Chapter 2

2

"Did you hear me, Nathaniel? Take care of my mother and stop acting like a statue!"

Lydia pushed my shoulder impatiently. I snapped out of my thoughts and gripped the medical report.

"Lydia, you're a nurse. Look at these markers. I suspect it's brain cancer."

"You know how aggressive this is. If it's confirmed, she might only have a few weeks…"

I didn't even finish before she slapped me hard across the face.

"Nathaniel Shea, you call her Mom, yet you're wishing death on her?" she hissed.

"She just caught a chill or has some tension. There is no way it's cancer!"

"You're just making this up because you're jealous of Silas and our trip!"

Her tongue was like venom. I simply shook my head and tried one last time.

"At least take her for an MRI today. Just to be safe."

Lydia rolled her eyes, her gaze chillingly cold.

"An MRI takes forever to schedule and get results. You just want me to miss my flight."

"You're just a young surgeon. Who gave you the right to diagnose her without a specialist?"

"Stop making excuses. I'm going with Silas, and you're going to look after her."

She shoved her mother toward me and grabbed her passport, heading straight for the door.

She told me that if I tried to stop her again, she would file for divorce immediately.

In my last life, I had begged her to stay. I had even threatened to hurt myself just to keep her there.

I had taken her and Evelyn to the oncology center, confirmed the diagnosis, and started treatment early.

But a few days later, the police called. Silas was dead.

She treated me like a murderer from that day on.

After she left, I took the preliminary scans and brought Evelyn to the neurological testing center.

As soon as we walked in, we were stopped by the supervisor.

It was Nadia, Lydia's best friend from college.

"Nathaniel? Are you here to harass Evelyn with these cancer rumors?" Nadia asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I nodded and tried to explain my clinical reasoning.

"Nadia, her symptoms and markers are identical to late-stage glioblastoma. We need a scan now."

Nadia rolled her eyes and stepped in front of us.

"Nathaniel, I thought you were a top-tier med school grad. Do you usually diagnose people based on your insecurities?"

"You've been reading too many medical thrillers. You're just trying to play hero."

"I know the real reason. You're just being a petty husband because Lydia is finally having some fun."

I realized then that Lydia had already gotten to her. They were in this together.

"Nathaniel, even if you're married, you need to give her space. Respect her!"

I looked at Evelyn. Her lips were turning pale from the pain.

"It's not about space! Look at her! One more scan will prove it. Why won't you listen?"

Nadia cut me off, her face turning red with anger.

"Nathaniel, you're clearly unstable. I'm calling your Chief of Surgery to report your behavior!"

"If Lydia is this miserable with you, she should have stayed with Silas from the start!"

I was kicked out of the center. Minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text from my boss.

"What the hell did you do at the neuro center? They're asking to suspend your privileges."

"You're becoming a liability to this hospital. Take a few days off and don't come back until you've cleared your head!"

The Chief didn't even give me a chance to explain before hanging up.

I was officially suspended. I had to find another way to get Evelyn help.

With no other choice, I called Lydia's father, Arthur, to take her to the downtown university hospital.