Chapter 0017
“That’s your imagination,”
I said with enough coldness that I hoped he would drop the subject.
Lucian did not return to that particular topic. Though after a moment’s pause, he did continue speaking, “There are rumors that you are a mysterious Healer who travels around, never staying in any one pack”
I knew of those rumors. In the past, I’d actively worked to coltivate them, hoping to maintain the mystery around Dr. A, as well as putting distance between the doctor and my identity as just Aria
In offering a collaboration with you, I was merely expressing my interest in keeping you in the Nightfall Pack Your many talents are highly valued here. I’m certain we could offer you enough challenge to maintain your professional curiosity as well.”
I didn’t say a word. Instead, I simply watched him.
He was carrying his briefcase. I hadn’t noticed until now as he had been holding it unmoving at his side
Now, he lifted it up onto the reception desk and clicked open the latches that held it closed, allowing the top to pop upright. Reaching inside, he retrieved a manila folder filled with paperwork.
“I’ve brought my proposal for a detail project we could collaborate on,” he said. “I only ask that you look it over with an open mind, and consider it.”
He held the folder out toward me. To take it, I’d have to move closer to him. That wasn’t something I wanted to do, so I gestured to the reception desk
“Just leave it there,” I said. I didn’t promise to look at it, or tell him I wouldn’t
I hadn’t decided yet.
Lucian closed his suitcase, then went to sit on one of the chairs near the door that were for patients and their guests to wait on. Turning away from him, I continued my work, researching a few leads in some of the thick medical textbooks I kept at the back wall of the office.
After a time, Piper returned with Sheila, having finished her check–up.
Sheila glanced around the room. The moment she spotted Lucian, her whole demeanor changed. A flirtatious smile spread across her lips. She leaned heavily on one leg, jutting out her hip and her ass as if to call for his
attention
He didn’t give it to her initially, too busy looking at some other document he’d pulled from his briefcase while he’d been waiting
When he finally noticed her, he barely glanced at her. “Ready?”
Ready when you are,” Sheila replied, a purr in her voice.
I watched the scene from the corner of my eye, not wanting to face it directly. Why should I have to watch a pair of unfaithful people flirt with each other? The only time I ever wanted to see them again was for treatment.
I’d take Lucian’s money. I’d do my job. And that was it.
When they’d gone, I exhaled deeply, finally relieving some of the tension from my body. All the time Lucian had been here, I’d felt like a coiled spring, ready to pop.
+25 BONUS
at’s this?” Piper asked, spotting Lucian’s proposal on the reception desk.
ph it?”
Something King Lucian left,” I said. “He wants to collaborate on a project, but I’m not interested.”
Piper’s eyes widened with excitement, looking like a kid in a candy store. “Do you mind if I look through i
“Be my guest.” I told her, and returned to my research, not thinking much of it.
After a few minutes, Piper spoke up again. “Forgive me for Interrupting you, Dr. A, but this project… you are really going to turn this down?”
I glanced back at her. She’d turned in her chair, facing me rather than the desk. Confusion and unhappiness warred on her face.
What exactly was in that proposal?
“Do you think I shouldn’t?” I asked.
Did you read it?” she asked
That was a bit of an impertinent question, but given Piper’s passion and the fact that I hadn’t read it, no, I decided to overlook the hint of disrespect.
“No,” I admitted. “I assumed it would be something frivolous.”
“It’s anything but,” Piper said. With my admittance, her expression cleared into excitement again. She was practically bouncing as she explained to me, “This is a plan for promoting free medical care among the common people.”
Helping relieve some of the difficulties for the common people had always been my dream, and had helped drive me back in medical school… But later, after I got married, I gave up so many things, including that dream.
Piper, so excited and passionate, reminded me of my past self. I, too, used to look at everything through the lens of what could be, rather than what was.
Maybe I was too much older now, having let life beat me down.
Or maybe my marriage had changed me in a way that made me subdue my own desires for the sake of helping Lucian.
But it wasn’t fair to lay the blame all on him. Yes, I gave up my career to be Lucian’s housewife, but there was also a part of me that wanted to escape being a Healer.
Yet, when I gave up those dreams, I seemed to lose part of my true self in the process.
1150
“I really hope you reconsider, Dr. A. This proposal, if enacted, could help so many people.”
Before I could reply, Cathy came into the office, cursing under her breath. “Dr. A, I need to talk to you in private.”
Leaving Piper in charge, I escorted Cathy into my private office. The minute the door was shut, she started talking
“Sheila’s been spreading rumors, telling everyone that you and Lucian are getting divorced,” Cathy said, her brow crinkled with anger and annoyance.
I didn’t see the problem. “We are getting divorced.”
“Yeah, but she’s making it sound like Lucian left you for her!”
All of this news, this gossip, left me feeling so exhausted. My true self felt buried under so many layers of pain, heartbreak, and drama. I didn’t want to be the meek, housewife Aria anymore- the one who let everyone walk all.
ever bet
+25 BONUS
I wanted to be my true self once more. The woman who, like Piper, found passion and excitement in her work and in the good of the world around her.
To become that woman again, I needed to take a leap of faith.
I could put my feelings aside and focus on helping humanity as a whole. I didn’t need love for that.
“Love would be nice, too,” Luna whispered in my mind. “Why must we choose between the two?”
“We can’t have both,” I reminded her. “Lucian has turned his back on me.”
Yes. Lucian is a fine King “Cathy continued, not noticing the shift in me.
“But as a husband? He’s the worst! Where’s the coverage on that? Even with this fallacy of him leaving you for
be else, the press is only applauding him.”
by picked up a newspaper just to throw it back down again. “It’s outrageous.”
Moving toward my desk, I picked up the handset of my phone and punched in a familiar number.
Who are you calling?” Cathy asked, watching me.
Glanding back at her, I said firmly, “Lucian.”
