The Ultimate Chance-Chapter 171

I’m going to need you to leave so the patient can rest," the doctor told the worried duo by Mina’s side after some time. Avery shook her head without letting go of Mina’s hand. How could she leave her friend here on her own when she was so distressed?

"I’ll be quiet and let her rest but what if she needs me later?" I need to be here for her.

"I will not leave my wife’s side either," Gabe added. "In case she needs me."

The doctor sighed. He must have dealt with many stubborn families. His face remained stern. "If you don’t leave quietly, I’ll have security drag you out."

The siblings didn’t budge. Grumbling something about not being paid enough for this kind of crap, the doctor left. When he returned, Avery thought he’d be here to tell them security was on the way and they had one last chance to leave on their own. Thinking of what a scene that might cause and how it would disturb Mina’s rest, Avery decided to leave. She would stay in the hospital and instruct the doctors to call her if Mina asked for her. But before she could say a word, the doctor spoke first.

"The two of you can stay, but do not try to engage the patient in any unnecessary conversation. Her feelings need to be stable." He warned.

She blew out a breath in relief. "Thank you."

Damon must have had something to do with the doctor’s change of mind, she realized. She would thank him later.

There was an arm chair in one corner of the ward. Gabe let Avery have it and put his coat down so he would sit on the floor next to her, his eyes never leaving his wife on the bed. She was hooked to an IV, her body not moving in the slightest bit. It was a disturbing sight.

For hours, the two sat in silence, accompanying Mina. The only times someone spoke was when a nurse came over to check Mina’s vitals and when Damon brought them dinner, then seeing Gabe’s make-do seat, brought him a pillow.

It was much more comfortable than the coat but he was too lost in his head to tell the difference.

When Damon came by to check on them again, Avery was a little worried. She left the room with him and asked, "How are the kids?"

"Asleep." He assured her. "You can accompany Mina for a little longer."

He didn’t like that she was sleeping in such an uncomfortable spot but if he insisted she go back home with him, she would chew him out and proceed to have a sleepless night of distress. At least with her friend in her line of sight, there was a chance she would sleep even for a little bit.

He kissed her forehead. "I’ll be in the waiting lounge if you need me."

"Thank you, Damon."

____

The following morning, Mina finally moved for more than shifting her limbs. She asked Gabe to help her sit up, which he was delighted to do. She had not said a single word to him since the doctor told them the devastating news.

He felt her forehead. "Do you need anything, my love? A glass of water...some breakfast, maybe?"

She shook her head. "I need to talk to you," she croaked through her parched throat. She had cried herself to sleep and felt drained. She should probably rest like the doctor had stated but she needed to get this out of her mind first.

Hearing her words, Gabe froze. That didn’t sound encouraging. Still, he didn’t let her see the fear on his face. She didn’t need any more stress than she was under, and he could be overthinking it. There were many things she would want to talk about.

"Avery?" Mina gently said. "Could you get me some burritos? I like the ones from Reynolds’. Some decaf coffee would be great, too."

"Of course." Avery left the ward.

At the same time, Gabe yet again realized there was something off about the request. It was way too specific for Mina who didn’t even like coffee in the morning and only took it when she had to. During her pregnancy, she had cut it off for the most part and wouldn’t even drink decaf unless the craving hit and was unbearable. Besides, the closest Reynolds’ was a bit far from the hospital. She was sending Avery away on purpose.

Mina was studying him the entire time and must have seen the realization cross his face.

"We don’t have to have serious discussions right now, my love. We can wait until your health is stable." He was grasping at straws.

She didn’t buy it. "It can’t wait." She took a deep breath. "I want a divorce."

_____

"I want a divorce."

Gabe pounded the pavement harder as he ran faster and faster, the words sounding like a curse in his ears.

If one were to tell him to describe hell, this wouldn’t have crossed his mind because he didn’t ever think of it as a possibility. He and Mina were married and had vowed to be with each other forever, to celebrate their joys together, and be each other’s shoulder to lean on during their sorrows.

Yet when life threw a curveball at them, she had said the most dreadful, nightmarish words. "I want a divorce."

He replayed their conversation over and over.

"No."

"It’s not a request, Gabe."

He’d thought about it for a minute before saying, "Marriage is a mutual decision, Mina, and so is a divorce. We both decided to get married. You cannot single-handedly decide to end our marriage. My answer is no."

She’d turned her head away but not before he saw tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. "I know. My life was almost perfect before I met you. I knew something was missing."

She choked on a sob and laughed to mask it. "I thought that missing part was you. But Gabe, have you not realized? Since I met you, it’s been a downhill spiral. Things keep getting worse."

Hurt by her words, he’d fired righ back. "Are you blaming me? In case you didn’t know, I did not kidnap you."

She laughed bitterly. "No you didn’t, but someone you upset years ago did. And now, because of this, I may lose my child. You might as well have kidnapped me, Gabe."

They had fought before but not this badly.

He didn’t think he had ever heard something more hurtful, especially not coming from her mouth. He had left, deciding not to talk to her when he was feeling so angry and hurt.

He was angry because deep down, he knew she was right, as much as he hated to admit it. He may have only attacked Scott because he harmed Avery, but if he didn’t act like such a jerk towards his own sister, that would not have been necessary. It was his fault no matter how he tried to spin it in his head.

Without knowing it, he came to the park and noticed a bench. He sat on it and buried his head in his hands.

Why was he such a jerk? If he hadn’t done so many stupid things in the past, he wouldn’t be losing the most important people in his life.

There weren’t many good things he had done in his life, and if it was true that every good was to be rewarded as much as bad deeds were punishable, he had exhausted all the good luck he’d accumulated when Avery forgave him. When he got to meet Angel and became an uncle and then found Mina, those had to have been bonuses. How could he receive more good luck?

He felt a small tap on his hand.

His first instinct was to want to swat whoever it was away. On top of everything happening, how dare someone come here to bother him? But when he opened his eyes, he saw a little girl standing before him with her hands behind her.

She was smiling at him and was so adorable that he couldn’t help smiling too. "Hey."

The little girl blinked a few times. "Are you sad?"

It was almost laughable. Sad? What an understatement. He nodded.

The little girl presented her hands and opened her small palm, revealing a piece of candy. Gabe was about to say he didn’t have a sweet tooth when he noticed the candy’s shape. It was a four-leaf clover candy.

He didn’t know much about luck and the superstitions surrounding it but Mina was a firm believer that four-leaf clovers gave you good luck.

His eyes teared looking at the little candy. Just when he’d wondered about it.

"Mommy gives me sweets when I’m sad and then I’m happier." She proudly said, holding out her hand for him to take it, as if it pained her to part with the candy but she still wanted to share it with a sad stranger. "Shall I help you unwrap it?"

He chuckled. "Sure."

The girl gave him the candy and skipped away to play with her friends. The sugary taste was bittersweet.

He didn’t believe in religion either, but this felt like some kind of message from the universe.

Even if it wasn’t, it was a reminder that he had just left the woman he loved in the hospital alone because they had fought. So he ran back to his house, took a quick shower, and returned to the hospital.

Mina was being fed soup by Avery when he arrived, but her eyes were red and swollen. Had she been crying?

Of course she had. Just because she had suggested the divorce didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt her, he realized.

"What are you doing here?" She snapped.

"I have made my decision."