Web Fic
Chapter 277
Chapter 277
It was one of those late-night work sessions for Roxanne.
Fiona had called her in a panic, saying that Angela, who was just a little over two months old, had
spiked a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. She rushed her to the hospital immediately.
Roxanne parked her car and sprinted to the infusion room, her breaths growing heavy with each step.
The sight of Angela, cradled carefully by Dominic, an IV drip in her tiny hand, broke Roxanne's heart.
The needle, she knew, must have hurt.
As she approached, she noticed Angela's eyelashes, wet from crying.
She knelt in front of the little one, Dominic motioning her to keep quiet, "She just fell asleep, whisper."
"Let me hold her," Roxanne said softly.
Dominic shook his head, "She's not settled yet. If we move her now, she'll wake up."
Roxanne was grateful for Dominic's presence. Fiona would've been overwhelmed alone.
Dominic was a natural, his arms encircling Angela like a protective cocoon.
Just then, Fiona came over with a small hot water bottle, which Dominic placed under Angela's hand,
"The IV fluid is cold. This will keep her warm."
"Thank you, Dominic," Roxanne said, her heart swelling with gratitude.
"We're family, Roxanne. No need for thank you's," Dominic replied. Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
Roxanne asked about Angela's condition, to which Dominic frowned and said, "I didn't want her on an
IV, knowing full well it's full of antibiotics. But her fever was too high. I was worried about pneumonia or
brain damage, so I let the doctors do their job."
Assured by Dominic's words, Roxanne asked if Harrison, Angela's father, had been informed.
Dominic nodded, "He's on his way."
Roxanne felt an unease creeping in, but she hid it well.
Dominic, however, noticed. But he didn't press her. He had always been patient with her, knowing shet
wasn't ready yet.
As the night wore on, Harrison was delayed due to a minor car accident caused by a drunk driver.
Fiona, needing rest to care for Angela the next day, was sent home, leaving Roxanne and Dominic in
the hospital.
Roxanne soon found herself dozing off, her head resting naturally against Dominic's shoulder.
Dominic, careful not to disturb Angela, gently steadied Roxanne's head with his free hand.
Then, from the corner of his eyes, he studied her. The youthful girl he once knew was now a woman,
her face marked by life's trials.
Dominic cherished this moment, holding the sleeping baby and the woman he cared for.
But the moment was interrupted by the arrival of Harrison, his eyes full of hurt and disappointment.
"Shh," Dominic hushed him, "They're both asleep."
Harrison, though bitter at the sight of his ex-wife and daughter in Dominic's care, kept his voice low and
inquired about Angela's condition.
Dominic explained, and Harrison, relieved that Angela was fine, couldn't help but feel a twinge of
jealousy seeing Roxanne leaning against Dominic.
"Oh," Harrison realized, "She's not my wife anymore."
Still, he felt a surge of resentment. He asked Dominic, "Are you and Roxanne together?"
Dominic countered, "Have you asked Roxanne? What did she say?"
Harrison fell silent. The conversation ended there.
Roxanne, however, had been awake. She heard Harrison's voice but pretended to be asleep, her heart
heavy.
A child was getting an IV in the room next door, crying his little heart out.
She took the opportunity to open her eyes.
"What time is it, when did you get here?" She looked towards Harrison.
His woman and his daughter were being taken care of by Dominic, making Harrison feel like an
outsider.
When he spoke, it was with a certain formality, "It's past two in the morning. I'll take you home once
Angela is done with her drip."
Roxanne replied, distant, "No need, Dominic is staying in my building, I can go back with him."
In her words, she kept her distance from Harrison.
That distance was like a sharp knife, stabbing straight into Harrison's heart.
Dominic was a pretty tactful guy.
At this moment, being stuck between them wasn't ideal.
He carefully handed Angela back to Roxanne, "She's almost done. I'll go get the nurse."
He rose and left.
Leaving the two alone.
Harrison stared at her, insisting, "I'll still take you two home."
Roxanne remained distant, "Really, there's no need. Waking you up in the middle of the night, asking
you to help with hospital affairs, I've already bothered you enough."
Harrison, on the verge of a breakdown, finally exploded, "Roxanne, can you stop treating me like an
outsider, stop speaking to me in such a formal and distant manner?"
Roxanne paused.
A wave of desolation suddenly welled up in her heart.
She gave a bitter smile, "Mr. Rodriguez, then how should I speak to you?"