A surprise visit

Chapter 11

I was taken aback by what I discovered; Cole is not just an ordinary man but a wealthy individual. I spent the entire night scrolling through information, and one detail stood out to me—his ex-wife.

From the photos, she appeared to be someone who would never have treated Cole the way she did, now I can see where Collin took some of his features from, irrespective of who is she is, she is a stunning woman. Her dignified smile and graceful demeanor exuded the essence of affluence.

As I continued to browse, I stumbled upon an article that read, "Once married, Cole Rivers is now single. Who will be his next partner?" My cheeks flushed unexpectedly, leaving me puzzled about my reaction.

I shut my laptop and rested my head on the pillow, realizing that he was indeed far beyond my reach. I had already resigned myself to the belief that love was not meant for me; if it were, fate wouldn’t have dealt me such a harsh hand, with Cole's sudden absence and the many heartbreaks I had endured.

Love had not treated me kindly. Each of my previous relationships ended in disappointment. Rodney was not the first failed relationship; there were two others before him. The first was Dan, who I dated right after high school. He left for college and found a girlfriend he deemed better, claiming her family was superior because they didn’t live in our small town.

Then there was Tony, who owned a barbershop. Our lack of compatibility led us to part ways before I met Rodney.

One particularly sunny day, I had just begun my cleaning job and felt utterly drained. Despite drinking water, I felt no relief, prompting me to decide that a visit to the clinic was necessary.

Upon my arrival, I noticed the nurses giggling amongst themselves, which piqued my curiosity about what could be so amusing that they failed to notice my presence. I cleared my throat, and this seemed to redirect their attention as they turned to face me. One of them inquired, "Oh, we're so sorry, do you have a complaint?" I raised an eyebrow, silently questioning whether I would be there if I didn’t have a complaint.

Just then, a captivating voice called out, one I had never encountered before, prompting me to turn in its direction.

That’s when I laid eyes on him—a striking man who appeared distinctly different from the locals, as if he were out of place. Our gazes locked, and he flashed a smile at me.

I returned the smile as he asked, "May I know why you're here today?" His voice was incredibly charming, and it became clear why the nurses were so animated; this was the new doctor everyone had been talking about, and he was undeniably handsome.

He examined me and concluded that I was merely fatigued and needed some rest. Throughout the consultation, I found it difficult to maintain eye contact, doing my best to avoid his gaze. As I prepared to leave, he called out, "Please, one moment." I turned to see him with his hand in his coat pocket, searching for the right words to say.

"I apologize for the interruption, but would you be interested in grabbing coffee sometime in the future?" I was taken aback by his words; was he really asking me out? It had been a while since I had gone out, so I found myself nodding in agreement. He smiled as he handed me his phone, and I entered my number.

That was my first encounter with Rodney, and from there, we went for the coffee he had suggested. We engaged in conversation and got to know each other better, which marked the beginning of our relationship.

Initially, everything seemed perfect, or perhaps it was just good at the start. He was the first man to treat me with genuine respect, demonstrating that a relationship encompasses more than just physical pleasure. That chapter of my life was truly fulfilling.

He cherished me like a delicate treasure, and my mother was thrilled that I was dating the town's most attractive doctor. I became the envy of many women, but that happiness was short-lived.

Four years of my life felt wasted, reduced to a mere joke in his eyes. I had believed he was my forever, that we would create a beautiful family together, but I was mistaken. The heartbreak shattered me, and I promised myself never to love again or to invest my life in another man.

I struggle to envision myself committing to anyone else; love has become a painful memory.

I genuinely loved Rodney, but he betrayed my trust. As I lay in bed reflecting on our shared moments, a tear rolled down my cheek. Will I be doomed to a life of misery? Everyone I know has taken steps forward, while I feel stuck in place.

Yes, I have a job, but it doesn’t feel fulfilling. When was the last time I treated myself to new clothes? When did I last go out? Every dollar I spend feels like a burden because I can’t afford to be frivolous. Those around me seem to be thriving in their lives, while I remain stagnant.

All of my exes have moved on, and my friends seem to be thriving, while I find myself stuck in place. I buried my face in the pillow, realizing I need to stop dwelling on trivial matters.

I must have drifted off to sleep without realizing it, as my alarm clock jolted me awake. Reluctantly, I got out of bed, regretting my decision not to sleep earlier and wishing I hadn't cried myself to sleep.

As I prepared for the day with a bath, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realized that I looked unwell. I touched my forehead as I felt a throbbing headache. Just then, the door to my room opened. "Anne, breakfast is ready," Em called out. I replied, "I'll be there in a minute," and the door closed again.

I took a hot shower, which I desperately needed. After getting dressed, I headed to the kitchen where my mom, dad, and Em were already having breakfast.

"Anne, you don't look well," my father remarked, concern etched on his face. I managed a smile, but it was clear no one was convinced. "You seemed fine yesterday," Em added.

"Yeah, I think I just have a slight fever. I’ll go to the clinic," I replied. My father shook his head. "I'll take you, and you should take a few days off work." I appreciated his concern, but I knew that Miss Brighton wouldn’t be lenient about time off.

"Don't worry about that, Dad. Just take me to the clinic; I’ll be fine," I assured him, and he nodded. I joined them for breakfast, though I could barely finish my meal.

Afterward, I said goodbye to Em and my mom as I made my way to my dad's car. He got in, and we drove to the clinic. "Anne, please take care of yourself. If you feel too tired, don’t hesitate to call me; I’ll come pick you up," he said. I smiled and kissed his cheek. "I will, Dad. You don’t need to worry so much," I reassured him as I stepped out of the car.

Upon arriving at the front desk, the nurse recognized me and smiled, saying, "Whenever Annette comes in, she's really not well." I chuckled and asked, "Oh Stella, you know me too well, is Dr. Martin available?" She nodded but replied, "He's quite busy at the moment. The only one who isn't too occupied is..." She paused, and I anticipated her next words, reassuring her, "It's fine, I'll wait for Dr. Martin."

She gave me a sympathetic glance, and I forced a smile; the last person I wanted to encounter right now was Rodney.

After a short wait, it was my turn. "You definitely have a fever, Anne. Take two days off work and follow the prescription I’ll provide; you should recover soon," Dr. Martin said. My body temperature felt erratic, and my breathing was slightly off.

Suddenly, I felt something trickle from my nose. I instinctively touched it and glanced at my finger. Before I could identify what it was, I heard my name being called faintly, and then everything went dark.