The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

~ Calum ~
Calum was in a bad mood. His heated exchange with Jacob left him questioning his life choices. His friend had never opposed his decisions… until that day.
“Maybe Jacob just feels sorry for Sage—you know, because of Angela,” Melvin suggested.
On the sofa, Rose averted his gaze. She opened her mouth but closed it again. Later, though, she muttered, “It’s not reason enough to stay in a marriage you’re not happy with.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” Melvin said.
Before Calum could react, the door to the private suite opened. Amanda and Cedric Montclair walked in.
“Oh, my poor Sage. What happened?” Amanda asked. Then, her gaze landed on Rose. Immediately, Amanda’s expression darkened. “What is she doing here?”
“Mother, we already talked about this,” Calum coldly said.
Amanda raised her chin and ignored Calum’s words. Instead, she walked toward Sage and sat on the hospital bed. Cedric followed, also without giving Rose any regard. They both checked on Sage’s condition.
Although his parents did not ask, Calum offered the information. “She had an asthma attack.”
“She hasn’t had one in what? Two years, I think. Soraya took care of Sage and made sure she was on top of her diet, medication, and environment,” Amanda pointed out while holding Sage’s hand. “What exactly happened?”
Calum did not respond. He knew the answer would only anger his mother. Instead, he said, “It just suddenly happened.”
“I should go now, Calum,” Rose offered to leave.
Amanda and Cedric said nothing, not even to Melvin.
“I’ll take them to the parking lot,” Calum said. “Do you mind staying with Sage?”
“Go,” Cedric said.
~ Amanda ~
Amanda repeatedly kissed Sage’s forehead after Calum left, but after a while, Sage woke up.
“Grandma?” Sage called. The second she realized who was holding her, the little girl embraced her tightly. “Grandma!”
What happened next surprised Amanda.
Sage… cried.
“Grandma, I want Mommy,” Sage said. “I want Mommy! I hurt Mommy! I want Mommy.”
Sage continued to cry her heart out. She sobbed so hard her shoulders shook.
It took a while to soothe Sage. Cedric had to fetch a glass of water for her.
Sage only drank a little. After that, Amanda asked, “Sage, what do you mean? Why did you say you hurt your mommy?”
Guilt flashed in Sage’s eyes. She gulped and told her the story. “I was with Aunt Rose and Daddy. Then Mommy came…”
When Sage was done narrating what happened, Amanda sighed. “So that’s it. That’s what happened.”
“This is also our fault,” Cedric said. “We should have stepped in to care for Sage.”
“Grandma, I want Mommy,” Sage said, weeping again.
Amanda nodded, and Cedric automatically called Soraya, but to their dismay, he said, “Her phone is off.”
Yet again, Sage broke down in tears. “Mommy is mad at me, I know. She’s mad at me.”
Amanda may not have known everything that went on in her son’s life, but she heard a few things. What especially broke her heart was learning how Sage had celebrated her birthday with Rose rather than with Soraya.
At that time, Amanda and Cedric were out of town. They were supposed to hurry back to attend Sage’s intimate gathering at their home, but Claire had accidentally shared that they were celebrating the birthday without Soraya.
That news had left her and Cedric furious, but they had tried many times—countless times—to let Calum see through Soraya’s efforts. However, he never listened. The next thing they knew, Soraya had left their marital home.
Soraya became evasive, sometimes not answering their calls or texts. At the same time, Cedric and Amanda had become occupied with their health. They could only do so much to mend things with Calum and Soraya.
Now, however, they recognized how their son’s marriage was beyond saving.
When Calum returned, he caught Sage crying in Amanda’s arms. He looked concerned and asked, “Sage? What happened? Why are you crying?”
“What happened? Since when did Rose become Sage’s mother? You let your daughter push her mother away. That’s what happened!” Cedric snapped. “Sage told us, and it was your fault—you and Rose—that Sage had an asthma attack!”
Sage suddenly clung tighter to Amanda. She buried her face in her clothes, like she was afraid of how her father would react. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Calum gulped. He took a deep breath and said, “It’s not your fault, Sage. It was Daddy’s fault. I’m sorry you got sick because of me. We never should have brought you to the meeting.”
“Come here, Sage,” Calum said. Amanda and Cedric gave way for them.
They watched as Calum embraced Sage. He rubbed Sage’s back and said, “I’ll do better. I’m sorry.”
Sage cried harder. She hugged Calum tighter and begged, “Daddy, I want Mommy.”
“Mommy always takes care of me when I’m sick,” Sage whispered.
Calum nodded, but before he could try to reach out to Soraya, Cedric said, “We tried calling her. Her phone is off.”
Still, Calum attempted to contact Soraya. He sent her text messages, but to no avail.
“It’s already evening. Maybe Soraya has rested for the day,” Amanda said. “We could try to look for her, but then again, we don’t know where she’s staying at the moment.”
“Yes, Philip had mentioned that Soraya rented an apartment in Cedar Heights,” Cedric said.
Amanda and Cedric lingered in the hospital for another hour, feeding Sage. Later, Belinda, the housemaid, arrived to help look after Sage. Amanda and Cedric asked permission to leave.
Outside Sage’s room, the couple spoke to Calum. Amanda said, “Calum, when Sage is out of the hospital, maybe she should stay with us. I know you love Sage, but let’s face it. You are too busy—busy running the company, and busy doing errands for Rose.”
“Don’t think we don’t know—how you are investing in her company and helping her expand her fashion line,” Amanda added.
“I know. I know. We don’t have any right to interfere with your life because you are already an adult, but at least, let us take care of Sage when obviously, you can’t without Soraya around,” she continued.
“No,” Calum said. “Sage is my daughter and my responsibility. I’ll pay more attention to her from now on. There’s no need to worry yourselves with my problems. You have concerns of your own.”
“I’ll talk to Soraya about Sage in the morning,” he assured them. “We’ll figure something out.”
“Very well. If you say so,” Amanda said. “But we, as Sage’s grandparents, also have a say in her life. Calum, if we ever see Sage in a difficult situation again, we will step in and take her from you.”
“I can take care of Sage,” Calum said, his voice firm. “Rose and I can take care of Sage.”
Amanda let out a disappointed sigh. She said, “Fine. We’ll be back tomorrow. But, you better not disappoint us, Calum.”