The tension in the airport lounge was thick, pressing against Emma as she tried to make sense of the situation. Just moments ago, she had been ready to leave New York behind. Now, she stood in the middle of a bureaucratic nightmare, unable to board the plane despite having done everything by the book. Her fingers curled tightly around her phone as she listened to the airport official explain—again—that they had received strict instructions preventing her from traveling. “We have been informed that you recently underwent major surgery, Dr. Morgan,” the airport manager said, his tone polite but unyielding. “For your own safety, and based on medical advisories, we cannot allow you to fly at this time.” Emma’s heart pounded. How did they know that? The only ones who were supposed to have access to her medical records were the hospital staff and herself. Her gaze flickered to Christian, who stood beside her, arms crossed, lips pressed in a thin line. He had sensed something was w
Papers were stacked neatly on Dr. Allen's desk, medical journals piled in one corner. Emma sat opposite him, her hands resting on her lap as she listened to him speak. “I’m truly grateful you reconsidered, Dr. Morgan.” Dr. Allen's voice was filled with warmth. “Staying in New York to recover is the right decision. Your health should always come first.” Emma gave a small, polite nod, but internally, she scoffed. Reconsidered? That made it sound like she had made the choice willingly. If it were up to her, she and Claire would be on a flight out of New York long ago. But she hadn’t been given that choice. The city—no, someone—had made sure of that. Dr. Allen continued, his smile widening. “And I must say, I’m beyond pleased that you’ve also decided to accept our offer as a visiting medical consultant. It's our privilege to officially have you here, Dr. Morgan.”“Thank you, Dr. Allen,” she said, maintaining a composed expression. Medical consultant.That was the formal title. Sh
The days passed in a blur as Emma worked tirelessly to settle back into New York. Between her new position as a visiting medical consultant and her ongoing recovery, she barely had a moment to herself. But despite her packed schedule, one thing took priority above all else—finding the perfect school for Claire.After thorough research and numerous calls, Emma had finally settled on one of the most prestigious private schools in the city. The curriculum was excellent, the environment warm, and most importantly, it felt like the right place for Claire to thrive.The final step in the process was the admission interview. Emma had expected it to be routine—just a few questions about Claire’s background, education, and personality. But as she sat across from the school's admission panel, she quickly realized the interview was more intrusive than she had anticipated.“Ms. Morgan, could you tell us a little about Claire’s father?”Emma stiffened slightly. The question wasn’t unexpected, but
Emma approached the meeting place Allison had chosen. It was an outdoor café, where people walked past in hurried strides, lost in their own lives. The sounds of traffic hummed around them—cars speeding by, horns blaring, the occasional screech of tires as a driver hit the brakes too late. Allison sat there, leisurely taking her drink, with a smug look on her lips as she patiently waited. She had chosen this place intentionally—open, public, with the rush of moving cars close enough to be unnerving. It was a setting that ensured Emma wouldn’t react too impulsively, and wouldn't lash out the way she probably wanted to.Emma knew this was a trap, yet she had come anyway. She wanted to find out Allison's true intention for suddenly inviting her out and also to dig out more information of what Allison knew about the accident. But what she encountered was totally unexpected.“Right on time,” Allison mused, tilting her head as Emma sat across from her. “I was starting to think you’d be
Emma gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as she drove through the city. The confrontation with Allison had left her a bit shaken. Even though Allison hadn't figured out the entire truth; the thought of someone like her knowing about Claire’s existence made her stomach churn. She had done everything to keep her daughter a secret, to ensure that no one—especially David—ever found out. And yet, with just a few photos and some speculation, Allison had come dangerously close to unraveling everything. Emma exhaled sharply and tried to push the thoughts away. She needed a distraction. Something—anything—to clear her mind. It wasn’t until she slowed at an intersection that she realized where she had driven. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at the familiar gate in front of her. The amusement park. Her amusement park. Or at least, it used to be. Her eyes wandered to the park, closed off from visitors. The park had been closed off ever since David gi
The sharp ring of a phone jolted Emma back to reality.She blinked, her breath catching in her throat as reality crashed down on her like a cold wave. She wasn’t supposed to be here, wasn’t supposed to let herself fall into old habits, into the warmth of David’s hold. The past had no place in her life anymore.With a sudden jolt, she pushed against his chest, breaking free from his embrace. David felt a sense of loss the moment Emma broke free from his grasp. It felt like a dream come true to have her in his arms, e en for a fleeting moment, but that dream has been cut short by the sound of his phone. Annoyed, he pulled the device from his pocket and switched it to silent mode without even checking the caller. Right now, nothing else mattered.Emma took the moment to steady herself, inhaling deeply as she fought to calm her pounding heart. When she finally spoke, her voice was sharp.“What kind of game are you playing, David?” Her tone was low, but the anger in it was unmistakable.
As Emma walked away from David, she didn’t turn back. She didn’t hesitate. She just left.Just as she reached her car, her phone rang. It was the hospital number. She froze for a second before answering.“Dr. Morgan?”“Yes, speaking.”“Henry is awake,” the voice on the other end said. “Your presence is needed at the hospital.”Her grip tightened on the phone. “I’ll be there as soon as possible.”Ending the call, she yanked open her car door and slid into the driver’s seat. Turning the key, she expected the familiar hum of the engine, but instead—silence.Emma frowned. She tried again. And again. The car refused to start.“No, no, not now,” she muttered under her breath, trying once more. The car remained dead.Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone to call her mechanic, but after several attempts, all she heard was,‘The number you have dialed is currently switched off’“Damn!” Emma exclaimed angrily. She needed to be at the hospital immediately; why wouldn't her car start?
As soon as Emma stepped out of the car, her gaze immediately landed on Allison, who stood a few meters away, watching them intently.She didn’t miss the way Allison tensed, how her fingers curled slightly into her palm before she forced a smile. But Emma saw right through it. The smile was tight, strained—forced. Emma knew exactly what was running through Allison’s mind. She knew Allison would assume the worst, wondering why she was together with David, but she didn’t care.Whatever Allison thought was her problem. Allison, however, quickly masked her emotions. She didn't want to act like a jealous lover jumping to conclusions and acting irrationally in front of David.Instead, she kept her composure and turned to him. “Our son just woke up. Come see him; he's been asking after you.” Her voice was steady, but Emma didn’t miss the flicker of unease in her eyes.David barely got a word in before she grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside.Emma exhaled. She had no reason to follow th
"Claire, don’t forget to put your lunch bag in the car," Emma called out from the kitchen as she zipped up her bag."Already did, Mom!" Claire shouted back from the living room, hopping around with her little pink backpack.Emma suddenly heard the front door open. She assumed it must be Claire, already heading to the car to wait for her.She smiled faintly and wiped her hands on a towel.Just as she turned to grab her keys from the counter, she felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind. She stiffened slightly, caught off guard."Good morning," Christian murmured softly into her hair, his breath warm against her neck as he planted a soft kiss on her neck.Emma closed her eyes for a moment. "Hey... you're early.""Wanted to see you before I headed out to work," he said, his arms holding her a little tighter. "How’s work been these past few days? I'm sorry I've been so occupied with work these days."Emma smiled. "It’s fine, I understand. Work has been okay. I mean,
After finishing their drink, Max leaned back in his chair and checked the time."Oh man. I have an early morning meeting," he said, pushing his chair back and reaching for his jacket. "Gotta head home now."David gave him a short nod and a half-smile. "No worries. Thanks for tonight.""You guys take care," Max said as he patted Felix on the shoulder and gave David a nod. A few seconds later, he exited the dimly lit lounge and headed for the parking lot.Felix turned to David, who had been relatively quiet for the past ten minutes, staring into the near-empty glass in front of him."I'm going to use the restroom quickly," Felix said, standing up. "Wait for me here. I'll drop you home."“I'd rather wait outside. I could use some fresh air anyway."“Alright. That sounds cool. I'll be with you shortly.”Felix walked off without thinking much of it. The night had just been…uneventful so far— especially when he had gotten the message an hour earlier, before they headed to the bar, about Gav
Dr. Allen adjusted his glasses as he removed the stethoscope from David’s chest. A small, satisfied smile curled his lips as he read the vitals on the monitor beside the bed.“Well, I must say,” he began, scribbling something on his clipboard, “you’ve responded remarkably well to treatment, David. Much better than expected.”David, still seated upright in his hospital bed, gave a faint smile. “That means I’m finally getting out of here?”Dr. Allen chuckled. “That’s exactly what it means. I’m officially discharging you today.”David sighed in relief. It had been weeks of pain, rehabilitation, and heavy silence. The idea of leaving those sterile hospital walls felt like finally breathing after being underwater.“However,” Dr. Allen added, his tone firm, “there are some things you must avoid for now if you want to make a full recovery. No carrying anything heavy, no sudden strenuous movement, no driving yet, and definitely no alcohol.”David raised both hands in surrender. “Got it. No he
"I'm just tired, Sophie," Emma admitted, leaning her head back against the wall. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. Everything feels like it's spinning, and I can't catch my breath."Emma sat on the edge of her bed, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, though she tried to keep it steady.Sophie, on the other end of the line, responded gently. "Emma, calm down, okay? Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine."Emma let out a hollow laugh. "You always say that. But things aren’t the same as before, Sophie. Ever since you moved overseas, everything changed. I feel like I lost one of the few people who actually understood me."Sophie sighed. "I know. I miss you too, Em. But you have to stay strong. For Claire, at least. She needs you more than anyone. You have to find a way to completely move on. Let go of him."Emma's voice grew quieter. "I have, Sophie, I have. I just….I honestly wasn’t thinking straight when I sent those messages to
David stood motionless in the middle of the hospital parking lot, watching the tail lights of Christian's car disappear into the distance, taking Emma with them. His heart felt like it had been ripped apart and left open in the cold. The wind picked up again, fluttering his shirt, but he didn’t feel it. Not really. Not when the weight of those messages he had once thought were filled with hope had now become a cruel reminder of what he had lost.Slowly, he turned away, each step heavier than the last. He didn’t know where he was going, didn’t even care. His body just moved, his feet dragging him forward, down streets he didn't recognize, past people he didn't see. All the while, his mind played the memory of Emma's voice again and again."I thought I was texting Christian."Those words. That mistake. That accidental plea for help that had revived the hope in his heart only to crush it completely.By the time David became aware of his surroundings, he had already left the hospital gro
David froze when he saw that several text notifications had suddenly appeared at the top of the screen.And they were all from Emma.One by one, he opened them.Emma: Where are you?Emma: Please...Emma: Can you come?Emma: I'm really scared right now.Emma: Please...Emma: I don’t know who else to call.Emma: Are you coming?Emma: Please answer me...Emma: Are you there?Emma: I need you.He stared. Stared like the wind had been knocked out of him. The silence of the hospital room suddenly felt deafening.Ten messages.All from Emma.His fingers trembled as he held the phone. His breathing became shallow. Every part of him froze, as though struck by lightning. He blinked, but the messages remained on the screen.What happened to Emma?!His mind was full of questions he couldn’t answer. But then something hit him…Emma had texted him.When she was afraid.When she didn't know who else to call.She had thought of him first.A wave of emotion surged through him—disbelief, hope, relief,
David walked slowly into his hospital room, his eyes dull, his steps heavy. His two closest friends, Max and Felix, stood up from the chairs near his bed the moment they saw him."There you are!" Max said, walking toward him. "We were just about to go look for you. Where the hell did you go? Why did you leave your room in your condition?""Yeah, man, we came in and didn’t find anyone here. Not even Allison," Felix added. "The guards outside said you left without telling them where you went. We’ve been really worried."David didn’t answer. He didn’t even acknowledge their presence. He just walked slowly toward his bed and sat down, staring blankly ahead.The two friends exchanged glances."David," Max said carefully, bending down a bit so he could meet David’s eyes. "What’s going on with you? You okay? Did something happen?"Still no reply.Felix pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed. "Talk to us, man. We’re not just here to visit. We’re your friends. You can tell us anything."
"Are you going to pretend you didn’t see me?”Emma froze. Her fingers tightly clutched the clipboard as she closed her eyes.“Stay away from him, Emma,” She said to herself. “Stop caring. Draw the line.”Yet just as she opened her eyes, hardened her resolve not to meddle into David's affairs anymore, and turned to leave again, she heard it—a low, painful groan.Emma turned around sharply.David had slumped down to the floor, holding his side, his face twisted in pain."David!" she called, rushing toward him without thinking. Her heart thudded in her chest as she knelt beside him. Her hands trembled as she touched his arm.He shouldn’t have been out of his room. His body was still weak, still healing. He had no business walking around the hospital like this."You shouldn’t be here," she whispered, trying to steady her voice.David groaned again.Emma glanced around. It was obvious he wouldn’t be able to return to his ward in that condition. Emma didn’t have a choice. She had to take hi
Dr. Allen had seen enough patients to know when someone was pushing themselves too far. And David, seated upright on the bed with a restless expression and an IV line still in his arm, was doing just that."I just need a walk, Dr. Allen," David muttered. "I’ve been in this room for too long. I feel fine now."Dr. Allen arched a brow, folding his arms. “You feel fine? David, you were brought in barely breathing a week ago. Your body’s still recovering. Walking around unsupervised is not just reckless—it’s dangerous."David exhaled, his eyes fixed on the window. His once sharp features were now pale and hollow, his frame thinner than usual. The last seven days had taken a toll, though he would never admit it aloud.“I hear you,” David said after a pause. “I do.”Dr. Allen studied him for a long moment. There was something else behind that tired gaze—impatience, yes, but also pain. Emotional, not physical. But he had done his duty.“Good,” Dr. Allen finally said. “Get some rest. I’ll che