Chapter 10
Ever since Evelyn arrived, the passenger seat had never been Claire’s again.
The silence stretched between them until Allen’s voice sliced through it, growing impatient.
“Aren’t you getting in? If not, just take a cab. Don’t stand there wasting time.”
Claire, without a word, released the door handle and took a deliberate step back.
“You guys go ahead,” she said coolly. “I just remembered I left something at home.”
She turned and walked away, her steps measured, as though each one marked her quiet defiance.
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Only when the roar of the Audi A8 faded into the distance did Claire stop.
The parking lot was empty, dust swirling in the wake of their departure. Two silent tears slid down her cheeks.
This was the first time Claire had ever been late to work since joining the hospital.
Her colleagues greeted her with genuine
concern.
“How’s your foot? Feeling better? Why are you here today?”
“Doctor Brown doesn’t have a heart, does he? Didn’t let you rest a little longer?”
Their words were kind, but Claire only smiled and answered in the same cheerful tone.
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Allen, however, had long since vanished- already lost in his world with Evelyn, leaving her to carry on alone.
At that moment, an overwhelming desire to escape the city gripped Claire.
Without hesitation, she headed straight for the hospital director’s office.
When she handed over the consent letter, the director signed her application for the Médecins Sans Frontières program without a second thought.
“Dr. Taylor, I’ll congratulate you in advance. I hope you return safely.”
Claire nodded, the weight on her chest lifting with each passing second.
3/8
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After leaving the office, she bought a plane ticket and returned home to pack.
Her three years with Allen had left her with little more than memories and a few belongings. The suitcase she packed was small and nearly empty, save for a handful of clothes.
“Claire, why are you back so early today?”
Just as she set the suitcase down by the living room door, the sound of the front door opening caught her attention.
Allen and Evelyn stood there, Evelyn holding several bags of gifts–each one purchased by Allen.
“Claire, I didn’t expect you to be home” Evelyn said, her smile laced with feigned sweetness. “I forgot to bring you a gift.”
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Allen, standing next to her, looked momentarily uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, his eyes avoiding hers before speaking.
“Claire, the season’s changing. Let’s go shopping tomorrow. I’ll buy you a few new clothes.”
Claire smiled softly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She knew she couldn’t let herself be distracted by their trivialities–she had a flight the next day, and nothing was going to stop her now.
“No need,” she said, her voice steady. “As long as you two are happy, don’t worry about me.”
Her words seemed to strike a nerve. Allen frowned and huffed in irritation, but he
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quickly masked it, deciding then that he would ignore her from now on–waiting for her to come crawling back.
But what he didn’t realize was that Claire had already made her peace with this. She was done.
Even the next day at work, Claire didn’t utter a single word to him.
In the afternoon, Dr. White, from her department, approached Allen, a hint of concern in his voice.
“Dr. Brown, do you know what happened to Dr. Taylor? She hasn’t been to the hospital all day. Have you heard from her?”
Allen, who had been distracted by a phone call with Evelyn, barely looked up, irritation flickering across his face at the interruption.
6/8
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He waved his hand dismissively. “She’s perfectly capable of handling things on her own. As for where she is, I haven’t a clue. She doesn’t like me keeping tabs on her, so there’s not much I can do.”
Every mention of Claire made Allen’s voice turn sharp, laced with bitterness.
His teeth ground together as he recalled the events of the night before. She’d dared to ignore him, to withhold even a single word. Not a single word of apology, no explanation. Just silence.
Dr. White, sensing the tension, hesitated before speaking again.
“Well, Dr. Brown, don’t you think you should at least try calling her? See if you can get in touch?”
7/8.
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The suggestion hung in the air, but Allen only grunted in response, unwilling to show any sign of vulnerability.