The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife
Chapter 71: Room 305

Chapter 71: Room 305

Cassidy had just stepped into Claire’s private room when her phone rang. She glanced down at the screen.

Georgia.

She answered quietly, her voice tired. "Hello?"

Zeke, already inside the room, looked over from where he stood near the hospital bed as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Yeah. Room 305," she said simply, before ending the call.

The nurses were still inside, adjusting monitors and double checking Claire’s vitals. Cassidy stood beside the bed, watching them work, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

Moments later, the door swung open.

"Cass!"

Georgia rushed in, her eyes wide and filled with panic. The moment she saw her younger sister, she went straight to her, grabbing her arms gently but urgently.

"What happened?" she asked breathlessly, then her eyes darted past Cassidy to the hospital bed.

She froze. Claire lay still and pale, wires running from her small body to beeping machines.

Georgia’s breath hitched. "Oh my God..." she whispered, stepping closer, her hand rising to her mouth.

She stood there in silence for a second, then looked back at Cassidy, her voice trembling. "Cass... what happened to her?"

Cassidy broke.

Her lips quivered as she tried to speak. "There was a shooting," she whispered. "She... she was hit. It happened so fast. I... I didn’t even see it coming."

Georgia pulled her into a hug without hesitation.

"It’s okay," she murmured, rubbing her back. "She’s alive. That’s the most important thing."

Cassidy nodded against her shoulder, wiping her tears quickly as she tried to keep it together.

Then, from the corner of her eye, Georgia noticed him.

Zeke was standing near the head of the bed, his hands in his pockets, silent. His posture was rigid, his eyes fixed on Claire. He looked exhausted. Haunted. Nothing like the powerful, untouchable man everyone else knew.

He hadn’t said a word since Georgia entered.

But his presence said enough.

From the moment she walked into the room, Georgia had seen him. She just hadn’t looked his way, hadn’t let herself. Her focus had been on Claire. On Cassidy.

But now, as she glanced across the room and saw him standing there, she understood.

There was no more doubt in her mind. Zeke knew about Claire.

It showed in his face, in the way he stood so quietly, like the weight of the world was pressing down on him. He looked heartbroken.

Not long after Georgia left, Clara arrived.

Cassidy had called her earlier, during the transfer to the VIP room. Her voice had been low and shaken as she explained everything that had happened. Clara hadn’t asked many questions, just promised she’d be there as fast as she could.

The moment she stepped into the room and saw Claire lying so still on the hospital bed, tears spilled down her face.

"Oh my God..." she whispered, hand covering her mouth as she stepped closer.

Cassidy met her halfway, and the two women embraced tightly, both holding back the ache in their chests.

"She’s stable," Cassidy murmured. "They said she’s going to be okay."

Clara nodded, wiping her tears as she looked over at the little girl who had always brought so much life into every room. Seeing her like that, pale and unmoving, was almost too much to bear.

They stood together in silence, both watching Claire with the kind of stillness that only comes from deep love and helplessness.

Zeke had stayed quiet the entire time, giving them space.

But now, seeing Cassidy wasn’t alone, he stepped closer and said quietly, "I’ll step out for a bit."

Cassidy turned to look at him. "Where are you going?"

"Just outside," he said. "Call me if anything happens. Or if you need anything."

She nodded, grateful for the way he said it. Not forceful, just present.

Zeke gave one last glance toward Claire, then left the room.

Once the door closed behind him, Clara turned slowly toward Cassidy.

There was hesitation in her voice. "Cass... is that man... Claire’s father?"

Cassidy hesitated for only a second before giving a weak nod. "Yeah," she said softly. "He is."

Clara glanced toward the door Zeke had just walked out of. "I thought so," she murmured. "Claire has his eyes."

Cassidy blinked, surprised. "Really?"

Clara nodded gently. "Yeah. Claire’s eyes... they remind me of him. Not just how they look, but how they feel. There’s something calm and strong in them, just like his."

Cassidy let out a faint breath, then turned her gaze back to Claire.

After a pause, Clara asked carefully, "Have you told Xavier?"

Cassidy stiffened slightly, just for a second.

"No," she said. "Not yet."

"You should," Clara said softly. "You know how close they are."

"I know. I wanted to. But..." She trailed off.

"But Claire’s father is here?" Clara finished for her.

Cassidy didn’t answer.

Clara held her hand gently. "It’s okay," she said. "Xavier’s a good person. He’ll understand."

"I’ll talk to Xavier. Tomorrow," Cassidy said, her voice low but certain.

***

Outside the hospital, the night air was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the weight inside Zeke’s chest.

He had barely stepped away from the entrance when Blake approached him from across the parking lot. The man moved with purpose, his expression unreadable as always, but Zeke could tell something was on his mind.

Zeke didn’t waste time.

"The shooter," he said. "Have they caught him?"

Blake shook his head once. "Not yet. But the police have a lead. They’re reviewing security footage from nearby stores and traffic cams. They’re confident it’s only a matter of time."

Zeke’s jaw clenched. His eyes darkened, but his voice stayed calm. "Do they know who he was targeting?"

Blake hesitated before answering. "Still unclear. But Claire wasn’t the only victim. There were three others injured. Random or not, the investigation is being taken seriously. They’re treating it like a high-priority case."

Zeke looked away, running a hand down his face. The thought of Claire in the middle of that chaos, his daughter, made something inside him twist with rage and helplessness.

"Keep me updated," he said quietly.

Blake gave a firm nod. "Always."

Zeke let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease.

After a moment, he turned to Blake again.

"Find me something to eat," he said. "Something good, but close by. For me and Cassidy. No, make it for three," he added.

Blake raised an eyebrow. "Any preference?"

"No fast food," Zeke replied. "Just... something warm. Decent."

Blake gave a small nod. "Got it."

Then, without another word, he turned and walked toward his car, already pulling out his phone to search the nearest restaurants.

Zeke stood there for a few seconds longer, looking up at the sky, dark, cloudless, and indifferent.

Then he turned around and made his way back into the hospital.

Back to Room 305.

***

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