Chapter 3

Liam would never cheat on me.

His upbringing and his principles wouldn't allow it.

I shook my head with a smile. "No need. I'm not in the habit of snooping through people's phones."

He looked down at me for a moment, then a small smile played on his lips. "Why aren't you crying this time?"

"What?"

"Don't you usually cry whenever I have to take care of her? Crying and demanding an explanation?"

I shook my head, smiling. "I assisted in three surgeries today. I'm too tired to cry."

He didn't press the issue. He typed a reply to Chloe before speaking again. "How are you feeling?"

I paused, glancing at the newly opened box of medication.

Even though Liam was a cardiac surgeon, he would definitely recognize these common prescription meds from an OB-GYN.

After all, his most important patient was a pregnant woman.

But he hadn't noticed. Not at all.

"I'm fine."

I smiled. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Okay."

The word had barely left his mouth when his phone rang again. He answered it without a second of hesitation. Chloe's sobbing voice came through the phone:

"Dr. Harrison... I can't sleep... my surgery is tomorrow... I'm so scared..."

Liam's hand tightened on the phone. The next second, he was turning to get dressed. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Liam!"

I moved forward and grabbed his arm.

"Evelyn."

He was putting on his shoes and looked back at me, his brow furrowed. His tone turned cold. "I told you, I will never cheat on you."

I paused. He had said that.

On our first day together, he promised me he might not be a perfect partner, but he would absolutely be a faithful one.

And for all these years, despite his coldness towards me, he had kept that promise.

"Chloe's insurance card and ID."

I slipped the two cards into his pocket.

Chloe was always losing things, so she just left these important documents with Liam. Whenever there was paperwork, he would just handle it for her.

I reached up and fixed his collar, which he had put on inside out in his rush. "Come back soon. I still have something to tell you."

The door clicked shut. I didn't sit on the couch and cry.

Instead, I immediately opened my laptop and continued filling out the Doctors Without Borders application form, carefully reading every safety advisory for the Central Africa mission.

I calmly folded the trench coat he'd left behind and placed it in a box labeled "To Deal With."

I began to physically erase him from my life.

His impatience froze for a second.

He looked down, gently squeezing my hand. "I know."

The door opened again quickly. I suddenly called out, "Liam!"

He turned back.

"Do you love me?"

He froze, his brow furrowed in confusion.

I quickly laughed it off. "Just kidding. It's my birthday today."

"Huh?" He seemed surprised for a moment, then smiled. "Okay, I'll bring back a cake. We'll celebrate it properly when I have time."

I smiled and nodded. "Okay, but..."

The door closed.