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Liam followed the lead he had gathered, his car speeding along the winding roads toward the small town where I had made my new life.
After hours of driving, he finally arrived.
The moment he pulled up in front of the hospital, Liam’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“I can’t believe Amelia chose to live in a place like this… just to get away from me.”
The town was small, far removed from the towering buildings and city lights that I had once loved.
He remembered me so well–even if we had only known each other for a few months before getting married, he
had memorized every detail about me.
I was a city girl through and through, always up to date with the newest fashion, the latest restaurants, the most
modern technology. I thrived in the fast–paced lifestyle of City A.
Liam’s heart clenched painfully
“Sorry for making you suffer, Amelia,” he muttered under his breath, guilt washing over him like a tidal wave.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly stepped out of his car and walked toward the hospital entrance
The moment he pushed open the doors, he was struck by how different it was from the hospital he had visited in
City A. It was almost like a small clinic rather than a bustling medical facility.
“Is this really a hospital?” Liam murmured to himself.
He scanned the interior, his sharp gaze quickly landing on a hallway to the right with a sign that read Emergency
Room. His instincts told him that if I was working, I would likely be there.
He took a step in that direction, but before he could go any further, a voice stopped him.
“Excuse me, sir,” a man from the information desk called out.
Liam turned, startled, and immediately composed himself.
“What are you looking for, sir?” the man asked politely.
Liam hesitated before replying, “I’m looking for Dr. Amelia ”
The man’s brows furrowed slightly. “Dr. Amelia?” he echoed. “Are you an outpatient, or a guardian of a patient
here?”
“No, no, I’m neither,” Liam answered quickly, shaking his head.
“Then?”
Liam clenched his jaw. Again, he was at a loss for words when it came to explaining what he was to me.
He could not say I was his wife, not when our marriage had never been publicly acknowledged to begin with.
So, he forced himself to stay calm and answered with the first excuse that came to mind.
“I have business with her in City A,” he said smoothly. “Future Hospital told me she transferred here after being…
slandered a year ago, so I came to find her.”
The information desk worker seemed to relax at that explanation. “Oh… so you’re an acquaintance of Dr. Amelia
from the city.”
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Forget Me Once, Fall Fores
Liam gave a tight nod.
“I’m sorry, sir, but this isn’t the right time,” the man continued. “Dr. Amelia isn’t here right now–she’s out at a nearby school for a first aid counseling session. She won’t be back until later this afternoon.”
Liam exhaled, part relieved and part frustrated. He had finally gotten so close, only to be forced to wait again. “Do you want us to call Dr. Amelia for you?” the front desk man offered.
Liam immediately shook his head. “No need,” he replied quickly. “I’ll wait here.”
The last thing he wanted was for me to be warned about his arrival. If I knew he was there, I would probably avoid him entirely.
He had already tried calling me. Tried messaging me.
But every attempt had resulted in the same response, “The number you have dialed is not registered.”
I had changed my number, cut off every possible way for him to reach me.
Then since it was lunchtime, Liam decided to ask about the nearest place to eat
The front desk man glanced at the clock and said, “The nearest restaurant is about a ten–minute drive from here. But if you don’t mind something quick, the minimarket near the daycare serves fast food.”
Liam nodded. “That’ll do ”
After thanking him, Liam headed toward the minimarket.
The small shop was quiet, with only a few customers browsing the shelves. Liam grabbed a simple sandwich
and a bottle of water before stepping outside to eat.
From his seat near the window, he could see the daycare’s playground just across the street
His eyes scanned the playground, a question forming in his mind. “Is Theodore there?”
His heart ached at the thought.
He remembered the conversations we had when I was pregnant–how we had debated childcare, how I had considered staying home to raise Theodore.
But in the end, Liam had known how much I had sacrificed to become a doctor, how hard I had worked to stand
where I was.
“You’ll regret it if you leave your career,” Liam had told me one night as we lay in bed.
“But what about Theodore?” I whispered.
“He’ll be fine. We’ll make sure he’s surrounded by good people. A daycare, maybe. He’ll have other kids to play
with.”
I had hesitated, but in the end, we had agreed. After our maternity leave was over, Theodore had been enrolled in
daycare.
But Liam knew Theodore had been starved for time with his parents
I had always been busy in the ER, and Liam had been buried in the endless cases he handled.
And then a full year had passed since he had last seen his son.
“From now on, I should pay for everything I missed.”
With newfound determination, he finished his sandwich and wiped his hands before heading toward the daycare.
He stopped just outside the playground fence, watching the children play. His gaze flickered from one little boy
to another, searching for Theodore.
But suddenly, in a small, innocent voice, a boy called out, “Daddy?”
He gazed down on the kid calling him, and it was Theodore.
Forger Men, Farewel Fornm
He was taller than before, but his features were unmistakable. The same wide blue eyes, the same small pout, the same boy who had once run into Liam’s arms at the end of every day.
However, what shocked him more was that Theodore had recognized him, even after an entire year.
“Theo, yes,
