And he felt it—that exact fucking moment she realized he was pushing her away.The moment she understood this wasn’t some test or some game.He was letting her go.
For her.Because he loved her enough to break them both...but she wouldn’t know that.She never would.
“Rex...”Her voice was a broken, pleading whisper.“Don’t do this.I...I love you.”
He turned his head, staring at the ceiling, ignoring the way his chest caved in.He couldn’t look at her.If he looked at her, he’d take it back.He’d beg her to stay.He’d ruin her life all over again.
So, he said nothing; instead, he slowly died...on the inside.
After a long, agonizing moment, he heard it—the soft shuffle of her feet, the quiet click of the door.The absence of her became a physical pain and a hole in his chest where his heart used to be.
He closed his eyes, breathing through the ache, fighting the urge to call her back.
Let her go, Oliver.Let her be happy.
He did...and even if it killed him, he wouldn’t reach out to her again.
Cheri didn’t waste time.“I need the room, please.”Everyone quickly disappeared.
She turned back to Rex with a thunderous expression and slammed his chart onto the tray table with a loud clack.
“What the actual fuck is wrong with you?”
Rex flinched—not because of the volume, but because no one talked to him like this.Ever.
“Cheri—”
“No.”She held up a hand, silencing him.“You don’t get to ‘Cheri’ me right now.You just shattered that woman’s heart in front of an entire room of medical professionals, and I refuse to stand here and watch you self-destruct like some tragic fucking hero.”
Rex opened his mouth, but she wasn’t done.
“You think you’re doing her a favor?You think pushing her away is noble?”She leaned in, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper.“Newsflash, asshole—she’s not some damsel in distress.She’s a grown-ass woman who chose to stay.CHOSE TO STAY!Who fought to be here.And if you really loved her—if you even onlylikedher—you’d let her make her own damn decisions instead of playing martyr like some bad romance novel.”
Rex swallowed hard.His throat tightened.“It’s not that s-simple.”
“Oh, it’s exactly that simple.”She crossed her arms.“You’re scared.You’re terrified of dragging her down with you.But guess what?She already knows the risks, and shestillchose you.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw.“Yeah...and look where it got her.”
“Where it got her?”Cheri laughed without any humor.“It got her standing by the side of the man she loves, even when he’s being a stubborn, self-sacrificing bastard.”She shook her head, disgusted.“You want to protect her?Fine.But pushing her away isn’t protection—it’s punishment.And if you really think she’s better off without you, then you don’t know her at all.”
Rex said nothing.His hands fisted in the sheets so hard, his knuckles turned white.
Cheri studied him for a long moment, then sighed.Some of the fight drained out of her.She reached out and squeezed his shoulder—not gently, but firm, like she was trying to shake some sense into him.
“You’re a good man, Rex.But right now?You’re being a fucking idiot.”She paused, then added in a softer tone, “If you allowed her to walk away, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
She snorted when he didn’t respond, then turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving him alone with the beeping monitors and the crushing pressure of his own mistakes.
