Just my secretary 

I didn't go home that night. Even after leaving Sophie's ward, my legs refused to carry me out of the hospital. I sat alone in the hallway with my back against the cold wall while nurses walked past me with hurried footsteps.

The hospital smelled strongly of antiseptic and medicine. Ironically, it used to comfort me once.

Years ago, hospitals made me feel alive. I loved saving people, wearing my white coat and feeling like my life actually had meaning outside being someone's wife or mother. Now the same walls only reminded me of everything I lost.

I lowered my head into my palms tiredly. Murphy's words kept replaying in my mind.

“You've done nothing except stay at home and overthink everything.”

A painful laugh escaped my lips. Was that truly how little he thought of me now? My chest tightened painfully as memories flooded my mind. The sleepless nights I spent checking Sophie's temperature, the countless hospital visits, the days I skipped meals because Sophie refused to eat unless I stayed beside her.

I turned down career opportunities, ignored surgeries I had to perform all because of family. But I was never truly acknowledged. I wiped my tears quickly when I heard footsteps approaching.

“Jane?”

I looked up immediately and it was Mason. He stood a few feet away dressed in a dark grey coat with concern written all over his face. The years had changed him greatly. He looked more mature now, sharper, calmer, and far more intimidating than I remembered during residency.

“Mason?” I blinked in surprise as I stood up immediately. “What are you doing here?”

He walked closer slowly. “I had a conference nearby and decided to stop by after hearing your daughter was admitted here.”

“You heard?” I asked softly.

He nodded. “I still have a few friends working in this hospital.”

I suddenly became conscious of how terrible I looked. My makeup had long been ruined by tears while my hair remained messy from the accident.

Mason studied my face carefully and frowned slightly. “You look exhausted.”

I forced a weak smile. “It's been a long night.”

His gaze softened. “How's your daughter?”

The question immediately made my chest ache. “The doctors stabilized her condition for now,” I answered quietly. “But they said things could become worse if we're not careful.”

Mason nodded slowly before glancing toward the hospital ward behind me.

“And your husband?”

I became silent instantly. Even mentioning Murphy suddenly exhausted me emotionally. Mason seemed to notice because his expression darkened slightly.

“Still the same?” he asked carefully.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Worse.”

He touched his mustache gently. “You know,” he began quietly, “when you disappeared from the medical field, everyone was shocked.”

I looked away immediately. “There's no point talking about that anymore.”

“There is,” he insisted calmly. “You were one of the best residents under me, Jane. You had talent most doctors spend years trying to develop.”

I swallowed hard. “That life doesn't belong to me anymore.”

“Why not?”

His question caught me off guard. I slowly looked back at him.

“Because my daughter needs me.”

“And who takes care of you?” he asked softly.

The question nearly broke me. Nobody had taken care of me in years. But I simply smiled weakly instead. “That's not important.”

Mason stared at me for a long moment before sighing quietly. “You always do this.”

“Do what?”

“Carry everyone's pain while pretending you're fine.”

My throat tightened painfully. Before I could answer, the hospital ward door suddenly opened.

Murphy stepped out first while loosening his tie tiredly. Nessa followed closely behind him carrying Sophie's medication bag. The moment Murphy saw Mason standing beside me, his expression darkened instantly.

His eyes shifted between us coldly. “Jane,” he called firmly. “Who is this?”

I straightened immediately. “Mason Carter,” I answered quietly. “My former mentor.”

Murphy's jaw clenched slightly as Mason extended his hand politely.

“Mr. Daniel.”

Murphy stared at the hand for two seconds before shaking it briefly.

“I've heard about you,” Murphy said flatly.

Mason smiled calmly. “Hopefully good things.”

The tension between them became obvious immediately. Nessa suddenly stepped forward with a bright smile.

“Oh my God,” she gasped softly. “The famous Dr. Mason Carter? I've seen articles about you online.”

Mason gave a polite nod. “Nice meeting you.”

Nessa smiled sweetly before linking her arm around Murphy's casually. The action happened so naturally that my stomach twisted painfully.

Murphy didn't even move away from her. Instead, he kept staring at Mason.

“You came all the way here because of Jane?” he asked coldly.

Mason remained calm. “I came because someone important to me was hurting.”

The air instantly became tense. Murphy's eyes narrowed dangerously and I immediately stepped in before things escalated further.

“Mason was just leaving,” I said quickly.

Mason looked at me briefly before nodding slowly.

“Right.” He reached into his pocket and handed me a card. “Call me whenever you need anything.”

I hesitated before taking it. “Thank you.”

Murphy's gaze dropped directly to the card in my hand making my heart beat race. Mason gave me one final look before walking away calmly down the hallway.

The moment he disappeared, Murphy turned toward me sharply. “What exactly was that?”

I frowned tiredly. “What do you mean?”

“You standing around with another man in the middle of the night.”

A disbelieving laugh escaped my lips.

“Are you serious right now?”

His expression remained cold.

“You're still my wife, Jane.”

“And you're still my husband,” I snapped back quietly. “Yet you keep bringing another woman around like she belongs in our marriage.”

Nessa immediately looked uncomfortable.

“Mr. Murphy,” she whispered softly, “maybe I should leave—”

“No,” Murphy interrupted firmly without taking his eyes off me.

I clenched my fists tightly. This man truly didn't see anything wrong with his behavior.

“I'm tired,” I muttered weakly.

I turned around immediately and started walking back toward Sophie's ward. But Murphy grabbed my wrist suddenly.

The contact made me freeze. “You're overreacting,” he said coldly. “Nessa is just my secretary.”

I slowly looked down at his hand gripping mine. Then I raised my eyes toward him.

“For a secretary,” I whispered painfully, “she seems to matter more to you than your own wife.”

His grip loosened slightly. For a split second, guilt flickered across his face. But before he could utter a word, Sophie's weak voice suddenly echoed from inside the ward.

“Daddy...?”

Murphy released me instantly and rushed back into the room without hesitation. Not once did he look back at me. I stood there frozen while Nessa gave me a small victorious smile before following after him.