The Bride They Called a Gold Digger
Chapter 14 - The Bride They Called a Gold Digger
The headline was cruel.
DYING MILLIONAIRE MARRIES OLD FLAME IN HOSPITAL—FAMILY FIGHTS LAST-MINUTE TRANSFERS.
Eleanor stared at the article.
There was a photograph of her leaving the hospital.
Someone had circled the wedding ring.
Comments appeared beneath it.
Gold digger.
Inheritance hunter.
Shameless.
Eleanor closed the browser.
Thomas was furious.
Diane wanted to issue a public statement.
Richard said nothing.
Then Eleanor realized something.
The reporter had details only a family member would know.
She looked at Richard.
He shook his head.
“It wasn't me.”
Diane did not believe him.
Then Caroline admitted the truth.
Before coming to the hospital, she had spoken angrily to an old college friend.
That friend worked in media.
Caroline had not expected publication.
“I ruined everything.”
Eleanor surprised her.
“No.”
Caroline stared.
“You were angry. You talked to someone you trusted.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I know.”
Eleanor refused interviews.
She refused to defend her love story to strangers.
Then something unexpected happened.
The hospital chaplain who performed the ceremony gave a short statement.
“I witnessed two elderly people make vows while fully aware that time was limited.”
Nothing more.
No money.
No scandal.
The statement spread.
Then a nurse posted anonymously:
I watched the bride sit beside him all night before anyone knew whether he would survive. Gold diggers don't usually spend hours adjusting oxygen tubes.
Public opinion shifted.
But Eleanor did not care anymore.
Thomas reached for her hand.
“You all right?”
She smiled.
“I survived high school gossip in 1972.”
He laughed.
“I think I can survive Facebook.”
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For a moment, they were simply two old people in love.
And that was enough.
