On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 161

Lance Smith looked at Dr. Patricia Allen. “I’ll need your help with that.”

A chill ran down Dr. Allen’s spine. “You mean to tell me that after I go to all the trouble of creating a new life and placing it in a mother’s womb, after I watch it grow and develop, you want me to be the one to personally extinguish it? Lance, you must be insane.”

Lance’s expression went vacant. “I’m sorry.”

Dr. Allen shook her head. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. It’s Jessica. Lance, you need to think this through. If you take this step today, there will be no going back for you and her. Ever.”

Lance tilted his head back, his eyes shimmering under the hospital lights. “I know. But I have to save my company. This is the only way.”

Dr. Allen felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. “Jessica isn’t awake yet,” she said, her voice flat. “Wait until she wakes up. You can tell her yourself.”

With that, she turned and left.

Lance walked into the hospital room. Jessica Brown lay quietly on the bed, her frame so thin and fragile she looked like a porcelain doll, ready to shatter at the slightest touch. He pulled up a chair and sat by her bedside, his gaze fixed on her face. He rubbed his temples, waiting for her to wake.

He waited deep into the night.

His phone buzzed incessantly with calls from Aaron James. Even in the hospital room, Lance was juggling an endless stream of messages, fending off the aggressive demands of major shareholders. He was being pulled in a dozen different directions at once.

Finally, stretched to his limit, he made a decision. He told Aaron to post an official announcement on the company website: he and Jessica Brown had already signed their divorce papers. He even had him upload a picture of the document, signed by both of them, to disentangle himself and the company from the media storm.

A little after two in the morning, Jessica’s eyes fluttered open. She seemed to be waking from a nightmare, her body trembling as her eyes shot open.

He took a deep breath and forced a faint smile. “Jessica, since you’re so determined to divorce me, I’ll grant you your wish. Dragging this out isn’t good for you, me, or our daughter. I’ve already signed the papers. Take a look.”

Jessica snatched them from his hand and read through the document. Lance’s signature was there. The agreement was already legally binding. All they had to do was file the papers at the Registrar’s Office, and in a month, the divorce would be final. They would finally be free of each other.

She looked up, bewildered, unable to believe he had suddenly changed his mind. Her suspicious gaze fell on him.

Lance gave a sad, hollow laugh. “There’s no trick. It’s real, Jessica. I’m giving you what you wanted.”

Jessica glanced at the clock. It was 3:00 a.m. The Registrar’s Office opened at eight-thirty. Five and a half more hours. She couldn’t wait.