From Donna to Doctor： My Second Life Begins

Maeve’s POV“Yes, I told you to put your career on hold—to take care of the house, the family. But I didn’t mean this. Can you imagine what my Don friends would say if I brought you to a party now? ‘Where did you find her, Adrian? In the homeless shelter?’ That’s what they’d whisper.”But Adrian didn’t stop there.“For years, I gave you everything,” Adrian said, his voice sharp. “The house. The money. Stability. All I ever wanted in return was a wife who could stand beside me. Be useful. Presentable.”He shook his head. “I told you I’d make you my Donna. That one day, I’d bring you into my world. But look at you now. Do you really think I can?”His eyes swept over me. “Greasy hair, blank-faced and your plus-size. You dressed like you’ve given up. Is that how you think you honor the promise we made to each other? Or are you just trying to humiliate me?”“I didn’t have time for polishing myself. I was already too busy…”Adrian didn’t even let me finish. With a bitter laugh, he added, “If

Maeve’s POVI started packing the clothes I planned to take with me to Africa.It wasn’t much—just enough to fill a single small suitcase. And even with it zipped shut by the door, the wardrobe looked untouched. The dresses Adrian had once bought me still hung where they always had. The jewelry sat in its velvet case, undisturbed.I wouldn’t be needing any of it.Ten years in this house, and all I had the right to take with me… was one suitcase.My phone buzzed. “I left an important envelope in my study. Get dressed and bring it to the Grand Hotel.”Another message came right after. “Make sure you dress appropriately. I don’t want anyone thinking my wife is some poorly dressed housewife who doesn’t know how to present herself.”I sighed.Ignoring Adrian’s texts would only invite another round of condescension when he got home. And the envelope—whatever it was—must’ve mattered. Adrian never asked for help. But tonight, he did.To avoid more trouble, I chose to go.I slipped into the dr

Maeve’s POVI hadn’t even opened the door when I heard laughter spilling through it.“Is Miss Viola going to be my new mother?” Cam’s voice, bright and eager.My hand stilled on the handle.“You can call me ‘Mom’ if you want,” Viola laughed. “Though I doubt your friends will believe it. I look far too young.”“I don’t care. I want you to be my mom. Mom, mom, mom!”Cam had never called me like that, and now he was calling someone else that way.I took a slow breath and pushed the door open.All three of them were sitting on the sofa. Viola looked up with a smile—polished, polite, but it never reached her eyes. Adrian barely glanced my way, like I’d interrupted something more important. Cam looked disappointed, like I’d ruined his moment.“I came straight back, like you asked,” I said, walking in. I sat down across from them.Adrian held out the paperwork. “Sign the last page. You don’t need to read it—my lawyer handled everything.”Still, I flipped through the pages.Adrian sighed, i

Maeve’s POVA few days later, just as I was looking at a patient report, Leah leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Have you heard? That man you saved? He’s the son of Hardem Wils.”I blinked. “Hardem Wils?” The name didn’t ring a bell.Leah gasped, “The Hardem Wils. Head of the mercenary faction stationed out here.”Still, I gave her a blank look.She rolled her eyes, eyes glinting with gossip. “He funded the hospital we work at and built half the roads and schools in the region. You knew how the locals hated the mercenaries, right? But they didn’t hate the Wils. The locals adore him. He’s basically royalty in Scevut. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of him!”I repeated the name under my breath, then shook my head. “No, I really haven’t.”Leah bumped my shoulder, teasing. “I knew why. You’d been working nonstop since you got here. You understood, Maeve—life isn’t just about stitching wounds and reading charts. There’s supposed to be joy, too. Laughter. Pa

Maeve’s POVI straightened, my voice firm. “This is my workplace. I expect both of you to respect me enough to leave.”“Dad!” Cam whined.Adrian waved him off impatiently. “Go play outside for a bit. I’ll talk to Mommy, alright? I’ll convince her to come home with us.”He said it like a certainty, like my life was still his to negotiate.Cam hummed in response and ran outside.Adrian turned back to me, hesitation flickering across his face. “Maeve, I—”“Adrian,” I said calmly, cutting him off, “I was very clear the other day. I live here now. I don’t want you just showing up and disrupting my life.”He scoffed, frustration flashing through his eyes. “You can’t seriously call this living. Look at this place—it’s practically a dump. I gave you two houses after the divorce. You could live comfortably in either of them. Isn’t that enough for you? And you could help me take care of Cam, too.”I turned fully to face him, “So even after we’re divorced, you expect me to keep working for the Ka