into the sharp edge of the kitchen's solid marble island. A blinding, white-hot pain exploded at the base of her spine. The impact knocked the breath completely out of her lungs. She gasped, her mouth opening, but no air came in. The pain shot down her legs, making her fingers go numb. Courtland stood up. He glared down at Areli. "You are vicious," he yelled, his voice echoing in the kitchen. "You have absolutely zero sympathy for anyone but yourself!" Areli pressed her hands flat against the cold marble behind her to keep from falling. She looked up, fighting through the physical agony in her back, and met Courtland's furious, cold eyes. Then, her gaze shifted slightly. Behind Courtland's back, Holli was looking right at her. Holli's lips curled up into a slow, hidden smirk. Areli saw the smile. The sharp pain in her back suddenly faded into a freezing, absolute numbness. She saw the entire three years of her marriage for what it truly was. A ridiculous, pathetic joke. Areli pushed herself up. She straightened her spine, ignoring the throbbing ache. Her eyes turned completely cold. She made the final decision to end this right now.