Chapter 5 The Choice That Hurt

The rain lasted all night.

When morning came, the sky was gray, heavy, like it had not decided whether to clear up or break down again.

I barely slept.

Adrian's words echoed in my mind again and again.

"If you leave, I will follow you."

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone.

He had not called again.

No message, no explanation, just like before.

I let out a slow breath.

I got up, washed my face, and tied my hair back.

The woman in the mirror looked calm, but her eyes were tired.

"Focus," I told myself.

"You cannot move forward if you keep looking back."

At Bright Star Hospital, the atmosphere felt different that day.

People greeted me with brighter smiles.

"Good morning, Doctor Carter."

"Doctor Carter, the patient from yesterday is stable."

I nodded, replied and kept walking.

Work was my shield.

As long as I stayed busy, my heart stayed quiet.

During the morning meeting, Auntie Lin glanced at me several times.

After everyone left, she closed the door.

"You met Zenith yesterday," she said.

"Yes."

"And?" She asked.

"They offered me a two year project abroad."

She leaned back slightly.

"That is a big step." She said.

"Yes."

She studied my face.

"You look troubled." She said

" I smiled faintly. "Big changes are always scary."

She was silent for a moment.

"Is it because of Adrian" she asked.

I did not answer.

That was already an answer.

Auntie Lin sighed.

"Yvonne, listen to me," she said gently.

"Some people only realize the value of someone after they lose them . But not all regret deserves forgiveness." She continued.

I lowered my head.

"I know."

"Knowing is not the same as accepting," she replied.

Her words stayed with me the whole day.

That afternoon, a young nurse rushed toward me.

"Doctor Carter, there is an emergency consultation. The patient insists on seeing you."

"Who is it"

The nurse hesitated.

"It is Mr Blake."

My steps stopped.

Of course it was him.

"I am busy," I said. "Assign another doctor."

"He refuses," the nurse said nervously.

"He says if you do not come, he will not accept treatment."

I closed my eyes.

This was exactly like him.

Using pressure, using position, using control.

"I will go," I said finally.

Not because I cared but because this was a hospital.

When I walked into the consultation room, Adrian stood up.

He looked different, less perfect.

His eyes were red, his suit slightly wrinkled.

"You are sick" I asked coldly.

"No," he replied. "I am fine."

"Then why are you here"

"To see you."

I sat down and opened a file.

"This is a hospital, not a meeting room," I said.

"If you have no medical issue, please leave."

He did not move.

"Yvonne," he said, lowering his voice.

"I thought about everything last night." "I was wrong," he continued.

"About you. About us."

I finally looked up at him.

"Adrian," I said quietly.

"Do you know what hurts the most"

He shook his head.

"It is not the divorce," I said.

"It is that you only speak when I am already gone."

He looked at me.

"I want to start again," he said. "From the beginning."

"There is no beginning anymore."

"There can be," he insisted. "I will wait. I will change."

I smiled.

"You waited three years for Sophia," I said. "But you could not wait three minutes for me."

His face turned pale.

"That is different," he said weakly.

"No," I replied. "It is the same."

I stood up.

"Please leave," I said.

"Do not come to my workplace again."

He stepped closer.

"You are really going to leave," he said. "You already decided."

"I am deciding," I corrected. "And you are not part of it."

Something broke in his eyes.

"Then tell me," he asked suddenly. "Did you ever love me"

The room fell silent.

I looked at him.

"Yes," I answered honestly. "I loved you."

His eyes lit up.

"But," I continued, "I will never love you like that again."

I walked past him without another word.

That evening, I received an email from Zenith Medical Group.

They attached the contract.

Two years, international recognition.

At the bottom was a line.

Please confirm within three days.

Three days.

I stared at the screen.

Three days to choose my future.

That night, I visited the old neighborhood near the hospital.

There was a small food stall there.

I used to eat there during night shifts years ago.

I ordered a bowl of soup.

When it arrived, steam rose slowly.

I took one sip.

It was warm and comforting.

Suddenly, tears filled my eyes.

This was the warmth I had been trying to give Adrian for three years.

He never tasted it.

My phone vibrated again.

Sophia.

I frowned and answered.

"Hello"

"Yvonne," she said softly. "Can we meet"

I was silent.

"I know I have no right," she continued. "But please. Just once."

"Why" I asked.

"Because Adrian is falling apart," she said. "And it is because of you."

I laughed quietly.

"He fell apart because he finally feels something," I replied. "That is not my responsibility."

She inhaled shakily.

"You are leaving, right" she asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"Then please meet me," she said. "Before you go."

I hesitated.

Then I agreed.

"Tomorrow afternoon," I said. "One hour."

After the call ended, I felt a strange calm.

The next day came faster than expected.

I signed discharge papers, reviewed cases, and finally took off my white coat.

At the cafe near the river, Sophia was already waiting.

She looked thinner, more fragile.

"You look different," she said when she saw me.

"So do you."

We sat in silence for a moment.

"I never thought it would end like this," she said.

"Neither did I."

She looked down at her cup.

"I thought if I came back, everything would return to how it was," she said. "But he looks at me differently now."

I smiled faintly.

"He is chasing something he lost." I said

"And what about you" she asked. "Do you still want him"

I looked out the window.

"No," I said. "I want myself."

Sophia nodded slowly.

"I envy you," she whispered.

I left the cafe.

As I walked toward my car, someone stood in my way.

Adrian.

He looked at me like he was afraid I would disappear if he blinked. "

You met her," he said.

"Yes."

"What did she say" he said

"Nothing important." I said

He took a deep breath.

"Are you really leaving" he asked

I did not answer.

Instead, I handed him something.

An envelope.

He frowned and opened it.

Inside was a copy of the Zenith contract.

His hands shook.

"You already signed? "he asked.

"No," I replied. "I will sign it tomorrow."

Tomorrow.

He looked up sharply.

"You will not even give me time?" He asked.

"I gave you three years," I said softly. "This is me giving myself one chance."

He stepped back.

At that moment, his phone rang.

He answered absentmindedly.

"Mr Blake," the voice said urgently. "The board meeting has been moved up.

There is a problem with the overseas project. We need you immediately."

Overseas project.

The word hung in the air.

I smiled

. "Looks like," I said quietly, "we are both being pulled in different directions."

I turned to leave.

Behind me, he called my name but I did not stop.

That night, I sat at my desk, staring at the Zenith contract.

A pen in my hand.

Outside, the city lights glittered.

I closed my eyes.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Either I would leave this city.

Or I would stay and face a past that still refused to let go.

My phone buzzed one last time.

A message.

Doctor Carter, this is Zenith Medical Group.

Due to sudden changes, the project start date has been moved up.

Departure is in forty eight hours.

My breath caught.

At the blank signature line and then at the window, where the city waited quietly.

Somewhere in that city, Adrian Blake was about to make a choice too.

What I didn't know yet-someone was already on their way to stop me from leaving. And this time, it wasn't Adrian.