Chapter 2
Director Smith, hearing her assurance, finally
eased his tense posture.
“Alright. As long as Dr. Brown agrees, the hospital has no objections.”
“Thank you, Director. I’ll make sure he agrees,” Claire replied, her tone confident as she reclaimed her Médecins Sans Frontières application.
But the moment she left his office, the doubt crept back in.
Though her words had been firm, convincing Allen to let her go abroad was going to be a monumental challenge. Their wedding was just a month away, and deep down, Claire knew this was more than a simple matter of
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travel.
There was a time when she had dreamed of marrying Allen. But now, that desire had vanished.
Just a few days ago, they had discussed their wedding plans. Allen had brushed it off with a careless wave of his hand. “The hospital’s too busy. Who has time for a wedding? We’ll just have a quick meal and register. Don’t waste time on unnecessary things.”
That same evening, Claire overheard him talking to Evelyn on the balcony.
“Don’t worry, Evelyn. I won’t have a wedding. As long as I don’t want it, no one can make me.”
It was in that moment that Claire understood
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the truth–his reluctance to marry wasn’t out of busyness or indifference. It was because of Evelyn.
The realization struck her like a blow, leaving her hollow.
Their engagement had already ended before it had even begun..
So, she made up her mind to leave the country and sever the ties once and for all.
But the question remained: Would Allen agree?
Lost in thought, Claire didn’t notice where she was going. She collided with a solid chest.
“Ow!”
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Her ankle twisted, and she almost lost her balance, but a strong arm caught her around the waist just in time.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re so
distracted, I called out to you several times,” a deep, magnetic voice interrupted her thoughts.
Even after three years together, Claire still blushed when they were this close. Looking up at Allen’s composed face, she felt an unfamiliar discomfort–she had just been planning how to manipulate him into agreeing to her leave, and now, here he was.
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about work,” she lied, offering him a tight smile.
Allen raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off, but he didn’t press. Instead, he crouched down and rolled up her pant leg to
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inspect her ankle.
He applied gentle pressure, and Claire winced, her breath catching in her throat.
Without a word, Allen lifted her effortlessly into his arms. “It’s a bad sprain. You’ll need to rest for a few days. Don’t put weight on it.”
Claire squirmed uncomfortably in his arms, trying to wiggle free.
“Put me down. If someone sees us, this’ll look bad.”
Ignoring her protests, Allen gave her a light swat on the hip. “Stop moving! You’re already hurt–stay still.”
Just as he started walking, his phone rang.
On the other end, a bright, cheerful voice
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chimed, “Allen, are you at the hospital? I think I caught a cold, and I need my big doctor to check on me.”
The usually stoic expression on Allen’s face softened as he listened, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Claire let out a silent sigh, her mind already beginning its countdown.
Sure enough, before she even reached ten, Allen gently lowered her to the ground, his face tense with an urgency she knew all too well.
“The hospital just called. A patient’s waiting for me. It’s urgent,” he said, though Claire saw through the excuse. She knew better.