THE BRIDE WHO WALKED AWAY

Chapter 6: anonymous patient?

Melinda Pov

I woke up before the sun rose. Marks a good start.

I’m going to resume back to work today, but first I must get a new phone.

I had my bath and was dressing up when Anna knocked.

“Come in.” I said facing the window.

“Good morning, Linda.” she greeted cheerfully, placing a cup of coffee on the dressing table.

“Good morning Anna, thanks for the coffee” I said, picking it up.

She eyed the clothes I was holding.

“Your eyes are going to tear the clothes if you continue staring at it that way.” I smiled a little.

“Why that big black skirt and a sweater? Are you mourning?” she exclaimed.

I looked at the clothes again wondering why she’d say that.

“What is wrong with it?” I asked checking the clothes yet again.

“You’re not wearing that Linda” she walked to my bag and pulled out some clothes, she settled for a knee length white gown with a V neckline.

Thankfully he didn’t buy me this dress, I won’t have to worry about bad luck.

I mostly wear these types of clothes to gatherings with that asshole.

I was about to argue but she stopped me before I could get a word out. “Don’t bother arguing, be fast, else we’ll be late.” She said leaving the room.

After some minutes we got into her car, “Before I forget Anna, I need a phone, the old one is here so I’ll be able to recover my phone’s data.” I said.

Before she could answer, her phone rang.

“Hey mum” she chirped happily.

I’m not gonna lie, I envy her sometimes, a happy family plus a stable job. I just have a stable job, no stable family or relationship.

I couldn’t collect the new phone since the data hadn’t been restored yet. I proceeded to the hospital, I had a CS surgery scheduled for 9:30 and it’s almost time.

Anna offered to bring it for me. Says she’d just get a lil bit of scolding from the head nurse.

The moment I got to the hospital, I quickly went to sign in at the reception, that was when I noticed it.

People were staring at me.

The receptionist kept looking at my face like there’s something on it.

It made me uncomfortable so I started to leave …

“Is she not the one who ran from the wedding?”

“She’s the gold digger who went after Clark for his money, heard she was found out, that’s why the wedding got cancelled.”

The gossips were so loud that I could hear them.

Me? A gold digger?

I’ve never imagined I’d be tagged a gold digger in my life.

Ha!

I worked three jobs to pay my own school fees, I work for my own money.. the nerve of them to tag me a gold digger!

I turned to them , but they didn’t stop talking, instead they looked at me scornfully.

Stay professional. I reminded myself by fisting my hands in a ball.

I’ll let my skills do the talking.

I dropped my bag and went straight to the OR.

After scrubbing in, I waited for the anesthesiologist to finish her work so I could start mine. My insides were shaking, but I remained unfazed outside.

“Done, you can proceed.” the anesthesiologist said.

I immediately got to work.

“Please adjust the led light a little bit.” I nudged the assisting surgeon.

“Scalpel” I stretched my hands.

But no equipment came.

I looked up to see the nurses whispering to themselves.

A patient is on the operating table, but the only priority they have is gossip?

Anna was the one who's supposed to scrub in if not for my phone.

“If you’re not ready to scrub for this patient, get out of my OR this minute!” I was furious and irritated.

They quickly apologized and we carried on.

After 45 minutes, we were done with it and it was successful.

Walking back to the consulting room, I met Anna inside waiting for me.

“Here’s breakfast for you.” She handed me a sandwich and orange juice.

“And your phone too, it’s been vibrating since I brought it back.” She handed the new phone to me.

“Thank you.” I said collecting the phone.

I opened the phone, there were countless missed calls from Clark, and my parents.

My social media notifications were so much that it just kept popping in.

My sisters had dropped messages too.

I’d rather not open them till I’m done with my shift.

But before then, I tapped on Clark’s contact, selected the block option.

Boom, I blocked him. I felt a little bit of satisfaction.

I’ll start consulting now, I’ll come find you later Anna.” I said sitting down.

Anna already left when I opened the hospital group chat, the news of my canceled wedding was also being discussed like I wasn’t in the group.

As usual, they faulted me without knowing what went down that day, they don't pay my bills, why should I let their words get to me?

I dropped my phone and proceeded to start consulting.

The day went by in a blur, I stretched completely worn out.

My phone started vibrating on the table.

Picking it up to check who the caller is, my body went still seeing the caller.

My father.

I picked up the phone. Dread filled my mind, with a shaky finger, I picked the call.

“Come home, we need to talk,” he said and ended the call before I could speak.

Trouble again!! My mind screamed.

Can’t I get peace today????

I removed my wall coat ,picked up my bag and went to find Anna.

After telling her I’ll be going to my parent’s and she offered to drive me there.

“Anna, it’s okay, I’ll go there myself. You’ve done a lot for me already” I smiled at her.

I'm setting them straight today, they either take my side or leave me alone.

On getting to my parent’s house, they were all sitting like they were waiting for me to walk in.

“Hi mum, hi dad.” I greeted walking to the couch where my sisters sat.

“You haven’t been reachable.” My father said as a matter of fact.

“My phone got spoiled” I gave a short reply.

“Clark said he came to beg you but you insulted him” My father's voice hardened.

Not this again!

I stared at my sisters, waiting for them to speak, I looked at my mother, but her gaze was on my father.

“ What is this supposed to mean, dad?” I thought I’d get angry, but no. Maybe I expected this.

“He said the wedding will happen tomorrow, he’s found an excuse for you” he said clearing his throat.

“I won’t do it, I’ll never agree to it.” I carried my bag ready to leave.

I saw it coming, they wanted to have a rich in-law so bad.

“But he apologized already, why make a fuss? It's not that deep.” Mother scolded.

“Really mummy?, Clair and Bree.. you ain’t saying anything?” I turned to my sisters.

They didn’t look at my face.

“You're marrying him and that is final,” my dad said standing up.

“If you’re so in love with him, why can’t you go ahead and marry him yourself?” I said my voice carrying a note of sarcasm.

“What did you just say?” he thundered.

I didn’t flinch, I refused to back down.

“You see your daughters, woman? The three useless things you bore as children see what they’re doing, if you had given me a son, do you think I'd waste my time on them?” My father pointed to my mother in anger.

“You aren't exactly the father I wanted too dad, other fathers back their children regardless of what, but it's not the same for you.” My father looked like he wanted to faint.

My mother immediately stood up and held my father’s leg before he stormed away.

I looked elsewhere, this isn’t new… and my mother refuses to leave him.

Even after endless torment from my father, she'd rather die than leave him.

Other women give excuses of financial stability as an excuse for staying in a toxic marriage, but my mother? Hers is love.

They were still on it when my phone vibrated.

Needing something to distract myself from the drama, I opened my phone.

It was a message from an unknown number.

“Tell your father to return the estate and the £5 million I gave to him.” The text is definitely from Clark.

I froze in shock.

They collected an estate from him? Even money?? A whooping 5 million.

My body went rigid.

“Dad, you collected money from Clark and also an estate,” I screamed at him. My calmness had evaporated into thin air.

“Yes, he’s family, why not?” he shrugged.

“He's a Huston not your f****d family, can you hear yourself?” My blood pressure would've gone up by now.

“He’s asking you to return it” I showed them the screen.

“I already spent the money, just marry him instead.” He smiled thinking he had cornered me

“I won’t and will never, as for the money you spent, I’ll find it and pay him back, give the estate up” I picked my bag ready to go.

If I stayed any longer, I could vomit blood from anger.

I wanted to yell at him and call him a useless man but the hospital staff hotline called.

“There’s an emergency at a residence, report there ASAP, details will be sent soon.” beep! The line went dead.

I’ve never treated anyone at home, nor their office.

They didn’t tell me the name or the history of the patient,I noted while checking the message they sent. ACL tear.

Strange.

Footballers are the ones with that.

Treating a footballer at home?? Who is this patient for them to call me by this time of the evening?

It better not be Clark pulling this s**t!