Chapter 4: The Husband Who Never Wanted a Wife

The hospital room remained silent after Avery left.

Elliot continued staring at the closed door.

Something about her calmness bothered him.

He had expected tears.

Arguments.

Excuses.

Instead, she had simply offered him a divorce.

"She doesn't seem interested in the Foster fortune," Rosalie said softly.

Elliot looked at his mother.

"You arranged this marriage without asking me."

"I know."

"Then why are you defending her?"

"Because I've spent six weeks watching her visit you every day."

"She never demanded anything."

"She never asked for money."

"She never complained about your condition."

"She simply sat beside your bed and talked to you."

Elliot frowned.

"You let her do that?"

"She is your wife."

"Or at least... she was willing to be."

"Mother."

Rosalie sighed.

"I know you're angry."

"You have every right to be."

"But don't punish Avery for a decision I made."

Elliot looked away.

He wasn't ready to forgive anyone.

Six months had vanished from his life.

His company had continued without him.

His family had made decisions on his behalf.

And now he had a wife he had never chosen.

None of it made sense.

Later that afternoon, Elliot's doctor entered the room.

"Mr. Foster, your recovery is progressing better than expected."

"You'll need several weeks of rehabilitation."

"Physical therapy."

"Careful monitoring."

"And absolutely no overexertion."

Elliot looked unimpressed.

"I have work to do."

"You nearly died."

"Your body doesn't care how many companies you own."

"If you want to walk normally again, follow the treatment plan."

Elliot said nothing.

The doctor smiled faintly.

"I'm glad to see you're still difficult."

"That means you're recovering."

Meanwhile...

Avery returned to the Foster mansion.

She quietly packed the few things she had brought after the marriage.

She didn't want to stay where she wasn't wanted.

There was nothing binding her emotionally to Elliot.

Their marriage had been arranged for practical reasons.

If he wanted freedom, she would give it to him.

A maid entered the room carrying a small box.

"Mrs. Foster."

"Madam Rosalie asked me to give you this."

Avery opened the box.

Inside was a set of keys.

"What are these?"

"The keys to the villa Mr. Foster purchased for you."

"There is also an account for your living expenses."

"I don't need them," Avery replied immediately.

"Please return everything to Madam Rosalie."

The maid hesitated.

"Mrs. Foster..."

"I'm not staying because of money."

"I understand," the maid said softly.

Avery continued packing.

She couldn't stop thinking about Elliot's expression.

He had looked at her as though she were a problem he needed to solve.

Perhaps leaving really was the best choice.

That evening, she returned to the hospital once more.

Not because she had been asked.

Because she wanted to say goodbye properly.

When she entered the room, Elliot was awake.

He was sitting beside the window, reading a business report.

His expression hardened when he saw her.

"Why are you here?"

"To say goodbye."

Elliot's eyes narrowed.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"I thought you'd want your freedom."

"I do."

"Then why do I feel like you're avoiding me?"

Avery looked at him calmly.

"Because you made it clear you don't want me here."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

Her honesty left him silent.

Avery stepped closer to the bed.

"I know our marriage wasn't your choice."

"I know you're angry."

"And I don't blame you."

"But I won't stay somewhere I'm unwanted."

Elliot stared at her.

"What happens to the marriage?"

"We can divorce."

"As soon as your condition stabilizes."

He frowned.

"You really don't want anything?"

"No."

"Not money?"

"No."

"Not the Foster name?"

"No."

"Then why did you agree to marry me?"

Avery hesitated.

"To save my father."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

Elliot looked at her for a long moment.

"Tell me about him."

Avery was surprised.

"My father?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You risked your future for him."

Something softened in Avery's expression.

"He's the only person in my family who never treated me like an outsider."

"When my mother died, he raised me as best as he could."

"Even when things became difficult."

"I couldn't let him die because we didn't have money."

Elliot remained silent.

For the first time, he saw something beyond the legal wife standing in front of him.

He saw a daughter willing to sacrifice herself for her father.

"I understand," he finally said.

Avery nodded.

"Then I'll leave."

She turned toward the door.

"Wait."

She stopped.

"You can stay in the Foster estate until we settle the divorce."

"You don't have to move back into your father's house."

Avery looked back at him.

"Why?"

"Because it's safer."

"And because my mother will accuse me of driving you out."

Avery almost smiled.

"That's the most honest reason you've given me."

Elliot's lips twitched slightly.

"I'm trying."

She nodded.

"Fine."

"I'll stay until the divorce is finalized."

Neither of them realized that the agreement would soon become much harder than expected.

That night...

Elliot couldn't sleep.

He kept remembering Avery's voice.

Her calm expression.

The way she had refused his money.

The way she had offered to leave without demanding anything.

He didn't understand why her departure bothered him.

He had wanted freedom.

So why did the thought of her actually leaving feel wrong?

Across the city, Avery sat by her bedroom window.

She looked down at the marriage ring on her finger.

She had never expected to care about the marriage.

Yet somehow...

Seeing Elliot awake had changed something.

Maybe because the man in that hospital bed no longer looked like a stranger.

Maybe because she had heard the loneliness in his voice.

Or maybe because, for the first time...

She wondered what kind of man he could become if he stopped being angry long enough to know her.