Just A Plus-Size Ugly Woman Nah She's His Unreachable Queen

OLIVIA

I stood frozen at the clinic entrance, my knees growing weak at the sight of the man sitting at the desk, facing his computer. He wore frameless eyeglasses and a white coat, exuding the same cold and distant aura I remembered so well.

Dr. Noah Ezekiel Morgan.

I never imagined I would see my child's father again. It was a one-night stand, a brief moment between us that meant nothing to him. He knew nothing of what followed. Seven years had passed since I last saw him, and I never imagined I would cross paths with him again.

As if fate were toying with me, he was now the cardiologist assigned to treat my daughter.

I bit my lower lip. Should I turn around and leave immediately? I glanced at my daughter, who was holding my hand, her eyes filled with confusion. I gave her a faint smile and shook my head to reassure her that everything was okay.

I was here today to seek treatment for my daughter. My six-year-old daughter, Hannah, was born with congenital heart disease, caused by her premature birth. To make sure that her condition was closely monitored, I always brought her for regular checkups.

Dr. Smith, who had been caring for Hannah since she was born, recommended that I consult Dr. Harrison, a renowned cardiologist and the head of the Palo Alto Medical Center. According to his latest medical assessment, my daughter needed surgery.

Just hearing the name of the hospital where Dr. Harrison worked, I knew I would need a substantial amount of money to cover the surgery costs. But I didn't care how high the expenses were-as long as it could save my daughter, that was all that mattered.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the nurse informed me that Dr. Harrison was away on a business trip and recommended Dr. Morgan, who had just returned from abroad. Dr. Morgan was Dr. Harrison's favorite student, holding both an M.D. and a Ph.D. After learning about his qualifications, I agreed to the nurse's suggestion. But who would have thought that the Dr. Morgan the nurse mentioned would turn out to be Noah?

"Come in," Noah's deep voice interrupted my thoughts.

Noah raised his head and looked toward us. His eyes briefly lingered on me before he returned to his work. My heart nearly leaped out of my throat, and I instinctively clenched my fists.

"Mom, you're hurting me," Hannah whispered.

"Sorry, Hannah," I immediately apologized and let go of her hand. Just as I was about to explain, Noah's voice came again.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Ms. Evans?" Noah's tone was calm, like any professional doctor.

For a moment, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, then I almost laughed at myself for being scared. There was no way he would recognize me. The woman in front of him was no longer the girl he once knew.

I had no intention of telling him we had a child. What happened between us that night was nothing more than a deal. And with all the girls lining up for him, there was no way he'd remember someone like me.

I gave him a polite smile and led Hannah to his desk. "Dr. Morgan, we were referred by Dr. Smith," I said, taking Hannah's medical records out of my bag. "Here is Hannah's latest medical record, which will give you a more detailed understanding."

Noah's slender fingers took the file. Without even glancing at me, he opened it and began reading carefully.

I observed him up close once again. He had matured since seven years ago-his hair was shorter, the lines of his features more defined, and the muscles in his arms, even concealed beneath his white doctor's coat, seemed ready to burst forth like a beast's.

He had always been a popular guy, with girls easily drawn to him. It was no surprise that I meant nothing to him. I shook my head, dispelling any unwarranted disappointment. There was only one thing I needed to focus on now: Hannah's treatment.

After what felt like an eternity, Noah finally looked up from the file. His sharp gray eyes fixed on me.

"Ms. Evans, based on Hannah's condition, we need to perform surgery as soon as possible," Noah said in his steady tone. "Her heart condition is critical. Any further delay could make it harder to control and, in the long run, affect her overall health."

I gritted my teeth, my heart sinking to the pit of my stomach. "Are you sure the surgery will allow her to recover completely?"

"Mom, can I not have the surgery? I think it will hurt," Hannah said fearfully.

I had completely forgotten Hannah was still there. I wanted to comfort her, but Noah was faster. He leaned down, his voice gentle-completely unlike the cold tone he had used with me. "What's your name, little one?"

"Hannah Evans," she replied timidly.

"That's a beautiful name," Noah said, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile that could take one's breath away. He took a stethoscope from his pocket and gently placed it on her chest, his tone unusually soft. "The doctor just wants to listen to your little heart. It won't hurt."

Hannah's eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him, her small hand still clutching the sleeve of his white coat. "Dr. Morgan, I feel like I know you from somewhere."

My throat tightened, and I instinctively tried to interrupt-"Hannah-"

But Noah's voice cut in faster, calm yet amused. "Is it because I'm handsome?"

Hannah giggled, her tension instantly melting away.

"Yes! You look like the doctor from that show, The Good Doctor-the one who always saves all the children."

Noah paused for a moment, his eyes softening. "Then I'll have to be like him and help you get healthier."

"Will I really become healthy? Healthy enough to run like the other kids in kindergarten?" Hannah asked, blinking.

"Of course, I promise," Noah said firmly. "How about we make a deal? Once you're better, we'll have a race. I bet you can run faster than me."

Hannah looked up at me. "Mom, can we?"

I nearly froze again. Noah wanted to run with Hannah? My mind conjured images of them bonding like father and daughter. I shook my head, convincing myself that Noah was only saying this to comfort her.

I patted her head and nodded. "Of course."

Noah stood up and said to Hannah, "I know a really fun spot in the hospital. Why don't you go with the nurse and check it out?"

I immediately understood that Noah likely wanted to discuss something else with me. "Thank you," I said as the nurse approached.

When the nurse led Hannah out of the office, the space was left with only Noah and me.

I felt nervous again-though I shouldn't have, since Noah clearly hadn't recognized me. Besides, I had changed my name. I was no longer Emma Cooper but Olivia Evans. I was no longer the 200-pound woman; my weight was now perfectly normal. Even my best friend, Grace, hadn't recognized me when she first saw me because I was completely different from before.

I had struggled with my weight since high school due to hypothyroidism. It had caused my metabolism to slow down, making it nearly impossible to lose weight. But after my pregnancy, my thyroid function improved, which helped me return to my original weight.

But the moment I met his gaze, I felt all the strength drain from my body. My fingers tightened around the strap of my worn bag, and I took a deep breath.

"Dr. Morgan, what did you want to tell me? Is Hannah's surgery particularly complex?" I asked anxiously.

"No, the surgery itself is something I can handle with confidence," Noah replied quickly. His eyes briefly lingered on my casual clothes and the worn-out bag I carried. "It's just. the cost will be substantial. Are you certain you have adequate insurance coverage?"

I had health insurance, but it wasn't comprehensive enough to cover the full cost of the surgery. Given my income, covering the entire expense would be a challenge. I shook my head slightly. "I don't have full coverage for something like this. But I'll find a way to come up with the money. That's why I'm here."

His impeccably professional appearance and the look in his eyes cut deep-a painful reminder of that night seven years ago, when I'd accidentally overheard his cruel assessment of me: "That kind of cheap, overweight girl isn't someone I'd ever date."

My fists clenched. Back then, his words had sent my life spiraling into darkness. I nearly succumbed to depression, even considering ending it all. But everything changed when I discovered I was pregnant with Hannah. From that moment on, his harsh judgment lost much of its power over me.

He's a jerk, I told myself firmly. I won't let a jerk ruin my life.

"I assure you, the money will be ready," I said, my voice sharp with suppressed anger. "You just focus on scheduling the surgery." With that, I turned and walked out of Noah's office.

The door clicked shut behind me, and only then did I realize my back was drenched in cold sweat.

A deep fear gripped me-what if someone like Noah, with all his privilege and influence, discovered Hannah was his daughter? What if he tried to fight me for custody? I could never let that happen.

As soon as Hannah's surgery is over, I've decided, we're moving away.

NOAH

I couldn't help but watch as the mother and daughter left my clinic. There was something so familiar about her that I couldn't quite explain.

Maybe it was her scent. or her hazel eyes?

I shrugged off the thought and asked my medical assistant for the next patient. My schedule today was packed, and I didn't have time to dwell on random musings.

I finished my last consultation for the day when I received a call from William Anderson.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, Noah, what's up?"

"I'm good, why did you call?" I asked, trying to keep it brief.

I could hear his familiar chuckle on the other end. "We have our high school reunion next week. Everyone from the class who's living in California has confirmed they'll be coming. It's been years since we last saw you. Everyone's looking forward to meeting you there," William said.

William was a good friend of mine and also our class president. He had always been the one to organize reunions for our batch.

"I'll check if I'm free," I replied.

I wasn't particularly fond of these kinds of events. My work had always come first, and I didn't have time for social gatherings.

"Oh, come on! I know you're busy, man! But you need to loosen up. Don't bury yourself in work. You and Emma Cooper are the only ones who've missed every reunion," he said.

The mention of her name made my heart skip a beat.

"Do you remember Emma Cooper? The chubby girl who suddenly disappeared after our graduation?" he added.

My thoughts went blank, and I froze for a moment.

"Do you remember her, Noah? Are you still there?"

"Is the signal bad?" William's voice snapped me out of my daze.

I stared at the pen in my hand, the one I'd been using for the past seven years. It looked old, worn out, but I couldn't bring myself to replace it.

The memories flooded back, and I felt my stomach tighten.

It was my birthday.

Emma had made a deal with me to spend the night with her. She had liked me for a while, and I could see it in the stolen glances she gave me during class.

Everyone in our class teased her because of her size, but I always thought she was beautiful. Her face was striking-especially those hazel eyes-and her skin was fair and smooth. Her voice, when she spoke, was soft and calming.

She was acting tough when she made a deal with me, which I found amusing. I agreed with her because I actually liked her too.

I could feel her nervousness, but she didn't hesitate. She gave herself to me that night, and I will always treasure it.

The next morning, she was gone. I found a velvet box on my bedside table. I opened it and saw a black fountain pen, a birthday gift from her. I smiled as I read the card: "Happy Birthday."

This pen wasn't cheap. I could tell she must have worked hard to buy it for me.

"What the hell, bro?! Is that a hickey?" Joshua's voice broke through my thoughts.

We were in a private room at Spago, celebrating my birthday. I had invited Emma, but she said she might not make it. Though, I hope she will.

I hadn't thought to hide the hickey Emma had left on me. I didn't think anyone would notice it.

"Someone told me last night that they saw you checking in at a hotel with fatty Emma? Don't tell me that's true?" Bryan said, his voice filled with disbelief.

Everyone in the room stared at me, waiting for my answer.

"Wait, so you slept with fatty Emma? Is she your girlfriend now?" Mike asked, sounding disgusted.

I furrowed my brows at his tone. Emma was beautiful-so what's the big deal if I slept with her? She was even prettier than the campus queen at our university. I wanted to shout that, but something kept me silent.

"Hell no! You're actually with her, bro? What in the world were you thinking? Yuck!" Joshua said, his voice full of contempt.

I clenched my jaw, not liking the way they were insulting Emma.

"How could you sleep with that woman? Don't tell me you've fallen in love with her?" Bryan asked, his words dripping with judgment.

So what if I did? I wanted to shout. I wanted to defend her, but I couldn't find the words.

"Impossible! Noah would never fall for that fat girl! For all we know, she blackmailed him into sleeping with her, and he probably had no choice but to follow her conditions," Joshua said, trying to break the silence.

They all looked at me, waiting for me to answer. I could feel the pressure from all the stares I was getting.

"That kind of cheap, overweight girl isn't someone I'd ever date," I finally said, just to shut them up.

I didn't mean it. I never meant it. But I couldn't handle their pressure. This was the answer they wanted to hear. Emma wasn't here, so she wouldn't know.

"I was just having fun. You know I'm leaving next month," I added, trying to smooth things over.

The rest of the party was a blur. I didn't enjoy it. The guilt gnawed at me. I knew the words I had spoken were wrong, but Emma wasn't here, so she wouldn't know about our conversation earlier.

When I got home, I opened my phone and texted Emma because I wanted to ask her out, to make up for what I'd said. But when I tried to send the message, I saw that she had blocked my number.

My jaw tightened. Did she really treat what happened between us as just a one-night stand?

"Noah!!!" William shouted, pulling me back to the present.

"She never attended any high school reunion?" I finally managed to ask.

"You finally answered! I thought you were gone. To answer your question, we haven't heard from her since graduation. She was still in our WhatsApp group, so I assumed she knew about the reunion, but she just chose not to come," William explained.

"But she'll probably attend now if she knew you're coming," he added.

I hadn't planned to attend, but hearing that Emma might be there made me reconsider.

I wanted to see her reaction, to see how she'd respond after seven years.

"Fine, I'll attend," I said, though part of me was already dreading what would come next.

OLIVIA

After Hannah and I settled ourselves on the bus going home, my mind was a whirlwind from the unexpected encounter with Noah.

I never imagined I would cross paths with him again. Noah and I had always been in different worlds. He came from a prestigious family, while I was just an ordinary woman.

After graduation, he left for abroad to continue his studies, and I stayed here in the U.S. What were the odds we'd meet again after all these years? Slim to none.

"Mom," my daughter's voice broke me from my thoughts.

I hugged her tightly, trying to lighten the heavy feeling that had settled in my chest.

I looked at her face, which resembled Noah's so much, especially the shape of her eyebrows and her gray eyes, the same color as her father's.

"Mom, is Dr. Morgan my dad?"

I was stunned by my daughter's sudden question. I was silent for a moment, contemplating the answer I should give her.

I looked into her innocent eyes, smiling as I caressed her face. I suddenly noticed that my daughter was getting thinner. She was smaller compared to other kids her age.

"What made you think that he is your dad?" I asked gently.

My daughter pulled out a picture from her bag. She showed me the photo of Noah and me from our university days.

"I wanted to ask Dr. Morgan earlier because he look's like my dad," Hannah said, pointing at the photo.

My heart skipped as I saw the great expectation in her eyes. I knew that she wanted me to confirm that Noah, the doctor we met a while ago, was her dad-the one she had longed for.

I didn't want to break my daughter's heart, but I couldn't tell her the truth. Remembering how Noah hurt me in the past, I couldn't bear to see my daughter hurt by him.

"He's not your dad. I already told you that your dad is working abroad," I explained carefully.

"But the nurse said that Dr. Morgan came from abroad and just arrived here in California," she explained.

I swallowed hard. My daughter is really smart. I smiled and messed with her hair. "Dr. Morgan is not your dad. If he were, he would recognize you. He just looks like him."

"Oh," she said softly. You could see the disappointment on her face.

I'm sorry, baby, I can't tell you the truth. But I promise you that I will love you with all my heart, and I will do my best to fill his position in your life so that you won't feel the lack of a father.

We arrived at our apartment, and I pressed the doorbell to the apartment next to ours to check on Margareth.

Margareth Brown is our landlady, well-known in the neighborhood for her eccentric personality. She owns this duplex apartment where we are currently renting. It's a cozy one-bedroom apartment, and Margareth lives right next door.

After a while, Margareth opened the door and let us in. I handed her the maintenance medication I had picked up from the pharmacy near the hospital before we went to Hannah's checkup.

"How's the checkup?" Margareth asked while giving us drinks.

We sat in the dining room while Hannah busied herself playing in the living room. She keeps some of her things here at Margareth's place since she stays here after school on weekdays while I'm at work.

I smiled timidly. "It's the same as Dr. Smith said. Hannah needs surgery as soon as possible. We can't delay it any further, or it may affect her health in the long run."

Margareth handed me her ATM card. "I have some savings here. It's quite a lot, and I'm sure this can cover all the medical expenses needed for Hannah's surgery."

I shook my head and handed her card back. "I can't accept it, Margareth. You've helped us so much already. Just taking care of Hannah while I'm at work is more than enough help."

Even though I needed money for my daughter, I couldn't accept Margareth's money. She's not getting any younger, and that money could serve as her emergency funds in case something happens to her. I would blame myself if I took the money and then something happened to her, and we couldn't save her because the money that was supposed to be for her was used for my daughter.

"I'm not giving it to you for free. I'll just loan it to you. You can pay me back monthly until you've paid it all off. Just think about Hannah, she needs this money now," Margareth insisted, pushing her card toward me.

"And you know that I treat you like family. You as my daughter-in-law, and Hannah as my grandchild," she added.

I smiled. I had indeed become her daughter-in-law when I married her son, but we divorced a month later.

Liam Brown was Margareth's son. I met him when I was just starting at the company. He was a client of mine, and we became friends after working on a project together. He was the one who offered me the apartment I'm living in now.

His father was already dying at that time. Liam rejected the company's offer to be the head of marketing at their UK branch because he wanted to be there for his father.

His father's only dying wish was to see his son get married. At that time, I was financially struggling because my salary wasn't enough to cover Hannah's medical needs and the salary for her nanny since I had to work and Hannah was only 2 years old at the time.

Liam offered me a deal to marry him and fulfill his father's dying wish, and in return, he would give me fifty thousand dollars. We agreed that we would divorce once his father passed away. I accepted his offer because, like him, I was willing to do anything for my family. That fifty thousand would go a long way in covering Hannah's medical expenses.

We got married, and only family members knew about it. We kept it as private as possible because we didn't want anyone to know about it except our family.

Margareth got mad when she found out about it, but she couldn't do anything because she knew that her son was just doing his filial duty to his father, so she kept quiet about it.

After a month, Liam's father died. After the funeral, we got divorced. A few months later, he flew to the UK. The position he had rejected before was offered to him again. Since his father was dead, he had no reason not to accept the offer, and Margareth encouraged him to take it. The offer was a great opportunity for his career.

A year later, Margareth fell ill. It was me and my daughter who took care of her. Since then, Margareth and I got closer. She offered to take care of Hannah while I'm at work so I don't have to hire a nanny for my daughter, and I could use that money for Hannah's medical expenses.

"No, Margareth," I firmly said. "Don't worry about us. I have a big account that I'm about to close. Once I get this deal, I'll receive a big commission. You don't need to worry about us. I've got this."

On Monday morning, I headed to work. Walking through the busy streets of SOMA, I was more determined than ever to close a deal from a major account this Friday. I worked as an advertising account manager at Brightwave Media. I initially wanted to be a copywriter since my skills were more on the creative side, but I chose to apply for the sales position because the commission I would receive for every account I close is a great help for me to afford Hannah's medical needs.

As I got to my office table, Jessica, one of the copywriters, came to me.

"Olivia, Isabel's assistant came here to tell you that her boss is asking you to go to her office," she said.

I nodded and grabbed my laptop, assuming that Isabel called me to review the final proposal for our major client that we will present this Friday.

As expected, Isabel, our creative director, asked me about our proposal for Mere & Line's Everyday Luxury Collection. I presented the campaign deliverables and campaign phases.

She looked at our materials several times, then sighed.

"Is this the best your team could do, Olivia?" Isabel asked.

I almost raised an eyebrow at what she said. I gave her a fake smile. "Do you have any recommendations in mind?"

"This launch needs to scream luxury. We're talking about high-end fashion. This campaign should be flashy because, from the word itself, luxury should stand out. Just like me," she said with a proud smile, showing off her clothes, which were shouting their brand.

I took a slow breath, trying to keep my composure and reminding myself that I couldn't offend her. She was the daughter of the owner of this company.

"I understand where you're coming from, Isabel. But that's not what the brand stands for," I said as calmly as I could.

"The Everyday Luxury that our client wants to promote is minimalism and understated elegance. In short, quiet luxury," I said, hoping she would understand what the client wanted.

Isabel's smile didn't fade. "Listen, Olivia, I get your point. But luxury needs to be aspirational. If it's too subtle, people will find it boring. It won't get their attention. We need to make the visuals bolder, have higher contrast," she insisted.

I stared at her for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain to her that her definition of luxury was different from what our client's definition was. For her to understand the core message of the brand. It's the client I need to please, not her.

"Let's just present two proposals for our client... this one and another one based on your recommendation. How's that?" I said, praying she would agree.

That was the only option I had to make sure I would close this deal.

She paused for a moment to think, then slowly nodded. "Fine. Let's present two proposals. I'm sure the client will agree with the concept I want."

I just gave her a fake smile. "Sure."

After the stressful meeting with Isabel, I immediately gathered the team and relayed everything that Isabel and I discussed.

"What the heck?!" Jessica reacted after I shared everything with them.

Ella shook her head. "She really thinks she's better than us because she's the creative director. Everyone knows she only got that position because of her dad."

"Good thing Matthew's a real capable heir, or else this company would surely go bankrupt," Sophia couldn't stop her frustration.

Matthew Caldwell is the CEO of our company and the son of the owner of Brightwave Media. Just like Sophia said, Matthew is a capable heir. He's great at his job, which is good news for all of us employees.

I arrived home late because of the sudden work we received, thanks to Isabel. My daughter was already in our room, sleeping soundly.

I had just finished taking a bath when I received a text message. It was from my best friend, Grace. She was my schoolmate in high school in another class. She's the only person I allowed to have contact with.

I opened my phone and read her message.

"I saw William a while ago, and he asked me about your whereabouts. He was trying to contact you but couldn't reach you. He wants to invite you to the upcoming reunion this Saturday."

"What did you tell him?" I replied.

"I told him I don't know. But do you know there's a rumor about you, that you're already dead?"

I frowned for a moment, then sarcastically smiled while typing my reply.

"Let them think I'm dead then."

Whether Emma Cooper is alive or not doesn't really matter. No one pays attention to Emma unless they're insulting her. So, it's better for them to think that Emma Cooper is dead. I, myself, buried Emma Cooper and cut ties with everyone connected to her when I decided to change my name.

Grace is the only exception because she's the only person who treated me like a normal person and a real friend.

"Are you sure? I heard that Noah will attend the reunion. He'll surely be shocked when he sees you. I doubt he'll even recognize you. If you change your mind, I'll send you the details of the reunion."

I smiled bitterly after reading Grace's reply. She's right, Noah didn't recognize me.

"I won't attend," I replied, and went to bed.