Three Strikes, You're Out

Eric's POV:

The lights outside the surgery room were lit for three hours, and still, there was no news of what was happening inside.

My mother had a bypass surgery two years ago. That was also when she told me that Mindy Graham was not the right woman for me, but I was stubborn and refused to leave her because I was convinced that Mindy loved me.

However, my conviction had come back to bite me in the back, and it hurt so much that I could hardly breathe.

My father was wracked with so much nervousness that he was at a loss. "What should we do? What if your mom doesn't make it? I—"

"That won't happen," I interrupted him, but I was also trying to convince myself of it. "Nothing is going to happen to Mom."

However, my voice was trembling. I had never felt so sacred in my life. That was also the moment my phone started vibrating. Johnny Packer had shared a clip with me that showed him in a hotel with Mindy running over to him, questioning him, "Why did you come back?"

Johnny said nothing, and Mindy lost control of her emotions and started tearing up. "You left without hesitation back then. What right do you have to show up after all this time to mess with my life?! How can you be so selfish, Johnny?"

I walked into an empty stairwell as I watched the woman lose control in the clip, showing a side of her that I had never known. My buddies were always commenting about how Mindy acted overly calm with anything that involved me, but I would always reply nonchalantly, "Women at the top always tend to keep their emotions in check, and I've always understood that about her."

What I saw made me realize that Mindy could lose control of herself. She could cry until she shook violently, and she could give up her dignity to beg for something. The only catch was that she would never do it for me, her husband. She would only do it for Johnny.

I shut my eyes as I tried my best to suppress the pain, and I continued watching. Johnny remained silent as Mindy questioned him. All he did was stare at her quietly, and Mindy suddenly smiled bitterly after getting a hold of herself.

All of her anger and hurt seemed to vanish in that instant, and she lunged into Johnny's arms, hugging him tightly. "It's good that you're back…"

Johnny hugged her back while his gaze swept past the camera casually, throwing a taunting look of glee at it. That was when the clip ended. I laughed self-deprecatingly, filled with sorrow.

Thunder suddenly rumbled, and rain started to fall, along with my tears. So, this was how Mindy looked when she loved someone. I had never experienced any of that with her before.

I wiped away my tears and returned outside the surgery room. That was when the doors opened, and I quickly rushed over with red and swollen eyes. "Doctor, how is my mom doing?"

"She's out of danger for now, but she has to be careful about being agitated again or she might not be able to make it the next time."

His words made me feel tense, and I nodded vigorously. "I'll make sure that never happens again. Thank you, doctor."

My father broke down, crying with relief. Right then, my mother was wheeled out of the surgery room. She looked pale and haggard, and I wanted to slap myself hard for realizing the truth about Mindy too late.

Not long after my mother was brought into her ward, a specialist pushed the door open. "Mr. Lambert, I'm the internal medicine specialist asked to come over by Ms. Graham. How is the patient doing?"

That was when I received Mindy's message: [I'm sorry. I had no idea your mom would get so agitated over this. I've gotten a high blood pressure specialist to check up on your mom in the hospital. She'll be fine.]

I clenched my phone with trembling hands as I read her ridiculous words. We had been together for five years, and she still had no idea what my mother's medical condition was. I tried my best to hold back my emotions. "You don't need to treat my mother. You should leave."

After making sure my mother had settled in, I went downstairs to visit the orthopedics department, not expecting to see Mindy and Johnny through the creak of the door. She was anxiously hugging Johnny, who looked pale.

The doctor asked, "What are your symptoms?"

Before Johnny could reply, Mindy described his symptoms without a second thought, "Johnny has always suffered from gout, but refuses to restrict his diet. He has always been weak, and his medication doesn't seem to be working."

My feet felt like they were made of lead as I stood outside the door, unable to leave. Every one of her descriptions of Johnny's symptoms was like a knife to my heart. She had no idea what my mother's medical condition was, but she could remember every detail of her ex-boyfriend from five years ago.

I smiled bitterly as I called the lawyer to get him to draw up my divorce papers. After that, I pushed open the door to another consultation room. "I'd like an appointment with Dr. Jackson from the orthopedics department. I'd like to give my consent to having the surgery overseas."