Claimed by Caden

by Serena Akeroyd

  By nature, Lia wasn’t a worrier. Ever since she’d learned she was pregnant, however, it was getting beyond a joke. No matter how much it pissed her off that she’d turned into a real worrywart, it was out of her hands, she couldn’t control her above-average mind from conjuring so many disturbing images.

  Caden was never really a cause for concern. The beauty of her husband was his steadfastness. If he said he’d be somewhere, then he’d be there. He never broke appointments, never went off schedule. Christ, his schedule was planned in five-minute increments! That he wasn’t here didn’t bode well.

  Pre-pregnancy, Lia would have simply believed he’d been held up in traffic.

  Pregnant Lia panicked. And when she called her mother-in-law’s cell and was hit with voicemail, she sank into the sofa that took up a quarter of Caden’s office, a sofa that had seen more action than most couples’ beds, and started to cry. It was pathetic, her tears were pointless—she didn’t even know if something was wrong, but all of her instincts were clamoring. Instincts that were skewed ever since she’d peed on a stick and a blue line had appeared.

  Hormones really weren’t her best friend.

  At twenty past the hour, with no call from either Caden or his mother, she had no choice but to tell Mr. Greenslow that Caden had been caught up in a meeting on the other side of town. She lied, and told him Caden was consulting with someone on his case, which lessened the other man’s irritation at being stood up.

  With the reception room empty, and the rest of Caden’s suite of office rooms just as vacant, Lia really started to panic as the minutes ticked down with no call from her husband or his mother. Desperation had her calling his father.

  “Christopher?” she gasped out, utterly relieved that someone was finally answering her calls. “Have you heard from Eloise?”

  “Lia? Didn’t she call you to tell you?”

  There was a breathlessness to her father-in-law’s voice that had her stomach clenching again, and not in a way the currently delicate organ appreciated. She just knew, that as soon as this call was over, she’d be worshipping at the porcelain altar.

  “No! No, she didn’t call. What did she need to tell me?”

  “Caden collapsed during their meal. He’s been taken to hospital.”

  “Oh God! Is he okay? What’s the matter with him? Which hospital? I’ll get over there right away.” Her barrage of questions was met with a heavy silence on the other end of the line. Christopher wasn’t the sort to talk over someone, not even to allay their fears.

  “He’s being monitored, Lia. But he’s been taken to the medical center here in Anchor. The ambulance has just arrived. I need to be going in.”

  It was strange to feel relieved yet utterly confounded by Christopher’s words. For a second, Lia found it difficult to process the knowledge that over the two hour drive to Anchor, her mother-in-law hadn’t seen fit to call her and tell her Caden had collapsed. That thought was almost swamped with fury at Caden being taken to a hospital over two hours away from the city.

  “What the hell was Eloise thinking? If he collapsed, he must have needed urgent medical care. Why didn’t they go to a hospital in the city?” she snapped. “And why the hell wasn’t I consulted?”

  “Anchor’s medical clinic is one of the best in the world.”

  “Because some of Manhattan’s private hospitals are just useless,” she mocked, her fury making her start to shake.

  “Our clinic has all of Caden’s records, Lia. It was for the best that he was brought here.”

  She shook her head, still finding it difficult to understand this reasoning. “If anything happens to him because you decided to make him cross the state to be treated, I’ll never forgive you, Christopher. You or Eloise, do you understand me?” Before he could answer, she continued with a growl, “I’ll be there as soon as I can. If...if anything happens, if his status changes, then let me know.”

  She slammed the phone down, fury rattling through her. A fury so deep that thankfully it cut her nausea in half, and cracked the screen on her cell.

  Retreating to her desk, Lia sank down into her chair and loaded her contacts on her computer. Scrolling through, she found the number of the helicopter firm the company used to get about the county. There was no way in hell she was going to take the full two hours to get to Caden’s home town by taking a goddamn cab!

  Her hands were shaking when she made the arrangements. She had to hire a cab on the other end of the journey, to take her from the closest airfield to the medical clinic—something even Google found hard to locate. Considering Christopher had described it as being one of the best in the world, it was fucking hard to find.

  She only located it by contacting a local cab firm in the town neighboring Anchor—because they didn’t seem to have one of their own—and arranging them to pick her up and drop her off at the clinic. No address necessary.

  She had thirty minutes to make it to the heliport, and she didn’t waste time cancelling the rest of Caden’s appointments. As she dashed out of the office, and on her damaged but still working cell, she contacted Marilyn, the general assistant for all four partners, and asked her to tell the others that Caden had been taken ill and sent to hospital.

  Leaving all her duties in Marilyn’s capable and sympathetic hands, Lia rushed out of the office and straight into a chaotic bubble of traffic, both of the vehicular and human variety. Ducking and diving through the crowds, she didn’t bother to hire a cab, knowing it would be quicker on foot. Especially when the cars on the roads were honking their fury at the traffic jam caging them. She slipped out of her heels, uncaring about the state of the floor, knowing a twisted ankle would slow her down more than a blister to her sole would.

  She was red in the face by the time she made it to the heliport, as well as flustered and panicking, so much so her nausea had returned. It didn’t help that she hated flying, always had and always would. But for Caden, she’d fly to the goddamn moon to get to his side.

  The frigid air sweeping in from the river dropped a few degrees as the helicopter’s rotor swirled huge gusts of wind round and around making her shiver, and it was actually a relief to get into the cabin and set off. Especially for her feet, which felt like blocks of ice. At least it was warm inside.

  The journey took a third less time than it should have. And as she made it into the cab she’d ordered, and was on her way to the clinic, she once again damned Eloise for doing this. For taking Caden hours away from her.

  She knew Eloise hated her. She’d accepted it a long time ago, and truly, it no longer bothered her. It only disturbed her in as much as it disturbed Caden. She wished there was no animosity between mother and son because of the son’s choice of a wife, but nothing could be done about it. But this was the first time Eloise had ever made her disdain so evident.

  For Caden to collapse and for Eloise to not think of his wife, who she knew would be waiting for him back at the office, was the height of selfishness. If Eloise had been the sort of woman who would swoon in a crisis, who panicked or became flustered at such a thing as her son falling ill, then Lia would have been able to excuse her. As it was, she knew Eloise would be as cool and calm as ever.

  Was it any wonder Caden reveled in his wife’s affection?

  In her attention?

  He’d never had it. Not really. From what she’d gathered, Eloise had always given Caden what he needed, but never what he wanted. Not in a greedy way. But love had been severely lacking in Caden’s family. They were all cold. Especially with each other. No love lost as her mother would have said.

  Lia knew that when the time came, when Caden was back on his feet from whatever had plowed him down—and she refused to believe he wouldn’t be okay—she’d take this up with Eloise. She’d already bridged the realization it was time she took a stand, but this just sealed that particular fate.

  Eloise hadn’t respected Lia for staying out of her way, for backing off. So, it was time to get in the bitch’s face. This was the ul
timate insult, even worse than the yearly accidental memory lapse on Christmas morning when Eloise handed out presents to everyone but her. She refused to take any more of this bullshit. The power games had no place in her or Caden’s life, not with a baby on the way, a baby whose only grandmotherly touch would be from Eloise.

  No way, no how would her child be made to feel like a second-class citizen because its mother came from the wrong side of the tracks.

  The thought made her glare at the back of the cab driver’s head. Anybody else would have congratulated her on doing well for herself. Christ, she was a trained and highly experienced legal secretary. Had a degree and everything! Sure, she wasn’t a lawyer, but that was only because she’d known she’d never be able to afford to finish the course, from start to Bar exam.

  That didn’t mean she didn’t have the smarts to pass it.

  Who knew, ten years down the line, she might just set the exam to prove to Eloise that intelligence and social position didn’t go hand in hand. Shock, horror!

  When the cab entered the city limits of Anchor, she could see an immediate difference between the two neighboring towns. What that difference was, she couldn’t put her finger on. There was something fresher about Anchor, and it was definitely more affluent. She noticed it was small enough to have a Main Street, but obviously large enough to boast its own hospital. Something, which was unusual in itself. Didn’t smaller towns have to commute to hospitals in the nearest city?

  Main Street didn’t house the usual stores. If anything, it reminded her of the Hamptons. There were specialty chocolate shops, a tea store, a few designer clothing brands even had store space here.

  The whiteboards were perfectly painted, fresh and clean. The streets probably didn’t dare to have chewing gum stuck to them. Everything was highly preserved, so much so it looked like the entire street had just popped out of its wrapping.

  It was creepy how neat every inch of the lane was.

  The small park they passed was perfectly mown. Pruned bushes were trimmed to an inch of their life, and all the plants and flowers were in the peak of health even though it was Fall.

  The houses that appeared after Main Street were huge. Even the smallest looked to be owned by those in a completely different price bracket to the less-than-average American. This was definitely not a place for the masses.

  She’d never actually been here before. That that was odd, she knew. But Caden’s family were wealthy and had several properties around the States. The few times she’d had to visit with his parents, they’d gone to the apartment in the city, or down to Hawaii where Eloise spent her Christmases—she refused to be anywhere else in December.

  That this was her first time here in Caden’s hometown made her wonder if he’d stopped her from visiting this place. The only question was, why? Why would he bother trying to hide the family home from her?

  It wasn’t like he was ashamed of her. He hadn’t had to marry her. Hell, he’d done the proposing, not her. So why keep Anchor from her? It was only now, when she was in the obviously rich town, that she questioned Caden’s motives.

  When they reached the medical center, even Lia was astounded by its grandeur. All gleaming walls of windows, a real glass sacrifice to the Gods of architecture. The grounds were as perfect as the park had been. Nothing out of place. Everything as aesthetically pleasing as could be, so much so it was oppressive.

  Feeling out of place, she paid the cab driver and alighted from the car with nothing on her but her purse. She hadn’t even left herself any time to go to their apartment and grab a change of clothes. She grimaced at the fortune she’d have to spend in Main Street’s designer boutiques simply to freshen up. Add to it the helicopter bill, she’d blown her household budget in a few hours.

  It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, because they could. Caden brought in an obscene amount of money, and his wage alone covered most of the bills. But she refused to allow him to cover all of the household expenses. She paid for food, clothes, and some of the smaller bills. Not this month though.

  Feeling stupid for thinking about money when now was not the time—only the prospect of a meeting with Eloise could make her start thinking about the difference in their tax brackets—she crossed the neatly paved path that led to the hospital doors. Either side were perfectly shaped hedges, broken up with unusually styled topiary. She’d never seen a lion-shaped bush before, but apparently it was a day for firsts.

  Entering the hospital, she looked about the reception area, once again noting the sheer luxury of the clinic. She was used to wealth now, after two years of living with it while married to Caden, but the out-of-character opulence here still managed to astound her. It was like walking into a hotel reception rather than a medical center. A boutique hotel, at that.

  A light cream, textured wallpaper covered the walls, with one focal wall covered in a damask print. The reception desk consisted of stacked pieces of driftwood about the size of a limo. Surrounding the desk were club chairs tucked together around tables. In one corner, there was even a bar. Not a café. She could see the bottles of liquor glittering in the bright lights.

  Blinking at the oddity, Lia headed to reception and inquired after her husband.

  “If you’ll please take a seat, Mrs. Drummond. I’ll come over when I have more information from the doctors.”

  Startled, Lia frowned. “Why can’t I go and see him? Is he in the ER? Or being operated on?”

  The receptionist, a neat blonde in her forties, consulted a tablet sat by her left arm. She scrolled up, then down, and shook her head. “No, he’s been settled in a ward for further testing.”

  “If he’s in a ward, why can’t I go and see him?”

  The receptionist’s mouth tightened. Like she had a reason to be pissed. The goddamn nerve, Lia thought with a curse. “Because only Anchor residents are allowed past the first floor.”

  “Are you trying to tell me that I’m not allowed to see my husband unless he comes down to reception?”

  When the blonde nodded, Lia had to shake her head in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Those are the clinic’s rules, ma’am. I don’t make them, but it’s my job to enforce them.”

  “Will you please ask for my husband’s father to come down to reception?”

  “I can only page doctors and the attendants, ma’am.”

  Grinding her teeth, Lia stepped back from the desk and headed over to one of the seating areas. Dumping her bag on the table, she reached for her cell phone and dialed Christopher’s number. When he answered, she demanded, “How is he, Christopher?”

  “Caden is fine,” came the soothing retort. “He’s still unconscious, but the doctors believe he has food poisoning of some sort.”

  She frowned at that. His first words had relieved her, calmed her tension, but the latter statement had her stiffening up again. She sank down into one of the chairs as she asked, “What do you mean food poisoning? Enough to collapse? That’s some strong attack. Hell, more of a poisoning than anything else!”

  “I don’t really understand the ins and outs of it, Lia. He’s still going through tests.”

  “I’m actually at the clinic, Christopher, but the receptionist won’t let me past the first floor. Can you come and speak to her for me? Verify I’m not the family pauper.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t, Lia. Only Anchor’s citizens are allowed past the first floor.”

  “I’m Caden’s wife. Does that mean nothing here?”

  Christopher’s silence spoke louder than a thousand words.

  “I see,” she replied, slumping in her seat. And she really did see. There wasn’t a rule at all, but Eloise Drummond, bitch extraordinaire, had made her wishes known and the gold digger wife wasn’t allowed past Go.

  For the first time in a long while, defeat seemed to hit her right in the solar plexus. She wanted to cry, but rage burned away the tears, only for the futility of it all make her want to close her eyes and wish to be anywhere else
but here.

  “You should go to our home, Lia. Just ask for the Drummond residence. Everyone knows everyone here. Someone will guide you to it.”

  Not for the first time since her marriage to Caden, she wondered if she were in some sort of parallel universe. She’d traveled by helicopter to be here, only to be turned away at the door. Now, she was going to have to hike across town because her father-in-law wouldn’t even give her a lift to his house. He wanted her to ask strangers for directions.

  She’d known that she wasn’t good enough in their eyes, but never had it hit home so badly.

  “Please, Christopher, call me if there is any news. Anything at all. And if he can talk, please put him on the phone. I need to speak with him. As soon as he’s able. I need to hear he’s okay for myself.” Because you bastards won’t let me see him.

  That part went unsaid.

  “Of course, I will. I’ll call you with any updates as soon as the doctors give us any more information.”

  Dejected and knowing she couldn’t trust her father-in-law, Lia put the phone down and turned away from the reception desk, her eyes trailing over the atrium once more. She looked at the bank of lifts, which were directly in the receptionist’s line of sight and knew she wouldn’t make it into one of them without catching her attention, and probably forcing her to call security to have Lia physically ejected from the establishment.

  Deciding she’d had endured enough humiliation for today without adding “forcibly removed from a clinic” to the checklist of things she had to do in her life, she left.

  As she exited the clinic, she turned to look up at the building. Wondering where Caden was, she stared hard enough to make tears prick her eyes. At least, that’s what she told herself. It wasn’t the fact she couldn’t see her husband. Or that he was ill, and that she couldn’t sit with him, couldn’t see him or touch him...no, it couldn’t possibly be that.