His Mistress

I slowly took it out from my purse as I glanced at the caller ID. It was Mason—the doctor that took me through my training. I spent years studying medicine only to walk away from it when my daughter got sick. 

It's been years since we last spoke, I became shocked as my eyes flickered with surprise. I left the room as I walked down the hospital's hallway to avoid disturbing Sophie. I swiped over on my phone as my fingers shivered.

“Hello Mason." I said as my voice came out low.

“Hello Jane. It's been a long while, how are you doing over there?" His voice has suddenly changed as it felt as if I had never known someone like him.

I kept quiet for a while, let out a huff and then continued. “I've been doing great Mason. It's nice talking to you.” 

"My dream finally came to realization. I have a hospital now and if you hadn't given up on your dreams, you could have had a better spot. But whenever you decide to come back to your dream, there's a better spot for you in my hospital." 

Mason had always been a great neurosurgeon, he took care of critical surgeries and now he has his own hospital? That's a great move. 

"Thank you Mason, but I'm not interested right now. My daughter needs me." I hung up as I pressed my cheek hard.

I turned as I walked back to Sophie's ward. The moment I laid my hand on the door knob, I noticed it was already open. I'm very certain I had slammed this door closed. My heart beat quickened as I dashed into the room.

My legs froze when I walked in and saw my husband Murphy and his secretary—Nessa teasing Sophie.

He always said she was like a sister to him. But I never believed it. 

“Murphy. What is she doing here?" I asked as I pointed at Nessa. 

He raised his head slightly as he leaned comfortably against the hospital bed, Sophie resting in his arms like I wasn't even standing there.

“Nessa came with me when you called.” His voice remained calm and emotionless, almost as if nothing about the situation was wrong. “Why are you making it sound like she committed a crime?” My throat tightened painfully.

Nessa stood beside him holding a fruit basket with a worried expression plastered across her face. Her wine-colored hair fell perfectly over her shoulders while her lips curved into a soft smile that looked too innocent to be real.

“Mrs. Daniel, please don't misunderstand.” Her voice came out gentle and sweet. “Mr. Murphy was worried about Sophie so I insisted on following him here. I care about her too.”

The way she said it irritated me even more. Before I could speak, Sophie suddenly smiled brightly from Murphy's chest.

“Miss Nessa bought me chocolates!” she exclaimed happily.

Murphy chuckled softly as he brushed Sophie's hair away from her forehead. It was such a warm expression that my chest ached painfully. He rarely smiled at me that way anymore.

I swallowed hard. “Sophie just had an accident and chocolates are the first thing you gave her?”

Nessa's face immediately fell. “Oh my God...” she muttered softly while lowering her gaze. “I wasn't thinking properly. I just wanted to make her smile.”

Murphy's expression darkened instantly. “Jane, enough.”

I stared at him in disbelief. Enough? Our daughter had almost died tonight and somehow I was the problem? “She just got here and you're already attacking her,” he continued coldly. “Can't you act mature for once?”

My lips parted slightly. The words pierced deeper than they should have. Nessa immediately stepped back with fake guilt written all over her face. “It's okay, Mr. Murphy. Mrs. Daniel is just stressed because of the accident.”

That sentence only made me feel smaller. I clenched my fists tightly. “Murphy, I heard her voice earlier on your call.”

The room instantly became quiet. His eyes narrowed slightly. “What are you trying to imply?”

“You lied to me,” I snapped, my voice shaking. “You said you were having dinner with a client but you were celebrating another woman's birthday while your daughter waited for you all night.”

Murphy sighed heavily like he was already exhausted by me. “Nessa is my secretary, Jane. We had an important meeting with investors and afterward the team celebrated her birthday. Stop making unnecessary assumptions.”

I almost laughed bitterly. Was I truly becoming crazy? Or was Murphy simply too blind to realize how inappropriate everything looked?

Nessa suddenly walked toward me slowly. “Mrs. Daniel,” she said softly, “I would never do anything to disrespect your marriage.”

I looked directly into her eyes. I knew she was enjoying shattering my home. Just then, Sophie tugged Murphy's sleeve weakly. “Daddy...” her tiny voice came out tiredly. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

Murphy immediately softened. “Of course I will.”

My chest tightened painfully again. Sophie looked toward me and frowned slightly. “You can go home, Mom,” she muttered weakly. “Dad and Miss Nessa are here already.”

The words struck harder than a slap. Even Murphy seemed slightly surprised. “Sophie,” I whispered painfully.

But she avoided looking at me completely. I slowly turned away because I could no longer stop the tears gathering in my eyes. My own daughter didn't want me near her. I walked toward the window and wrapped my arms around myself tightly.

How did things become like this? I used to be Sophie's entire world when she was younger. She would cling to me constantly, cry whenever I left the room, and beg me to carry her even when my arms hurt. Now she looked at me like I was unwanted.

Murphy finally stood up from the bed carefully after making sure Sophie had fallen asleep again. “Nessa,” he said quietly, “wait outside for me.”

She nodded obediently before leaving the room. The moment the door shut, silence filled the ward. I wiped my tears quickly before turning toward him. “Tell me the truth, Murphy.” My voice came out broken. “Are you having an affair with her?”

His jaw tightened instantly. “Jane, do you hear yourself right now?”

“Answer me.”

He rubbed his temple frustratingly. “No. I'm not having an affair with Nessa.”

“Then why does she act like she belongs everywhere in our lives?”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Because unlike you, she understands the pressure I'm under.”

The words knocked the air out of my lungs. I stared at him speechlessly. “For years you've done nothing except stay at home and overthink everything,” he continued coldly. “Nessa helps me handle the company when things become overwhelming.”

My heart shattered quietly. Done nothing? I gave up my career, my dreams, my independence, almost everything all to take care of Sophie. And in his eyes, it meant nothing.

“You think staying home with a sick child is doing nothing?” I asked shakily.

Murphy looked away briefly before speaking again. “I didn't say that.”

“But you meant it.”

He remained silent.

I laughed bitterly under my breath while tears slid down my cheeks. “You know what's funny?” I whispered painfully. “I kept defending you to myself every single day even when you stopped coming home early, when you ignored me, and when people started talking about you and your secretary. I kept telling myself Murphy Daniel would never betray me.”

His expression flickered slightly.

“Jane—”

“But tonight?” I cut him off as my voice cracked. “Tonight our daughter almost died while you were buying another woman jewelry.”

“Enough!” he snapped harshly, causing me to flinch instantly.

Murphy closed his eyes briefly before speaking in a calmer tone. “This isn't the place for this conversation.”

“Then when will it ever be?” I asked weakly. “Because every time I try talking to you, you make me feel like I'm asking for too much.”

His face hardened again. “You're emotional right now. Go home and rest.”

I stared at him for several seconds. I nodded slowly while grabbing my purse tightly. As I walked past him, I stopped briefly beside the door.

“I left everything for this family, Murphy,” I whispered without looking at him. “I just hope one day you realize what that cost me.” Then I walked out before he could answer.

The moment the hospital room door closed behind me, the tears I had been holding back poured freely down my face.