Chapter 3

While switching shifts, I took the opportunity to clear out everything Leon had ever given me. I dragged my suitcase, stuffed with clothes, straight to the office.

I had barely sat down when Leon knocked and walked in.

"Honey, your colleague told me you hurt your hand. Why didn't you tell me? Let me put some medicine on it," he said.

Before I could even protest, he expertly unwrapped the bandage, wiped away the blood with a wet wipe, disinfected the wound, and applied ointment, all in one smooth motion.

I stared at him, lost in a daze as I caught the tender, meticulous look in his eyes beneath his messy hair.

Fifteen years ago, I was cooking for my seriously ill grandma when I accidentally sliced my hand.

Leon showed up at my place asking for soy sauce, only to find my hand covered in blood.

He didn't say a word, just dashed back home, came rushing back with an armful of medicine, and started patching me up.

He was only thirteen then, cupped my hand in his palms, and blew on it. "My mom says if you blow on it, it won't hurt anymore," he told me.

Back then, I didn't even know what it meant to have a crush on someone. All I knew was that my heart was pounding like crazy.

And my heart still raced whenever he was near.

But it was not because I was in love. It was because it hurt so damn much.

Leon said, "Natasha, did you even hear what I just said?" His words snapped me back to reality.

"Didn't you want Rhea to come with us on our honeymoon trip? Then we should cancel snorkeling in Fleroland. She just had a C-section, so she can't go swimming yet," he added.

I froze, and my heart ached.

So he really thought Rhea was coming with us on our honeymoon.

Little did he know that I wasn't planning on going on any honeymoon with him. I was heading straight to Tastinburg.

I replied flatly, "Whatever."

Not bothering to look at him again, I flipped open the transfer paperwork on my desk and scrawled my signature without a second thought.

Leon caught sight of the paperwork, and his frown softened. He leaned in, trying to coax me.

"Are you jealous of your bestie? Pretending to apply for a transfer right in front of me, just so I'll come and comfort you, huh?" he teased.

"Come on, I only look out for her because she's had it rough," he added.

"I even went all the way to the next street to get you some pancakes, my miracle doctor. Eat up, and no more sulking, okay?" he said with a grin.

With that, he pulled out a box of pancakes and handed them to me.

They still smelled delicious, but I could tell right away that these were the pancakes Rhea had already picked over and left behind.

Leon actually thought he'd managed to make me feel better.

Right before heading out, Leon spotted the big 28-inch suitcase by the door.

"We're only going away for two weeks. Why would you pack so much stuff?" he asked.

"Girls always bring a ton. Last time, Rhea..." he trailed off.

He stopped mid-sentence, as if something suddenly occurred to him, and didn't say another word.

My hand froze around the pen, and a thought flashed through my mind.

Every time Leon went on a business trip, Rhea was always conveniently out of town, too, either on a trip of her own or off traveling.

I used to joke that they were so in sync that it was like they'd planned it together.

It turned out that they'd already been to all those places I'd always dreamed of visiting, behind my back.

What a joke it was!

There were only two days left before I transferred to Tastinburg.

After finishing the handover with my colleagues, as usual, I was making my rounds, and when I got to Rhea's room, the door was ajar.

I heard Leon inside, cooing at the baby in the incubator.

"Mommy and Daddy are both here, little one. Be a good baby and grow up strong, okay?" he said softly.

"Rhea, what do you think about naming our baby Emma Smith? We'll use your last name for now, but you have to let me pick the first name," he suggested.

Rhea pouted, her voice teasing. "Fine, guess you won this time."

"But aren't you worried Natasha might find out?" Rhea asked, her eyes full of anxiety. "I've just got this bad feeling. What if she ever discovers what's really going on between us?"

Leon pulled her close, speaking softly, "She hasn't figured it out after all these years, has she? Relax."

"Still, we should be more careful. Natasha was jealous of you yesterday, but I already calmed her down," he said with a smug smile.

Rhea responded softly, flashing a flirtatious smile as she pressed her hands to his chest, leaning in for a kiss.

Nausea surged in me. My hand bumped the door open by accident.

The two of them, caught red-handed together, snapped their heads toward me, faces drained of color.

Trying not to gag, I shot them a cold look. "Are you two done with your little show?"

Leon suddenly lunged forward, grabbing me in a desperate hug, his voice shaking. "Natasha, just hear me out. Let me explain!"

I walked over to the incubator, replaced the medicine bottle, and shot them a cold look. "You two were so caught up chatting. Did you even notice the baby's lips turning blue?"

Then I gave him a puzzled look, pretending not to get it. "What do you want to explain to me?"

As soon as I said that, Leon and Rhea exchanged awkward glances, both visibly letting out a sigh of relief.

Rhea was the first to laugh, shot Leon a pointed look, then turned to me.

"Come on, get your husband out of here. He gets on my nerves every time I see him. He always has to come see the baby," she complained.

They were clearly exchanging glances when they thought I wasn't watching, but whenever I was around, they pretended to be annoyed with each other.