Chapter 4: An Unexpected News
1909 Words
Eight years later.
“Dr. Woods, you look tired. You need some rest after being on your feet for six hours. Thank God the surgery was successful.” Daniel followed behind Jasmine, rolling his sore shoulder.
“Daniel, as medical practitioners, our job is to save lives. We don’t need to complain.” Jasmine didn’t slow her steps, her tone calm, but firm.
As Daniel was about to reply while they walked towards the elevator leading towards Jasmine’s office, the elevator opened, revealing Dr. Andrew and his assistant, John.
“Andrew, it’s been a while.” A small smile tugged Jasmine’s lips, the kind that came only when someone’s heart felt at home.
“Jas, you look exhausted. You’ve been working overtime again.” Dr. Andrew frowned as he walked towards Jasmine and pulled her into a hug.
“I reek of sweat, Andrew. Don’t hug me.” Jasmine mouthed, though her hands were already wrapped around him. It’s been a week since she last saw him, and she missed him.
Daniel and John exchange knowing glances, their eyes shimmering. For the past eight years, Jasmine and Andrew had been inseparable.
“I know, but that wouldn’t stop me from hugging my little girl.” He rested his jaw on Jasmine’s head, inhaling her scent.
Jasmine chuckled softly, her hands wrapped tightly around him. The familiar scent of his cologne eased her tension, her tired body seemed to find strength again.
A few seconds passed before they finally broke the hug, eyes locked onto each other.
“I warned you to stop taking double shifts, Jas. Look at the dark circles under your eyes.” Dr. Andrew sighed, his hand brushing slightly under her eyes, his heart aching.
“Dr. Andrew, it’s my fault. Don’t blame Jasmine. I’m the one who didn’t take good care of her.” Daniel butted in before Jasmine could reply.
“It’s none of his business, Andrew. Don’t blame him.” Jasmine mouthed before Andrew could say anything.
Dr. Andrew sighed helplessly. “I’m not blaming anyone here.” He looked between them. He knew that if he said more, they’d just keep defending each other.
“Daniel,”
“Yes sir,”
“Escort her to her office, and make sure she gets some rest. If she tries to take any shift in the next seven hours, you must inform me immediately.”
“Noted, Dr. Andrew.”
Jasmine didn’t argue. After exchanging an understanding look with Andrew, Jasmine walked into the elevator, Daniel trailing behind her.
Dr. Andrew and John watched until the elevator door closed before continuing towards his office.
“Who would have thought that Jasmine would survive that fatal accident eight years ago?” John said quietly. Not only did she survive, years later, she became a certified doctor, saving other people’s lives. What a twist of fate.”
John’s words lingered in the air after they entered Dr. Andrew’s office. Andrew walked towards the window, his gaze distant as he watched the busy street of Paris.
“She is stronger than anyone else.” Dr.Andrew murmured. “But anytime I see her push herself like this, I’m reminded of how fragile life can be.”
Memories of that rainy night eight years ago rushed in. He painfully shut his eyes, but no matter what he did, those memories kept on coming.
“Sir…,” John finally said. “Do you think she remembers anything from the accident years ago?”
Andrew slowly turned around, his expression unreadable. “No, she doesn’t. And I hope she never does.”
Eight years ago, after giving Jasmine some first aid treatment, he had rushed her to the nearest hospital for treatment. She was in a coma for a month, with no one coming for her. It was a miracle that she survived that fatal accident.
Dr. Andrew doesn’t know why he felt this father's connection with her. He had canceled all his schedule for that period, in order to take good care of Jasmine.
With the help of the identity card he saw in her clutch, he had contacted her family, but no one seemed to care. Another week passed before an old man, who claimed to be her grandfather, came for her.
After knowing how critical Jasmine’s condition was, her grandfather made a deal with him. After finalizing the deal, he became Jasmine’s official guardian. He flew Jasmine back to Paris, where she regained consciousness after a few weeks of intensive medical care.
With the information he has gotten from investigating Jasmine's life in New York, he got to know that she was the unloved child of the Woods. Except for her grandfather, no one else cares about her.
“I hope she will always be happy. I don’t know what to do without her. The years I’ve spent with her have been the happiest of my life. She had become the child I never had.” Dr. Andrew whispered, his eyes filled with longing.
John stared at his boss in understanding. Jasmine was the first person he had seen his boss cared about the most, for the past few years he had been working with him.
‘I pray nothing would disrupt their happiness.’ John prayed in his heart as he walked towards his desk, preparing to start working on the paperwork that has been on his desk for the past one week he was out of office.
******
Later that evening, inside Jasmine’s office.
“Jas, you are finally awake.” Daniel muttered as he walked towards Jasmine's desk, a food flask in his hand.
“Daniel, why didn’t you wake me up? It’s almost 9:00pm. Jasmine yawned as she walked towards the sofa. She sat down with her hands draped across the sofa.
“You are tired, and you need some rest. I won’t dare to disturb your rest after Dr. Andrew’s earlier instructions.” He placed the food flask on the table in front of Jasmine, arranging the food calmly.
Jasmine didn’t argue. She was famished. Without another word, she picked up a spoon and started eating her meal.
Daniel sat beside her, scrolling through his phone. The silence around them wasn’t awkward. However, it was peaceful.
Two minutes after Jasmine started eating, a sharp ring of her phone tore into the air. With a creased brow, Jasmine stood up to get her phone, but Daniel beat her to it. He passed her the phone and went back to his seat, as he continued playing his game.
Jasmine smiled as she saw the caller ID, her creased brow lifting in surprise. She wasn’t expecting to hear from him this early, since they spoke three days ago.
“Grandpa, how are you doing?” Jasmine dropped her spoon as she spoke into the phone, her words coming out in a whisper.
“Mie Mie, I’m doing great. Are you busy?”
“No, I’m not. What’s up, grandpa?” Jasmine sat up realizing the seriousness from the other end.
“You know I will never do anything to hurt you right?” There was a long pause from the other end.
“Yes, grandpa. I know that.” She felt that whatever her grandfather was about to say was nothing good.
She could hear the soft rustle of his breath, the kind that came when he was gathering courage to say something difficult.
“There’s… something I need to tell you.” Grandpa began, his tone heavy. “I’ve arranged something important for you back home. It’s… it’s a marriage, Jasmine.”
Jasmine froze. Her hand tightened around her phone, her face slowly drained of color.
A… marriage?” She stammered, still in disbelief, her body shaking.
“Yes, sweetheart.” The words fell from his mouth with an inevitable weight. “He’s a good man, from a respectable and reputable family in New York. Everything has been set in motion. The ceremony is in two weeks.”
“What? You want me to get married to a stranger in two weeks?” Jasmine jumped out of her seat. She could hear her pulse thundering in her ears. Daniel was also surprised as he heard what she just said. He dropped his phone and focused on Jasmine’s conversation.
“Grandpa, you can’t be serious,” she whispered, her throat tightening. “You didn’t even ask me…”
“I know, Mie Mie,” he cut in softly. “But I did what I thought was best for you. I’m not asking for your permission. I’m asking for your understanding. I’ve lived my life, Mie Mie.
It’s your turn now. Don’t make this hard for me, okay? I won’t be around forever, my dear. And I want to see you settled in safe hands before I leave this world in peace.”
Tears stung Jasmine’s eyes before she could stop them. Why now? Why would her grandfather arrange a marriage for her, when she just started enjoying her career and life in Paris?”
“But why, Grandpa? Why now?”
A long silence hung in the air for a few seconds. “I just knew that it’s the best thing for you. Be ready to get married in two weeks, my girl. It’s time to come back home, Mie Mie.”
Jasmine’s lips parted, but no words came out. The call ended with a soft click, and the silence that followed was deafening. She thought she had started a new beginning in Paris. Who knew that her happiness wouldn’t last long.
****
~~New York~~
“Your wedding is in two weeks, Ethan.” Kenneth Morgan's words came out sharp, leaving no room for protest. He didn’t even raise his head up from the document he was signing.
Ethan’s jaw tightened as he leaned back in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him. His arms were folded beneath each other.
“You’ve decided on my marriage without asking for my opinion. Who gave you such right over me, Father?”
“You bastard. How dare you speak to me in that manner?” Kenneth angrily slammed his hand on his desk, his nose flaring. Ethan didn’t flinch. He calmly gazed at him, as if telling his father to do his worst.
Kenneth’s face flush red, veins visible at his temple. “You are my son, and you will do whatever I ask you to do. And for this marriage, whether you like it or not, you will fulfill it, or be ready to step down as the future head of the Morgan family.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Ethan angrily stood up, his body shaking with fury with his fists clenched beside him. A small smile played around his father’s lips seeing that Ethan finally had a reaction.
“Try to disobey me, and see if I dare or not.” Seeing that he finally got Ethan to listen to him, Kenneth continued with the documents in front of him.
A few minutes passed before Ethan spoke again.
“Fine. I will marry whoever you want me to marry, but don’t expect anything else out of this marriage.” Ethan didn’t wait for his father’s reply before storming out of his study.
What he didn’t know was that somewhere across the ocean, the woman whose name still haunted his nights, had also received the same news, and in two weeks, fate would bring them face-to-face once again.
- Writer
