Chapter 009.

Lily

The next day, I woke up early, Ruby was still asleep, her couch was quite comfortable since I didn't see the reason for me to walk all the way to the bedroom so I slept in the coach the whole night.

I was hungry, so I walked into the kitchen and fixed myself a drink. There were bananas in the fridge. I warmed some milk and blended the mixture to make a smoothie. It was soothing to my stomach, at least it was nutritious and something I could go by.

I was downing the nutritious drink when pain shot through my head like a lightning strike, it was sudden and unforgiving. I winced at the pain, I reached out my hand to touch my head when a sharp stab pierced my temples, making it hard to even think straight. It felt like needles pressing into my skull, each second worse than the last.

This all came from the crying yesterday and the stress I was going through. I wanted to go to the bathroom and take some of Ruby's painkillers then I remembered doctor Hayes advice. I shouldn't take just any medication for the baby's safety, so I decided to pay him a visit.

I didn't want to drive so I took a cup to the hospital. I wasn't elegantly dressed, just a pair of sweatpants and a hoody, the nurse at the reception told me that doctor Hayes had another patient at the moment and that I should wait to be called in the waiting area. I sat at the chair, reminiscing of how fucked up my life had been. Just then, my eyes caught a glimpse of someone familiar.

It was him, doctor….. I don't really remember his name but his diagnosis is something I wouldn't forget. I didn't think twice and walked towards him. He seemed to have seen me and his eye brows shot up in surprise. For a split second, I saw fear flush through his face. He wanted to change direction, but by the looks of things, he wasn't happy to see me.

He walked fast to the elevator but I ran and caught up. “Oh no you don't,” I muttered under my breath.

“Doctor,” I called out, but he ignored me, like he was deaf or something, he cared like I wasn't referring to him.

I pushed forward, closing the distance between us, he had already reached the elevator and his hand was slamming against the button repeatedly like that would make it come faster. I could tell that his hands were shaking.

“Going somewhere?” I said coolly. He flinched at my words. He turned slowly and looked at me, he was an old man, with tired green eyes and salt and pepper hair, his face was pale, beads of sweat gathering along his hairline despite the cold air. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“Doctor…” I said with a smile that didn't really reach my eyes, “ how are you?”

“Mrs… Lily,” he finally stammered, forcing a weak, brittle smile. “I—I didn’t see you there.”

I let out a small, humorless laugh.

“Really?” I tilted my head slightly, crossing my arms. “Because from where I’m standing, it looked like you saw me very clearly… and decided to sprint for your life.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

“I—I have somewhere urgent to be,” he said quickly, glancing at the elevator as if it would save him.

The doors still hadn’t opened. Unlucky bastard.

“Doctor…” I said, narrowing my eyes to his barge, “ doctor Killian, right?” I asked softly, and he nodded. “ We have some unfinished business,” I said flatly. My words made his entire body stiffen. color drained from his face so quickly it was almost fascinating.

I took a step closer, lowering my voice.

“Three years ago, you looked me in the eye and told me I had zero chance of ever getting pregnant.” My lips curved into a faint, sharp smile. “Zero.”

He didn't utter a word, he just stared at me blankly, though his hands were shaking.

“And yet,” I continued, placing a hand lightly over my stomach, “here I am.”

His eyes dropped to my hand. And the shaking got worse. Silence stretched between us; it was thick and suffocating. I narrowed my eyes towards him.

“Say something,” I said, my tone losing its softness.

“I—there must have been—” he started, but his voice cracked.

I raised a brow.

“A miracle?” I suggested dryly. “Is that what you’re going with?”

He opened his mouth again, but no words came out this time. Pathetic. My patience snapped.

“Let me make this simple for you,” I said, my voice turning cold, sharp enough to cut. “You either tell me the truth right now… or I make sure every authority that matters hears about this little misdiagnosis of yours.”

His head jerked up, panic flashing openly across his face.

“You wouldn’t—”

“Try me.” I said calmly, making him shiver some more.

“I have nothing left to lose,” I added quietly. “But you?” My gaze swept over him slowly. “You have everything.” Fear flashed through his face, like I had ruined him, which I probably would.

His shoulders sagged, his resistance crumbling like it had never been there to begin with.

“…Not here,” he whispered hoarsely, glancing around. “Please.” I held his gaze for a moment longer, then nodded once.

“Lead the way.”

I sat in his office, it felt smaller than I remembered, or maybe it was just the tension at the time. He clicked the door shut behind us, he ran his shaky hand through his hair, today he had been caught, the poor man looked like a rat trapped in a corner by a cat. He wiped his arms against his coat then sat down at his end.

“Well?” I said, leaning against the desk, my arms crossed. “I’m waiting.”

Silence stretched between us for a few seconds like he was debating whether to tell me or not. Then ..

“I was paid.”

The words dropped between us like a bomb.

I blinked once.

“…What?”

“I was paid to give you that diagnosis,” he said, his voice low and strained. Something inside me went very, very still, like I was expecting this.

“By who?” I asked quietly.

He hesitated for a second, my patience was growing thin by each second.

“Don’t make me ask twice.”

“Your… your stepmother,” he said quickly.

“She came to me before your test results were finalized.” he added.

My jaw tightened, like the realization was something I had expected, I mean who else than those two witches who had sworn to make my life in this world miserable.

“Go on.”

“I—I was in trouble back then,” he rushed, his words tumbling over each other. “I had debts. A gambling problem. It got out of hand, and I owed people money I couldn’t pay back.”

Disgust curled in my stomach.

“And she knew,” he added, his voice dropping. “She had proof. Records. Everything.”

Of course she did.

“She told me if I didn’t cooperate… she would expose me. I’d lose my license. Be blacklisted. I’d never practice medicine again.” His hands trembled again as he spoke. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” I said coldly.

He flinched at my words.

“I was desperate,” he whispered.

“And so you decided to ruin my life instead?” My voice rose slightly, anger finally breaking through. “You looked me in the eye and told me I could never have children!”

“I’m sorry—”

“Sorry?” I let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

He didn't say a word, his eyes dropped to the floor.

“I built my life around that lie,” I continued, with a shaky voice, not from weakness, but rage. “My marriage… my choices… everything.”

My hand curled into a fist at my side.

“And all of it was based on a deal you made to save yourself.”

“I didn’t think—”

“No,” I cut in sharply. “You didn’t.” I stared at him, really stared—at the man who had altered the course of my life with a single lie. And something inside me hardened.

“Thank you,” I said suddenly.

He blinked in confusion.

“What?” he asked like he didn't just hear what I had told him. I stood from the chair, grabbing my bag.

“You have given me exactly what I needed.” he raised an eyebrow, but there was still fear in his expression.

“What are you going to do?” he asked, unsure of my response. I paused at the door, my hand resting on the handle.

Then I looked back at him, my gaze cold and unwavering.

“That's none of your concern,” I said dismissively.

For some reason, my headache had gone down, and I changed my mind about seeing doctor Hayes. I think it was time I paid my beloved home a visit.