Chapter 4 come visit us
690 Words
Charlotte was a surgeon who was about to be promoted to department director.
No one understood the implications better than she did.
"I know. I won't be able to perform surgery anymore. Right?"
The doctor's eyes were brimming with tragic pity.
"Please, just stitch it up as quickly as possible," Charlotte said, closing her eyes.
Through the agonizing process of debridement, suturing, and bandaging, the pain assaulted her in relentless waves. Yet, she didn't make a single sound.
Hospital director Stella Shannon rushed over after hearing the news. By then, Charlotte's hand was already heavily bandaged.
Charlotte stood in the hallway, staring out the window at the withered autumn branches outside.
"Is this because Dominick cheated on you?" Stella asked, her voice heavy with sorrow. "Is that why you're planning to go abroad for training?"
Charlotte hadn't expected the rumor to spread so quickly. It had been less than an hour. Yet Stella already knew.
She nodded.
Seeing the enormous grief hidden beneath Charlotte's calm expression, Stella was filled with anger.
"I was so completely wrong about him!" she said, her tone laced with venom. "How could a man so seemingly perfect do something so vile?"
Charlotte answered softly.
"People change." She raised her heavily bandaged hand to Stella's eye level.
"I won't be able to perform surgery. Looks like going abroad for training isn't possible anymore." She let out a soft sigh. "I'm planning to resign."
Stella's eyes nearly filled with tears. Charlotte was only thirty-one and already about to become a chief surgeon. Her future had been bright.
Now everything had been destroyed. For a moment, Stella didn't know what to say.
Charlotte noticed her concern and smiled gently. "It's okay. Even if I can't perform surgery anymore, I can still paint. You know I'm actually more talented at painting."
Besides being a doctor, Charlotte was also a famous painter with millions of followers online.
Stella stepped forward and pulled Charlotte into a tight embrace, desperately wishing to impart some warmth into her freezing world.
"If leaving helps you breathe easier, then go somewhere new."
She pulled out her phone and sent Charlotte a message.
"This is a student of mine, Hudson. He's based overseas. I'll ask him to look after you."
Charlotte accepted the kindness and added him on w******p.
After packing up the belongings in her office, she carried a cardboard box out of the hospital.
Many of her colleagues, devastated to see her go, chased her out to the lobby to say goodbye.
"Dr. Lindsey, come visit us when you have time."
"If you miss us, give us a call."
"Don't be sad. Men are everywhere!"
Charlotte laughed through her tears. She was also reluctant to leave them. Her eyes had already turned red. Yet tears still slipped down her cheeks.
For the first time, she realized she wasn't completely alone.
Charlotte returned to the house she once shared with Dominick.
For some reason, she felt unbearably cold.
She took two cold pills and crawled into bed, sleeping heavily.
When she woke up, it was already ten in the morning. Her phone was eerily silent.
Everyone was busy worrying about Evelyn after her fright. No one had bothered to ask how Charlotte was doing.
Charlotte took a slow breath and felt strangely calm.
Since she had already decided to leave, she would not waste another second on those people.
At that moment, her phone rang. The caller ID read: Reproductive Medicine Department. She blinked and answered.
"Dr. Lindsey, the test results are out. Your husband has non-obstructive azoospermia. The probability of successful IVF is essentially zero."
Charlotte froze.
Then suddenly, she laughed.
For ten years, she had carried the burden of infertility. And now she finally learned the truth. Dominick was the one who couldn't have children!
"Dr. Lindsey? Dr. Lindsey?"
Charlotte came back to herself. "Thank you for letting me know," she said softly. "Please keep this confidential. My husband wouldn't handle the truth well."
Suddenly, she felt a thrill of anticipation.
What would Dominick do if he learned the truth? And what would happen to the so-called love child he shared with Evelyn?
- Writer
