Chapter 5

Serena’s POV My anger was dripping so the best choice was to ignore her. I didn’t smile back or what. I just continued walking. I successfully walked past her but she suddenly called my name which made me stop for some reason. “You’re Doctor Anson, right?” Doctor Anson. Right! I forgot I refused to change my name even when I married Tyler. My name is the only memory I have of my parents. I don’t wanna lose it. Having Millie to carry her father’s name is enough for me but I guess Tyler misunderstood my intention. “I’m sure you’re Doctor Anson. Can I have a minute with you?” Catherine is now in front of me. The child with her was looking at me and I immediately noticed something wrong in his eyes. However, his resemblance to my husband is really distracting. “Uhm… Is your shift over? I’m sorry this is just really urgent. I need your help.” I lifted my face to look at Catherine again. She need my help? About what? Is she going to ask me to let go of Tyler so they can finally be together? “I know we only met and it’s shameless of me to ask this but…can you help me? My son Andy has a condition. I…need a physician for him.” My forehead creased. She came here to ask me to be her son’s physician? Does she even know me? Because if she asked me now, I know her. I know her very well even though I only met her a few times when we were in college. I saw how her relationship with Tyler goes. I know how passionate their love for each other was. I used to envy her and I still feel so jealous of her until now. I took a deep breath and shook my head. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I can’t just accept a patient.” “Please! Please! You’re my son’s only hope, Doctor Anson.” I shook my head. “How come you know me?” She smiled shyly and caressed her neck. “Uhm… A close friend recommended you to me. He said you’re an excellent ophthalmologist.” I balled my fists. And I’m supposed to thank Tyler for complimenting me while recommending me to his mistress? I pressed my lips together and looked at the child who was still looking at me. I tried so hard to ignore the resemblance he had with my husband and focus on his eyes. It’s very clear that he has a corneal disease and it’s not reached by the level of my expertise. I specialize in retinal diseases so obviously I’m not the one she needed. “I’m sorry but I can’t be his physician. I specialize in retinal diseases and your son has a corneal disease.” “B-But…” “I can just refer you to someone who knows about that line of field.” She gasped. “But I can only trust you since you were recommended by a special friend. Please, Doctor Anson. You also know about his condition because you’re an ophthalmologist. Please? What should I do to make you say yes?” “I said I can’t be your son’s physician, Miss.” She looked down and she started sobbing. My lips parted in both shock and anger. Is she really crying right now? Does she think I’d change my mind? I already told her my reasons. Is she deaf or just plain stupid to not realize what I just said? “I c-can’t find another doctor to trust. I-I was actually having second thoughts of coming here but when a special friend recommended you…I gave it a try…since you’re the best in the country.” I sucked my breath and looked at the innocent child again. He was carrying a toy. He looked kind and obedient but I still can’t look at him without feeling the heavy stone that’s burdening my heart. “If I have to kneel and beg you to be my son’s physician, I will do it! Please, Doctor Anson. You’re the only one I can trust to save my son’s future. Please! Please, save my son’s future.” My eyes widened when she let go of her son’s hand and kneeled in front of me. “What are you doing?” I growled angrily. The child saw his mother kneeling and he copied her. I don’t know what to do and who to help first. The people around were already whispering and talking about us and it made me angry again. I feel like Catherine’s doing this on purpose to make me feel bad and to ruin my image. “What are you doing? Get up!” I am panicking. The people around are watching and some are even fellow doctors who know me. She shook her head and looked up at me. “I won’t get up until you agree to be my son’s physician.” “Why are you doing this? I told you that’s not my line of expertise!” My voice was starting to rise. Now, the crowd is getting bigger. “Can’t you just reconsider, Doctor Anson?” She pressed her palms together, begging me more. “Your son’s kneeling too! What are you doing?” I growled angrily. How dare she use her son? Does she know about me and Tyler and she’s making me look like the bad guy here? She looked at her son before she looked at me again. “He wants to get better.” Anger overpowered me again. “I’m not the one who can help you. Just stop this and leave!” I was about to help the child up when someone gently pulled him up before that someone helped Catherine too. “What the hell are you doing, Serena?!” My lips parted as I slowly turned to the man who just came. He was looking at me angrily. His eyes were bloodshot again and he was already judging me without even asking what really happened. I felt so disappointed so I ignored him. I was about to leave when he blocked my way and looked at me with a more violent reaction. “Really? You’ve become so cold-hearted. I can’t believe you could do this to a child! You are a doctor, Serena! How could you do this to a sick child? He needs your help and yet you’re taking this personally? I can’t believe you!” I balled my fists and clenched my jaws as I met his sharp eyes, equaling the intensity of his anger—even surpassing it if I could. I guess he didn’t even try to love me even once. He only knows that I’m a doctor. An ophthalmologist. He doesn’t even know my specialty. Really! How blind was I to not realize this before? I shook my head as I looked at him with disappointment. “That’s what you’re good at. Coming late and judging me based on your stupid deduction of what happened. That’s what you’re good at, Tyler. Guilt tripping. I can’t believe I married you.”