Chapter 2
That evening, I followed the department head into the restaurant, hoping to find a spot in the corner and stay out of the way.
But Rudy called out before I could even make a move.
"Sit next to me."
He pulled out the chair beside him, fixing me with that intense stare of his.
The room went quiet for a beat.
He added slowly, like he was offering an explanation.
"I'd like to get to know more about your hospital. Dr. Marin, you wouldn't mind, would you?"
He made it impossible for me to turn him down.
The department head grinned and nudged me over, giving me a meaningful look.
I took a deep breath, psyching myself up.
Alright, it was just work and I shouldn't be freaking out.
I sat down stiffly, every cell in my body screaming to get away.
During dinner, Rudy dropped a piece of sweet and sour chicken into my bowl.
Rudy's low voice brushed against my ear.
"I remember you loved sweet and sour chicken. This place is one of the best in town. Try it."
I stared at the glossy chicken in my plate, and my chest tightened suddenly.
But it wasn't because of Rudy. It was for me.
I had never liked sweet and sour chicken.
It was only because Rudy loved them that I made them my favorite, too.
Even in my previous life, since he wouldn't eat fish, I never touched it either.
The truth was that fish was always my favorite.
Rudy had always been self-absorbed. He never noticed things that didn't concern him.
Seeing me just sitting there, not touching my food, Rudy suddenly slipped his warm hand over mine under the table.
I jerked back like I'd been burned.
Crash!
The chair behind me toppled over, the dishes and silverware rattled and crashed all over the table.
Every eye in the room zeroed in on me.
After a long, awkward pause, I finally managed to say something.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling well. I'll leave first."
I fled in embarrassment.
In the taxi, I yanked a tissue from my bag and furiously scrubbed the spot where Rudy had touched me, desperate to wipe away any trace of him.
My skin was rubbed raw, stinging and burning.
All I felt inside was overwhelming disgust.
As soon as I stepped inside my house, my phone buzzed with an unknown number.
I swiped to answer, and Rudy's voice came through, low and husky.
"Maisie, you still have feelings for me, don't you?"
He sounded so sure of himself.
"Otherwise, why would you have reacted like that tonight?"
I was so hungry my stomach hurt, and I didn't even have the energy to argue with him. Gritting my teeth, I forced the words out.
"Rudy, I'm already married."
He let out a derisive laugh on the other end, dripping with sarcasm.
"Married? At least make up a better excuse! Who else can give you everything you want besides me?
"With your salary, can you even afford a villa, a fancy car, or those bags and dresses worth thousands of dollars?"
"Maisie, you're just pissed I haven't talked to you all these years, right?
"But you never called me either, did you?"
I let out a bitter laugh, pressing a hand to my stomach as I dug through the drawer for some meds.
"Rudy, when adults stop talking, that's basically a breakup.
"So do me a favor and stay out of my life from now on."
I hung up without hesitation, tossed my phone onto the couch, and popped a stomach pill.
Stretched out on the couch, I finally felt a little better.
The next day, my stomach pain kept me up all night, and my head was splitting, but work went on.
The exam room door swung open, and Rudy came in, helping Nola walk.
I didn't even look up, all business.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Nola giggled, leaning into Rudy's arms.
She cooed, "Doctor, I've been feeling so nauseous lately, always wanting to throw up. Could you take a look at me?"
I filled out the test slip without even glancing up.
"Go get a blood test first."
An hour later, I looked over the test results, my voice steady.
"You're pregnant."
Nola's face lit up with joy as she grabbed Rudy's arm.
"Rudy, I'm pregnant! We're going to have a baby!"
But Rudy didn't even look at her. He just stared at me, silent.
I pretended not to notice Rudy's intense stare, sticking strictly to protocol as I explained the precautions for pregnancy and the schedule for her next checkup.
"Did you get all that?" I asked.
I kept my head down, picked up my pen, and started making notes in her chart.
Suddenly, Rudy blurted out, "We can't keep this child!"
Nola's smile froze, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Why? Rudy, why don't you want our baby?"
Rudy repeated himself, his tone icy and unyielding.
"I said no, and that's final. No explanation."