Alpha Billionaire Series
The Wrong Choice Epilogue

GAVIN

Irolled over in bed, stretching my arm out to feel for my beautiful bride, but the bed was cold. Instead of the warm kiss of her skin, I felt a piece of paper. I smiled before I even opened my eyes, knowing she'd left me a note.

Propping myself on one elbow, I slid the paper toward me and folded it open. Madison's handwriting was scrawled across the lined surface. She had flowery swirls and loops in her signature. It made me wonder how she'd sign my last name after today. Gavin,

It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day! I'm off to get hair and nails done with Lexi. Then we have to make sure the dress still fits-I'm sure it will. But I wanted to leave you this note. When we exchange vows today our souls will be inexorably linked.

You are the love of my life. I've never found anything quite so special with any other person, even my best friends. And Lexi and I have known each other a very long time. Your friendship over the past almost two years has been such a treasure to me, and knowing that I get to call you my husband so soon... Well, it means the world to me.

So get up, eat the breakfast I laid out for you. Enjoy your morning. Finish your last set of rounds at the hospital before our honeymoon and brace yourself.

You're marrying probably the biggest adventure seeker on the planet.

I love you, Gavin.

-Madii

She signed her name with an XO and drew a heart next to her name. I smiled and collapsed back to the bed. The day had started well, though it would have been perfect had she been there in bed next to me.

With so much to do, I couldn't lie in bed and waste any time, so I popped out of bed and threw on some shorts, heading to the kitchen. Madii had left me brioche with strawberry cream cheese and a glass of OJ. I scarfed down a few pieces and opted for coffee instead of juice, but I'd have to make sure to thank her later on.

After a shower and getting dressed for the morning, I climbed in my car to stop by the hospital. Rounds would take me roughly an hour, and then I would be a free man for two weeks. I had never had two full weeks off in my entire career, so it would feel strange. Of course, I still had to be on call for all my patients, to answer questions Rutger had as he took over my caseload. I'd covered for him on his holiday, so it was fair that he covered for me too.

At the hospital I walked into whoops and cheers. The entire staff knew I was getting married, and they didn't let me forget it. Jokes were made and I played along like a good sport, but I was really ready to get the work over with and head to Nick's house to get ready for the wedding.

"Are you really ready for this?" Gary leaned over the nurses' desk and folded his hands in front of himself, elbows holding him up. I turned my back and leaned on the chest-height counter, watching as an elderly man was wheeled by in a chair by an orderly. "Yeah, I think I'm ready. I've been ready for this for years. I just didn't have the right partner." The orderly waved at me, and I waved back. I didn't know him, but it seemed everyone knew me.

"You know, marriage is a lot like a surgery." Gary mused aloud, and I was certain he thought he was going to offer me some deep introspective advice I had never heard of. So, despite the fact that I wanted to roll my eyes at him and walk away, I listened. "Yeah? How's that?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest. Pam walked past, waving and smiling. She was on her way somewhere in a hurry, but I didn't ask.

"Well, you cut into your patient and see the guts, right? Like you open them up and it's messy. You have to sort out the issue, locate what's wrong, fix it, then sew them up. And sometimes you have complications. Except, the thing is, with brain surgery, you don't get a do over. If you f**k it up, they die, or something horrible goes wrong. At least with marriage you get a second chance."

Gary slapped me on the back and stood next to me. I couldn't help but laugh at his "advice." It was the worst analogy I'd ever heard. Even my own father had done better than that when I talked with him about things, and he had been about as absent as a person can be as a parent and a partner. Mom, however, was another story. She hadn't even commented more than "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Thanks." I started to walk away, but Gary kept talking, walking alongside me.

"And just wait 'til you start having kids. Those little bastards just never let up. You think you have issues with your spouse until you have kids. Then everything is like brain surgery on steroids. You have no clue which way is up."

"Thanks for the advice, doc. Now if you don't mind, I have two more patients to visit, and then I'm going to go kiss my lovely bride for the first time as my wife." I winked at him and started to walk away when his pager went off. It was the alert code, which meant something emergent was happening. So, I paused and watched his face as he called the number. "What is it?" I asked, but he held up a finger.

He blanched, his Adam's apple bobbing as he took a breath. "You might want to call Madison."

Confused, I shook my head. I studied his face for a moment as a sudden realization hit me. Horror curdled my stomach. "Why?" I didn't want to know the answer. Part of me hoped it was a car accident where two surgeons were needed immediately. Part of me knew what he was about to say even as he opened his mouth.

"He's awake."

My world started to spin. My chest tightened. I leaned on the nurses' station and waited as the adrenaline surge took over.

"He's what?" I struggled the words out, trying to understand what was happening.

"He has asked for Madison. Gavin, Drew is awake."

Gary's voice faded in and out, but all I could do was focus on the one phrase "he's awake." My worst nightmare was not a nightmare; it was reality.

Madison was getting her hair or nails done right this instant for our wedding. In less than five hours she would be my wife. He couldn't be awake. Not now. I tried to focus on Gary's face, but my brain zoned out, my eyes not able to focus on anything. My pulse throbbed in my ears; my body felt numb and heavy.

I vaguely recalled hearing Gary make a phone call, to whom I did not know. I stood there for a long time, long after Gary left my side. Tanya came and asked me a few questions which I couldn't answer, and then left. The ticking of the clock was a hammer smashing my dreams. My phone vibrated in my pocket several times, but I ignored it. Then it rang, but I stood there staring at the computer on the nurses' desk, unable to move.

"Are you okay?" Pam put a hand on my arm and offered a concerned look. She pushed a chair up to me, but I refused to sit. Sitting felt weak, powerless. I was not powerless. I had spent months courting Madii, wooing her. She was in love with me. Our wedding was today. "Gavin, you need to sit down."

"How long... What time is it?" I mumbled, turning her direction without really looking at her.

"It's been over 45 minutes." She held a gla*s of water out to me.

"Did someone call...?" My throat was a knot of emotion, barely choking out the words.

"Yes, they called her. Gary did it. You should go to his room, Gavin. She'll be here soon." Pam's warm tone pulled me a bit further out of my stupor. She walked with me slowly as we made our way down the hall.

I could see from a distance how the door to Drew's room was propped open. Before I got there, I knew the chaos of the moment would be too much for me. Nurses and doctors rushed in and out of the room, the crash cart stood outside his door. There were two orderlies manning it as if it would be stolen.

"Gavin!"

Madison's voice stopped my heart. I turned to see her rushing up the hallway, her hair in rollers, makeup half done. She looked like she'd been crying. She raced to my arms and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe.

"God, I thought something happened to you. Dr. Rutger called me and told me there has been an emergency and I needed to come right away." She held me at arm's length and looked me over. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"I... I-" I couldn't say. I was not okay. Not even a little.

"You don't look hurt." Her eyes shifted to Pam, who frowned, looked down, and walked away. "What's going on? What's wrong? Why was I called here? It's bad luck to see me before the wedding-" "He woke up."

Like a ghost haunting the hallway, my voice crept out and bit her. She stopped, releasing me and backing away. Her face paled, her eyes grown wide.

"What did you say?" she asked me, hands clutched to her stomach.

I stared at her face for a long moment, unable to move. I watched as her panic turned worse, her pulse quickening. I could see her chest shaking with each heartbeat. The tears formed in her eyes. "He's awake. He asked for you." My tone was hollow, my words just sounds at this point.

I thought she'd cry, or scream, or run to his room, or run away. Anything. But she blinked a few times and stared at me. I watched her start to sway, then I watched her knees buckle. My hands shot out to catch her as she collapsed, just like my entire world.

I pulled her to my body, then slowly lowered to the ground, kneeling there and holding her as she passed out-the shock was too much for her system. It was too much for me too.

The entire hospital vanished in that moment. The only thing left was the woman I loved in my arms, blacked out, and the remnants of my hopes and dreams floating away. Madison was supposed to be mine. Drew was not supposed to wake up. This wasn't supposed to happen.