Chapter 6 Accepting the Treatment

I called a taxi and threw on my jacket. The hospital was my destination. Before leaving the house, I stopped by the bedroom and the study. Aaron was nowhere to be found. I wasn't sure when he had left. Last night had been a sleepless ordeal, and I had only managed to doze off in the morning. It was possible that he had gone out during my slumber. The specialist my doctor had referred me to wasn't based at the initial hospital. This relieved me, as the likelihood of running into Aaron had significantly decreased. I felt less anxious now. That's why I had willingly agreed to come here. Stepping onto the soft, soundproofed carpet in the consultation room on the third floor, I felt like I was walking on air. The furnishings here were far superior to those in any of the hospitals I had visited before. It seemed that my doctor was taking my illness seriously. However, I couldn't help but worry about how I would afford the medical expenses. After all, I was practically broke. Upon entering the consultation room, I was taken aback by the unmistakable scent of an alpha. I saw the doctor seated at the desk, wearing frameless glasses, and he looked up to appraise me. "Hello." Aren't alphas typically born with an air of arrogance and difficulty, like Aaron? Yet, this man before me was entirely different from the Aaron I knew. He exuded charisma and seemed gentle. I started to wonder if there was something wrong with my sense of smell. "Are you Laura?" He seemed engrossed in a medical file. My curiosity compelled me to study him more closely. Doctor Shaun had a distinct charisma compared to Aaron, and their physical appearances were quite different as well. It made sense that he left a different first impression from when I first met Aaron. I glanced at his name tag, which read Shaun. He raised his head to look at me again when I didn't respond. There was a hint of doubt in his eyes. "What's the matter?" "Nothing..." I suddenly realized how impolite I had been and averted my gaze. "Was it your doctor who referred you here?" Doctor Shaun appeared serious as he flipped through my medical record. "You're one of the patients with the most severe condition I've ever seen." "Just one of them, I can handle that." Doctor Shaun seemed both concerned and relieved at my acceptance of my condition. Two emotions played on his face simultaneously. "It's rare to see someone so at peace with her illness. Are you truly not afraid?" Doctor Shaun asked. "I'm not," I replied. There was nothing left for me in this world. What was there to be afraid of? "Alright. I'm suggesting you not go with the conservative treatment," he said, pulling out another treatment plan from his drawer. "This is a treatment plan I've customized for you. We'll see how it goes after a few rounds. If your condition improves, we'll proceed with this plan. If not, I'll consider alternative options." I accepted the treatment plan from him, shocked by its thickness. It was evident that he knew my illness inside out. My previous doctor had mentioned that Shaun was highly competent in his field. I had assumed he would be an older doctor, but I was surprised to find a young man before me. As I flipped through the plan, I came across a note about depression. "I have depression?" I asked, puzzled. Doctor Shaun shook his head. "You've been suppressing your emotions. It hasn't developed into depression yet, but we can't ignore the possibility." I closed the file in silence. Most of my emotional suppression stemmed from Aaron. I would absorb his emotions and let them dictate my life. He had never been kind to me, so it was only natural that I felt emotionally strained. "Can you share with me what you've been going through?" Doctor Shaun inquired. "Are you also an expert in treating depression?" I asked, even more impressed by his breadth of knowledge. The human body was complex, and focusing on one aspect alone was challenging. "No, I just want to emphasize that your ability to process emotions can impact your illness. Even the best treatment won't be effective if that aspect isn't addressed," he explained. "It's difficult," I admitted. How could I confide in a stranger about the unhappiness in my marriage? "Is it hard to talk about? It's alright," he reassured me. "If you ever feel overwhelmed or emotional, you can come to the hospital for counseling. It's better than dealing with negativity on your own." I managed a forced smile. "Thank you." "Don't mention it. It's my job. Take a good look at the treatment plan. I have a copy with me, and we'll start tomorrow." I took the thick file and nodded. "Okay, I'll be here tomorrow." He smiled, and his eyes seemed gentler. For a moment, it felt as if I had glimpsed a trace of the old Aaron in his gaze—the Aaron who used to be gentle with me, but whose tenderness had faded like a shooting star. "Thank you," I said, my eyes welling up with tears. It seemed that Shaun had noticed something was amiss as he stared at me in surprise. "You've been giving me that look several times since you came in," he said. I froze, feeling awkward that he had noticed my covert glances. "I'm sorry. I just thought that an experienced expert wouldn't be as young as you." "That's a stereotype," he replied with a smile. But he quickly shifted the conversation back to me. "Your doctor told me that you don't cherish your life and that you were resistant to undergoing treatment. I don't believe that." His words had a calming effect on me. Nobody had ever shown such care, encouraging me to value my own life. As a doctor, Shaun was not just treating my illness; he was also imparting moral support. It felt like a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had engulfed my life. I left the hospital with the treatment plan just as a sudden downpour started. Shaun offered to give me a ride home, saying, "I'll send you home. It's difficult to find a taxi in this weather." I accepted his offer gratefully. "Thank you." As I got into his car, I noticed a faint scent of bergamot. My eyes fell on a small trinket hanging inside the car – a cute pink doll. I assumed he must have a girlfriend, explaining the presence of something so girly in his car. Shaun asked for my address, and I told him, "25th Center Avenue." It took me a moment to realize that I had revealed something significant about myself. He looked at me with a hint of surprise and asked, "That's where you live?"