# Chapter 261: Wandering in Circles, a Heart Held Hostage
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 261 of *The Untouchable Ex Wife*. And oh, what a chapter it is — one of quiet pain, unspoken love, and the cruel mischief of fate. So grab a warm drink, settle in, and let me take you through this emotional rollercoaster where two aching hearts find themselves on the same hospital floor... yet still miles apart.
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Renee had truly sprained her waist — not some small twist, but a real injury that sent icy fingers of terror down everyone's spines. The news hit fast, and she was rushed to the orthopedics department for immediate care. And here's where fate decided to sharpen its claws: that department just happened to occupy the same floor where Stefan was being treated. After wandering the hospital corridors for what felt like an eternity, lost in his own tangled thoughts, Stefan ended up exactly where he had started. Right back beside her — or at least, beside the closed door that kept her from him.
If only distance were measured in meters instead of feelings. But that door might as well have been a wall of iron.
There, in Renee's crowded ward, a small army had already gathered. Family, friends, well-wishers — they'd all rushed over the moment they heard she was hurt. Among them were Leia and Justin. Every familiar face made the room warmer, safer, and more impenetrable to Stefan. He stood at an awkward distance, watching the comings and goings, biting the inside of his cheek. He wasn't thick-skinned enough to walk into that room. Not now. Not with his pride battered, their history heavy, and all those eyes watching him beg for scraps of her attention.
So he wavered there, a man forgotten by his own courage.
Just then, a nurse stepped out of Renee's ward. Stefan gave Elijah a quiet, meaningful glance — one that spoke volumes. Without a word, Elijah understood his task. He sauntered up to the young nurse and gently guided her to a quieter corner.
"Miss, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask about something. How is the patient in that ward?" Elijah asked, keeping his voice low and careful.
The nurse narrowed her eyes, instantly cautious. "Who are you two? Are you family? If you're not, I'm afraid I can't tell you anything. Patient information is strictly confidential."
Elijah puffed up his chest. "Oh, we *are* family, miss. Mr. Hunt here is the patient's husband."
"Husband?" The nurse looked Stefan up and down with blatant disbelief. She frowned: "If you're her husband, why didn't you walk right in? Why are you skulking in the shadows like some sort of creeper?"
Elijah bristled. "Why are you so stubborn? Just answer our question, you—"
Stefan massaged his temples, as if trying to smooth away the pounding headache building behind his eyes. He sighed a long, exasperated sigh and pulled Elijah aside before the sharp-tongued assistant launched a full-on verbal battle with the nurse. Then, turning to the nurse, Stefan let his shoulders drop. The defensiveness loosened from his voice, replaced by something raw and vulnerable.
"Yes, I'm her husband... but we got into a fight. A bad fight." He swallowed. "I was too cowardly to go see her face-to-face. I couldn't bear to watch her look at me with resentment. But I'm so worried about her... so please... tell me. How is she, really?"
The nurse hesitated. But finally — perhaps because of the handsome face before her, perhaps because of the sincerity cracking his voice, perhaps because no proud man would stage such a humiliating confession for nothing — she gave in.
"The patient is out of danger now," she said, softening a little. "But her waist is seriously hurt. She'll need to rest for two to four weeks. If she recovers well, she'll be fine... but if she doesn't recover properly..."
Stefan's heart plummeted. "If not?" His voice was little more than a strained whisper.
"She might end up paralyzed for the rest of her life."
The words hit him like a physical blow. His face turned white, his whole body went rigid, and a look of pure horror darkened his eyes — so terrifying that the nurse quickly turned and fled, leaving the two men in the heavy silence of the corridor.
"Paralyzed forever? That's horrible!" Elijah finally spoke, shaking himself out of the shock. He gave a quick, reassuring glance at Stefan. "But don't worry, Mr. Hunt. Medical staff always exaggerate. It's their job to list worst-case scenarios. Miss Everheart is strong and healthy — she'll recover. I'm sure of it."
Stefan remained frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. His mind churned with images he couldn't bear to see — Renee, lively and stubborn, trapped in a wheelchair for life. Renee, who had lit up every room she walked into, suddenly confined to stillness. And then he himself swallowed hard, fighting back the cold knot in his throat.
"Let's go," he finally said, his voice flat and drained.
Elijah glanced at Renee's crowded ward. "Where are we going now? I don't think we should go in — it's too crowded."
Stefan swayed a little. "I'm feeling a little dizzy. I want to go back and lie down."
He stumbled slightly, his head bowed, crestfallen. Great waves of grief, guilt, and exhaustion were crashing over him. Was this pain coming from his own ailing body, or from the thought of Renee's fragile condition? Even he didn't know anymore. All he knew was that his chest ached with a wound no medicine could reach.
And just like that, the mighty Stefan Hunt slipped away from her door, carrying a burden that grew heavier by the second.
Meanwhile, back in Stefan's own ward, chaos had erupted. Francine had arrived and discovered, to her absolute fury, that Stefan had vanished. "Where on earth is he? How can he just go missing?" Her voice echoed through the hospital like a storm alarm. She berated the medical staff without mercy, creating a scene so loud that anyone could have heard her from the far end of the hallway.
Just as the poor nurses were on the verge of tears, Stefan and Elijah walked slowly back into the room. Francine exhaled in sheer relief, then immediately switched into attack mode, glowering at Stefan.
"Where did you go? You're going to be the death of me with worry!"
But Stefan said nothing. He simply walked to his bed, lay down, and stared at the cold ceiling with hollow eyes. His heart was not in this room — it was lying two doors away, on a woman who might never know how much he still cared.
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## Reader's Impressions & Star Rating
Well, my heart aches after this chapter. This one was a masterclass in silent suffering. Stefan may be a powerful man, but here we see him stripped bare — too proud to enter her room, yet too consumed by love to leave the floor. His confession to the nurse — saying he was "too cowardly" to see her — was heartbreakingly honest. And that moment when he heard the word "paralyzed"? I could feel his entire world shatter. I'm also worried about his own condition — the dizziness isn't just emotional, is it? Something bigger is hiding beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Renee is surrounded by her loved ones while Stefan is alone with his regrets. The cruel irony hurts almost as much as the injury itself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars**
## Next Chapter Prediction
Trouble is brewing! Francine is clearly suspicious — and her protective instincts are running wild. I predict that in the next chapter, Francine will grill Elijah for the truth about where Stefan disappeared to, or worse, she'll march directly to Renee's room and cause a massive confrontation. Meanwhile, Renee, lying in pain, might hear whispers that Stefan was seen wandering around her floor — which could ignite a confusing storm of hope and resentment in her heart. And with Stefan's mysterious condition seemingly worsening, we may finally learn what exactly is wrong with him. Get ready — this emotional war is far from over.
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