Chapter 21

A new day finally dawned, and Dr. Williams had already rushed to the hospital. This day, time was not a luxury she could afford — a critical surgery was being prepared. The patient, a young boy airlifted after a plane crash, was the son of one of the city’s most influential businessmen. He had personally requested that Dr. Williams join the team of renowned surgeons operating on his child. Although the procedure would take place in her hospital, several external specialists had been invited. The boy’s condition was extremely delicate.

As Dr. Williams quickly arranged her documents, Rosa entered, a cup of coffee in hand.
“Madam, here is yesterday’s report,” she said.
“Where is Malaya?” Williams asked, surprised.

Rosa hesitated. “Malaya is absent for medical reasons, Madam,” she set the file on the desk and placed the coffee beside it.

Williams was too busy to question further. A few minutes later, Romaric arrived, holding a file.
“Madam,” he said, placing it down, “the document you requested.”
“Good,” she replied, already reaching for her phone.

Before leaving for her meeting, she glanced at the untouched coffee and refrained from drinking it. Williams despised breaks in routine—Malaya was the only one officially assigned to prepare her coffee, and everyone knew that. She recalled the young woman’s strange behavior the previous day. Perhaps that explained the “illness.”

“Dr. Williams,” called a voice from outside. “The meeting is ready!”

At Evelyn’s apartment, Kannika had prepared breakfast. They ate in silence. Evelyn stared at her plate, barely able to swallow, while Kannika watched her closely.

“Did she come here to threaten you?” Kannika finally asked.

Evelyn hesitated. The memory of that evening flashed in her mind. “She offered me money to get rid of the child,” Then Evelyn added, “that is, if I am pregnant.” Her eyes hardened.” The arrogance—to think she could buy my silence,” she muttered.

This reminded Kannika of Evelyn’s real name: Esther Dara. During the night, while Evelyn slept, she had done her own research. She discovered that Evelyn came from a wealthy family. Also, heiress to her grandmother’s vast fortune. Yet she had abandoned all of it to live modestly, chasing the ghost of a girl she once kissed in college.

“But Evelyn,” Kannika continued softly, “what do you intend to do now that you have found her?”
“She didn’t recognize me,” Evelyn whispered. “It was as if I were erased from her memory. Or maybe I’ve changed that much.”
“But you’ll have to meet her again,” Kannika reminded her. “The parents are still waiting. You can’t leave this unresolved.”
“I know,” Evelyn murmured.
“Will you tell her who you are?”

She thought back to what the detective had said. His words had hurt her so much. “I’ll call a lawyer tomorrow,” she said. “Then I’ll go to the hospital.”

“And I’ll come with you,” Kannika replied. “It’s the right thing to do—for the parents, at least. Now, finish your meal so I can drop you off at the orphanage after.”

The day, charged with conflicting emotions, soon shifted from the personal to the professional. The world, after all, doesn’t pause for heartbreak. Evening descended. Dr. Williams remained trapped in a string of high-stakes meetings, selecting strategies for the surgery alongside foreign specialists.

Dr. Emilio, for his part, allowed himself a breath of air. He had been avoiding both Dr. Williams and Mr. Polo all day, but what worried him most was Malaya, whom he hadn’t seen all day. Although he hadn’t asked Rosa directly, it was obvious that she hadn’t come to work. All his messages to her had gone unread.

While lost in thought, a familiar voice broke the silence. “Dr. Emilio.”

He turned. Mr. Duncan Mayeur stood there, older and visibly worn out.

“Sir,” Emilio greeted, startled. “I’m truly sorry I haven’t gotten back to you.”

Mayeur gave a weary smile and handed him a folded document. “Don’t worry, Doctor. Take this.”

Emilio unfolded the paper with trembling fingers. “What is this?”

“It’s a letter signed with the help of my lawyer. My wife and I are withdrawing from the procedure, and we no longer want to have anything to do with this. I already suppose that the child, for his part, will be removed, given the time that has passed.”

“Sir, please, this should be discussed with the hospital committee.”

“They’ll handle it with my lawyer,” Mayeur interrupted gently. “I just wanted to deliver it myself.” His voice cracked. ” This ordeal has been unbearable for my wife, but infernal for me, because I am the problem. I am the sterile one in this story. Since the beginning of this procedure, it has been a humiliating ritual. We never told our loved ones about this, and this was only because my wife was extremely keen on protecting my male pride. Unfortunately, fate chose otherwise. But we believe in God, and we think that nothing happens by chance. Maybe it wasn’t the right time. But above all, don’t worry at all. We won’t cause you any trouble.”

“Sir, I’m truly sorry.”

Mayeur nodded and walked away, his steps heavy. Emilio watched him go, feeling both relieved and hollow. The guilt clung to him. Although he wasn’t the real culprit, the truth remained that a doctor at the prestigious Niran-Kai center had made a mistake, and it didn’t change the consequences. Now, he needed to find the young woman. Only then could all this finally end.

Then a familiar voice cut through the night. “Dr. Emilio,”

“Oh no!” Dr. Emilio shook his head. Mr. Polo, this really wasn’t the time.

“We should talk,” Polo said firmly.

“Mr. Polo, I understood you clearly the other day. Just give me some time.”

“Dr. Williams met the lady.”

Emilio’s pulse spiked. “What do you mean?”. He sank onto a chair, trying to compose himself. Had Williams found out he’d lied?

Polo’s gaze was sharp. “Well, count yourself lucky because she still has many questions that she hasn’t answered. But it’s only a matter of time before she learns you weren’t the culprit, and why you made all those maneuvers.”

Emilio looked up, startled. “What did you just say?”

“I know what you did,” Polo replied. “And when Dr. Williams finds out, you will be shown the door.”

Dr. Emilio put his hand on his head.

“Your action, Mr. Emilio, will discredit the entire hospital. How could you allow yourself to be drawn into a series of immorality? If you want me to save the little that will remain of you when Dr. Williams is informed, you had better explain to me very clearly what really happened. At worst, we will do it in front of a crisis committee, and the outcome, I guarantee you, will not only be the loss of your prestigious status. You will go to prison.”

“Please, Mr. Polo, please!”

“Then start talking.”

For Emilio, there was no escaping it now. The moment had come to confront the weight of his own ugly choices.

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