Chapter 75
075
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075
THE air inside the small hospital office was unusually tense. The hum of the air conditioner and the faint clicking of the doctor’s keyboard filled the silence. Leonard sat hunched forward, his cough rattling his chest, while his wife, Clara, leaned back with her arms folded, her face a mask of control. Calm, but not without a storm brewing beneath.
For weeks Leonard had been battling the fever, the recurring cough, the fatigue that medicines never seemed to cure. Clara had insisted he return for another round of tests. He resisted at first, dismissing her with a wave of his hand and excuses about stress, about the weather, about anything except himself. But when his condition worsened, she dragged him, quite literally to her own hospital for a proper test.
Now, fifty long minutes later, after blood samples and urine tests, after questions that pricked deeper than needles, they sat waiting. It was the kind of waiting that stretched time into an eternity. Leonard’s cough punctuated the silence, each fit earning him a sharp side glance from his wife, as though even his sickness was irritating.
The doctor, a young woman with steady hands but eyes that flickered with the weight of what she was about to say, folded her hands together.
“Mr. and Mrs. Leonard,” she began, her gaze alternating between the glowing laptop screen and the couple seated before her. “We ran a series of tests… and the results are ready p>
Leonard coughed again, covering his mouth with a trembling hand. His wife shot him another stare, but this one was laced more with unease than irritation.
The doctor hesitated, then asked carefully, “Mr. Leonard, would you mind if I disclose the result in front of your partner p>
Leonard cleared his throat, his voice hoarse.
“Why… yes, she is… she is my wife p>
The cough came again, harder this time, forcing his body into a small shake.
The doctor nodded.
“Very well, if you are comfortable p>
She took a breath, her voice calm yet firm.
“It is not a minor issue, but if treated properly and medications are followed diligently, it can be managed.” She paused, letting the weight of her next words hang in the air before she said them.
“The test shows that you are positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. That is HIV p>
Leonard’s breath caught in his throat. His cough stopped abruptly, replaced by a strangled gasp.
“What…?” His eyes darted to Clara’s face, searching for comfort, for denial, for anything. But Clara’s face remained eerily composed. Her lips parted slightly in shock, yes, but the calmness remained, laced now with something else. Something sharp.
“You mean-” Leonard stammered. “This can’t be p>
The doctor gave him a look of professional sympathy.
“I’m afraid it is conclusive. I will explain everything, but first, I need to ask some questions p>
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Clara, breaking her silence, leaned forward, her voice cool but tight.
“Ask him. Ask him everything. Let’s all hear it p>
The doctor adjusted her glasses.
“Mrs. Leonard, would you mind telling me when last you were intimate with your husband p>
A silence thick enough to choke filled the room. Clara stared at her husband for a long moment before answering
“Six months ago,” she said flatly.
The doctor nodded and scribbled a note.
“Alright. We will still need to monitor you, Mrs. Leonard. Sometimes the virus takes a while before it shows up in the body. I will recommend you come back in three months for another check p>
Clara nodded once, then slowly turned her head, her eyes narrowing on Leonard. For the first time, the calm cracked. A sneer tugged at her lips.
The doctor turned back to Leonard.
“Mr. Leonard, I will need to ask you… have you had any sexual partner since then p>
Before Leonard could open his mouth, Clara gave a bitter, humorless laugh.
“Partner? Partners, you mean?” Her voice dripped with venom.
Leonard looked at her, his face a picture of regret and helplessness. His lips moved, but no words came. The silence was damning.
The doctor sighed, her tone still professional.
“Mr. Leonard, this is very important. We will need the contact details of anyone you have been with in the last six months. We need to reach out to them, inform them, and have them tested p>
Clara scoffed loudly.
“Please, give him a long sheet of paper for that. A short one won’t be enough. Believe me p>
Her voice echoed in the small office like a whip crack. Leonard shrank in his chair, shame pressing down on his shoulders.
The doctor inhaled sharply, suppressing her frustration. She reached into her drawer, pulled out a sheet of paper, and placed it on the desk. She slid a pen toward Leonard. “Here p>
Leonard’s hand trembled as he reached for it. He pulled out his phone, his fingers fumbling as he scrolled through names. His cough returned, harsher now, rattling his chest as though mocking him. He tried to steady his hand as he began to write, each name a heavy stone being laid on his conscience.
Clara folded her arms, her eyes cold, her voice cutting through his silence.
“I told you, Leonard. I warned you, several times. But you wouldn’t listen. You thought you were invincible, didn’t you? Look at you now. Look at what you have brought upon yourself p>
“Clara, please…” Leonard croaked, but his voice died in his throat.
“You see this sham called marriage,” Clara cut in immediately, “it is over. We are done. I’m taking the kids. We are done,” she shouted.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.