PEEPING

CHAPTER THREE

Julian’s words still hurt me deeply, so I hadn't told him about my terminal illness yet. Although he begged me to forgive him all through the night, he woke me up with breakfast in bed, a pancake with “I'm sorry” written with jam on it. Finally, I told him that it was fine and pushed him to go to work.

A few hours later, I was set for my doctor's appointment at another hospital. The man looked to be in his late sixties with the kindest eyes that, even when he confirmed my stage four brain cancer, it felt like he was telling me good news.

“May I know how many times you've run this test? You seem a bit taken aback, Mrs. Averton.”

I adjusted myself and forced a smile.

“Well, I just found out myself last week. Even my husband didn't know.”

He frowned. “You mean you've not taken any tests until then?”

“No, I have. But all the tests I have taken, the doctor said it was just a weak immune system.”

He sat up properly, his frown deepening.

“Well, that's weird. Cancers get detected as early as stage one. Did you take the test in a standard hospital?”

“Yes, I did. In fact, it's one of the top hospitals in the city.”

“Then it is impossible for a professional doctor not to have detected cancer until stage four. I don't know for what reason, but I believe the doctor lied to you.”

“What?” I echoed weakly.

Wait, that is possible. How could a professional doctor not have detected cancer till it got to stage four? Why didn't I think of this? But why would he lie to me?

I went back to the hospital, but when I got there, I was told he had gotten transferred to the branch in Melbourne earlier that week. But the nurse gave me the office line of the branch.

When I pulled over a cab, I dialed the number. It connected on the fourth ring.

“Hello. Hope Link Hospital, Dr. Gideon speaking. How may I help you?”

My eyes lit up.

“Dr. Gideon? This is Tessa Averton, Julian’s wife. You remember me, right?”

No response.

“Dr. Gideon. You need to be honest with me right now. Did you know I had brain cancer and hide it from my husband and me all along?”

No response. His silence confirmed it was true. Anger boiled inside me.

“So, it's true. How could you? You know you can get sued, right? Why would you even do that? Were you paid to—”

The line disconnected immediately. I dialed the number again right away, but it didn't go through the second time.

When I got home, the anger had doubled, questions swirling in my mind. Why would Dr. Gideon lie? Why would he make me think I was simply a weak person when all along I had brain cancer, and how could he have possibly kept that from me until I had just three weeks to live? No, Julian must have this man arrested, even if it's the last thing I do on this earth.

As I made my way up the stairs, noises from Lila’s room halted me. It wasn't just any noise; it was moans. Soft, deep, and controlled, as if trying but failing not to be heard.

Could he be the father of Lila’s child and the owner of the used condom? Although I know I should probably mind my business in regard to Lila’s personal life, curiosity got the best of me. I walked up to her bedroom door, seeing that it had been left open slightly, and peeped in.

My gaze settled on Lila, her hair bouncing and her body jerking forward as someone thrust into her from behind. She was on all fours on the bed, her breasts slapping gingerly, her lips parted to release soft moans.

Then I slowly lifted my gaze to settle on the man thrusting into her.