CHAPTER 12 : WHAT WE DIDN'T SAY
1235 Words
The moment I realized what I had done, my heart nearly stopped.
I was still in his arms.
Mr. Vincent didn’t move.
He didn’t push me away.
He didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
For a second, the world felt suspended—like even the chaos of the hospital had paused just for us.
Then I pulled back.
Too quickly.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, stepping away. “I didn’t mean to—I just—”
“It’s fine,” he said calmly.
Just two words.
But they didn’t feel like rejection.
They felt like control.
Like he was carefully placing everything back where it belonged.
And somehow… that made it worse.
Because it didn’t erase what had happened.
It simply buried it.
I nodded, lowering my gaze.
“But we have to make them agree to the surgery,” he continued, his tone shifting back to professional.
“I’ll go,” I said quickly. “I’ll talk to them. I’ll convince them.”
“I’ll go with you,” he replied.
My heart skipped.
“No… I can handle it myself.”
“I need to be there,” he said calmly. “They’ll feel more assured.”
I hesitated… then nodded.
“I’ll text you the day after tomorrow.”
I nodded again, gathered my things, and walked out.
“Juliet, what is wrong with you?” I muttered under my breath, lightly tapping my cheeks.
Two Days Later
I stood outside the hospital, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, my head lowered as I waited.
Then a shadow fell in front of me.
I looked up.
He was already there, his car parked neatly beside me.
I quickly walked over.
“Good morning, Mr. Vincent.”
“Good morning.”
He started the car, soft music filling the silence.
I was usually talkative.
But around him…
Words always seemed to disappear.
We turned into a narrow lane.
The road ahead was blocked—under construction.
I checked my phone.
“But the map doesn’t show this,” I murmured.
A man approached the car. Vincent rolled down his window.
“Oh, doctor!” the man greeted warmly.
Vincent smiled and returned the greeting.
He really is Mr. Popular, I thought.
The man glanced at me.
“You’re out with your woman? Sorry, but the road is under construction.”
“I’m not—” I started.
“Can we park nearby?” Vincent asked smoothly. “We’re heading just ahead.”
“Yes, yes, of course!”
I stepped out while he parked.
He didn’t correct him…? I wondered.
When he returned, he simply said, “Let’s go.”
I followed.
“Mr. Vincent, I’m sorry about that. He misunderstood us.”
“It’s fine,” he said lightly. “It helped us get a parking spot.”
I stared at him.
“So you didn’t correct him on purpose… that’s actually smart.”
He smiled.
“Aunt Juliet!”
The familiar voice made me turn.
Zara.
She stood ahead near a small amusement park, waving excitedly.
I waved back, my heart lifting.
She ran toward me, and I met her halfway, pulling her into a hug.
“Zara! How are you?”
“I’m great! I’ve been playing with my friends,” she said brightly.
“That’s good.”
“Come, I want to introduce you!”
“Maybe later,” I said gently. “We actually came to see your parents.”
She hesitated.
“They’re not around right now… so can we spend some time together first?”
I glanced at Vincent.
He gave a small nod.
“Alright,” I said, smiling.
“Let’s go!”
She grabbed my hand—and then turned back.
“You too,” she said, pulling Vincent along.
I bit back a laugh.
She introduced us to her friends.
“This is my friend from the hospital!”
“Hi!”
“Aunt, you’re beautiful,” one girl said.
I smiled, gently touching her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Is that your bodyguard?” one boy asked, pointing at Vincent.
I turned.
The way he stood—straight, composed, slightly intimidating—
I nearly laughed.
“No, he’s a doctor.”
“He looks like a strict one,” the boy added. “Is he the one treating you?”
Zara nodded.
The boy walked up to Vincent boldly.
I had to look away to stop myself from laughing.
“That’s my crush,” Zara whispered to me.
“Really?”
She nodded, grinning.
“He’s funny.”
We spent some time playing.
Water guns.
Running.
Laughing.
For a moment… I forgot why we came.
At one point, I glanced at Vincent—
And found him already looking at me.
There was something in his gaze.
Something soft.
Something… unfamiliar.
Then he looked away.
I was laughing, backing away from Zara as we sprayed water at each other, when I bumped into someone.
“Oh—sorry!” I said, turning.
“It’s okay,” the man replied.
“Bro!” Zara’s crush called, running over.
They spoke briefly.
“That’s his older brother,” Zara whispered. “He’s popular around here.”
The man turned to me.
“Hi. I’m Mike’s brother. Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“It’s alright,” I said politely.
He smiled. “You came to play too?”
I laughed lightly. “No… I came with—”
I pointed toward Vincent.
He was watching us.
Not blinking.
Then he suddenly looked down at his phone.
His expression had changed.
My phone buzzed.
They’re back, Vincent had texted.
“Excuse me,” I said quickly, hurrying toward him.
“They’re home.”
“Let’s go.”
“They said they’ll be back soon—”
“We can’t miss them,” he said, his tone firm.
Later, at Zara’s house—
Vincent spoke with her father.
I stayed with her mother.
When he came out, I rushed to him.
“What did he say?”
He nodded.
Relief flooded me.
I smiled.
He did too.
We stayed for dinner.
Conversation flowed easily.
But I noticed something.
Vincent… kept looking at me.
Each time, I grew more nervous.
Until I suddenly started coughing.
Without hesitation, he passed me a glass of water.
I blinked, surprised.
Zara caught my eye from across the table—
Smiling mischievously.
After dinner, we stood to leave.
“Thank you so much, Doctor… Juliet,” her parents said warmly.
“I’ll walk you out,” Zara said, linking her arm with mine.
“I’m really glad you came,” she said softly.
I smiled. “Everything will be alright.”
She nodded.
I glanced ahead.
Vincent was a few steps in front, on a call.
“He cares about you,” Zara said suddenly.
I didn’t respond.
“Take care of yourself,” I said instead.
We hugged.
The drive back was quiet.
When we reached my place, I turned to him.
“Mr. Vincent… thank you. I’m really happy—for what you’re doing.”
I stepped out.
“Juliet.”
I turned.
“If the surgery is successful…” he said, his voice calm but deliberate,
“you’ll do one thing for me.”
I blinked.
“One thing?”
He held my gaze.
“As a proper thank you.”
- Writer
