All Chapters of Said Yes to the Ex: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Sarah Townsend furrowed her brows as I dumped the ring into the trash can. “What’s the meaning of this, James?” I scoffed. “Exactly what it looks like. Do you really need me to spell it out for you?” Sarah looked utterly baffled, as if I were the one making a scene out of nothing. “I’ve explained it to you. I only accepted Aiden’s proposal because of the circumstances. “Dad just got better. I didn’t want to stress him out, so I was trying to reassure him. “Can’t you be more considerate of the situation I’m in?” I looked at the woman I had loved for three years while finding the whole thing absurd. “What about the kiss? If it was an act for you to say yes, why did you have to kiss him right in front of my face? “Did you ever once consider my feelings?” Sarah paused for a second, but it didn’t take long for her self-serving logic to inflate her righteous confidence. “So I bought you flowers and a cake to make it up to you.“Be reasonable here. Without Aiden’s co

Chapter 2

Now that Terrence was back to full health, I finally had the time and energy to tackle the pending work pile. Sarah had promised me that the wedding would happen right after Terrence got better and was discharged. Despite being swamped over the last six months, I always made time to coordinate the wedding details with the wedding planners. Sarah was kept in the loop of the preparation work and had shared her input. She had mentioned by chance that she was into the whole island and lawn vibe, so I booked an outdoor venue at the city’s most exclusive Peninsula Hotel. None of that mattered anymore. Once I sorted out several mergers and acquisitions, I dialed the wedding planners’ number. The head planner’s voice dripped with regret. “Mr. Loving, are you sure you want to call off the whole thing? Per the contract, you won’t be getting the deposit back.” “Yes, I’m sure.” My voice was firm. “I’ll stop by in the afternoon to sign the service termination paperwork.” At t

Chapter 3

After leaving the Peninsula Hotel, I threw myself into my work. Days later, I got a call from Bryan. “James, things aren’t really looking good for your future father-in-law, Mr. Townsend.” My heart was in my throat when I heard the news about Terrence. In the weeks following Terrence's accident, the doctors warned us more than once that he might not make it. Every time they did, Sarah broke down in tears.Her emotions rubbed off on me. The bad news of anything going wrong filled me with dread as I feared losing Sarah if Terrence’s time on earth was up. Furrowing my brows, I asked with concern, “Dr. Jones, weren’t his vitals and lab results within the normal range just days before he was discharged?” Bryan scoffed. “The comprehensive examination I ordered before leaving just came in today. “Several of his vital organs are deteriorating rapidly. His lab results strongly suggest acute drug poisoning.“Notify the family right away. He needs to be monitored closely. Get him

Chapter 4

The next day, while I was in the middle of procuring medical equipment, my phone started ringing off the hook. I had a pretty good idea of what this was all about, but I didn’t answer the phone. It was not as if I could anyway.With a multimillion-dollar deal in my hands, I wasn’t at liberty to get involved. Even if I were to take the call, I was an outsider with no right to interfere. Sarah was a nervous wreck at the hospital. Aiden rushed to the emergency room the second he got the news. Sarah looked at him as if he were her only hope. “Aiden! The drug! Dad started coughing up blood. Only the experimental medication can save his life!” Aiden squeezed her hand back and held out the pills, his tone gentle and calm.“Easy there, Sarah. I brought the remaining course of the treatment here as soon as I heard Mr. Townsend was in critical condition.” A wave of relief washed over Sarah when she saw the medicine. Her eyes welled up as emotions stirred within her. “Thank

Chapter 5

It was another half hour before I had the acquisition paperwork for the medical equipment finalized. I picked up my phone, faced down on the desk, and saw a dozen missed calls and dozens of voice messagesThey all came from one person—Sarah. My phone started ringing. Sure enough, it was Sarah. “James, you finally picked up! Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” The moment the call connected, Sarah’s near-hysterical shriek cut through. “Please, get Dr. Jones on the phone right now! Dad isn’t going to make it!“He’s gone into shock. Only Dr. Jones can save him now!” I had the urge to laugh. Now, I was in her thoughts. “What do you need Dr. Jones for? “Don’t you have Aiden? Didn’t he get your dad enrolled in an experimental drug trial? “Just follow the program and finish the medicine course. Why are you coming to me, some petty outsider?“N-No… That’s not what I meant.” Sarah choked up in sobs, her voice dripping with regret and terror. “The doctor said that

Chapter 6

I curled my lips, my tone laced with heavy sarcasm. “Aiden took the call yesterday, so I relayed the message to him.” “What? Aiden answered my phone? Why didn’t he tell me?” Paying no mind to Sarah’s shock, I hung up. I then dialed another number. “Are you there yet, Dr. Jones?” Bryan’s drained voice came on the other end of the line. “I just got off the train. I’m on my way to Northbridge General Hospital. “Relax. Even if the family is reckless, I have a duty to my patients, even if he was only under my care for a short period of time. “But I’m afraid the prognosis is less than ideal.” In fact, I had asked Bryan to make the trip down when he called to talk about Terrence. I had always been one to separate gratitude from resentment. Sure, Sarah and Aiden disgusted me, but Terrence was a living, breathing human being. He had been kind to me before. Getting Bryan to provide care for Terrence was out of respect for human life. It was also a way to properly bring cl

Chapter 7

My face was stoic as ever. “I got Dr. Jones here because he’s a responsible doctor. Don’t flatter yourself. “From the moment I dumped the ring, you became no different than a stranger on the street to me.” Sarah shuddered, her jaw dropping as if she wanted to say something, but an ER nurse approached with a long printout of medical charges.“Are the family members of Terrence Townsend here? The patient's condition is extremely critical. He needs an emergency plasma exchange, multiple blood transfusions, followed by intensive care. Please head to the billing office to put a two-hundred-thousand-dollar deposit.”Out of habit, the nurse handed me the bill. For the past six months, I'd been the one waiting in line to pay every medical bill, big or small.Not even extending my arm out, I merely jerked my chin toward Sarah, who was completely in a daze. “Give it to her. I’m not his family.” The nurse paused for a bit before awkwardly passing the slip over to Sarah. Sarah too

Chapter 8

As minutes dragged on, night fell beyond the corridor windows. The air in the ER remained thick with tension. With no way to raise the money, Sarah sat huddled in a corner outside the emergency treatment room, her hands clasped as she prayed without ceasing.The surgery was over three hours later. Bryan emerged from the operating theater with a face full of exhaustion. The nurses were right behind him, wheeling out a gurney draped in a white sheet. “Dad!” Sarah cried while practically throwing herself onto the gurney. She ripped back the white sheet and broke down at the sight of Terrence’s lifeless face. “Dad! Wake up! Look at me! I won’t upset you ever again. Don’t leave me all alone!” Collapsing over Terrence’s body, Sarah wailed in despair. Bryan sighed and approached me, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, James. I did everything within my power. “The toxins had been progressing for some time, eventually causing irreversible liver and kidney failure.“Given his wea

Chapter 9

Aiden didn’t get far, though. Several police officers, responding to the call, caught him the moment he reached the hospital lobby. The forensic medical examiner arrived carrying a forensic kit to conduct a preliminary examination of the body and extract toxicological samples.The lead detective, Daniel Lorde of the criminal police squad, began conducting separate interviews with everyone involved. Sarah slumped against the bench, her eyes vacant. “I got Dad killed… I fed him poison… I’m the killer…” Aiden was brought in by two officers, struggling as he protested, “Officers, I’m innocent! I didn’t know there were illicit compounds in the experimental drug. “I had no intention of harming anyone! I didn’t even understand what I was giving him. It was supposed to be part of an experimental program!”Daniel scoffed and pulled out a document from his briefcase. “Aiden, do you honestly think we are idiots?” Daniel took a look around. “When the dispatch came in about a susp

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