Chapter 3
The next day, I returned to the hospital. Despite my father’s death, I had a surgery to perform that couldn’t be postponed.
After completing the surgery, I ran into the head of Damon’s department, Dr. Smith.
“Is Damon still not back?” he asked, looking
relieved to see me.
I shook my head.
“Damon took time off for a reunion trip with his friends. How can he take such a long break? Even though there aren’t any major surgeries at the moment, he shouldn’t be away for so long!” Dr. Smith complained disapprovingly.
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My heart felt as if it was being crushed by a thousand–pound weight, making it hard for me to breathe.
So, he was taking time off only for a reunion trip with his friends. I thought he was so busy, too busy to make it back for my father’s surgery, too busy to attend the funeral.
“Ashley, Damon can’t go on like this, forgetting his responsibilities.”
I forced a smile and nodded. I had always seen Damon as a mature, dedicated workaholic. He had always been strict with himself and wouldn’t easily abandon his hospital duties.
Yet, he left my father’s surgery for Carol’s
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birthday. It turns out he wasn’t as devoted to his work as I thought.
Since Dr. Smith personally came to ask about Damon, and I couldn’t sign the divorce papers alone, I hesitated but dialed his number again.
The busy signal greeted me once more.
But I no longer felt sad as before. Just very tired.
I tried calling one more time, deciding it would be my last attempt. This time, the call went through.
Instead of the familiar voice, a woman answered. “Damon is in the bathroom. His
phone is in the luggage bag. If you have something to say, tell me,” Carol said, her tone
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full of arrogance.
“When are you coming back?” I no longer asked
when Damon would return because I knew he
would be with Carol.
“We’re about to board now. Do you have anything else?”
Before I could ask more, Carol grew impatient.
She sounded just as arrogant as she did the night my father died.
Back then, she also said, “Damon is in the shower. If you have something to say, tell me.”
I froze, then laughed through my tears: “Nothing, just divorce.”
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The line went silent for a moment, then Carol’s impatient voice came back: “I’ll let him know. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
I didn’t understand her arrogance. Was it because Damon was with her?
She wanted to show off, but I was already numb.
I smiled and replied, “Okay.”
Carol hung up immediately after I finished speaking.
