Chapter 153: The jealousy
Evelyn went to thank Ian. As she walked down the corridor, she spotted him standing outside one of the consultation rooms, talking to a female doctor.
She stopped in her tracks. Her eyes slowly darkened.
The two of them were smiling as they spoke, completely at ease in each other’s company. But that wasn’t what hurt her the most.
It was the lie.
’He told me there was nothing between him and Maya,’ she thought bitterly. ’Yet here they are, smiling together.’
A painful realization settled over her.
’So this is why he came to this city and chose to work in this hospital. Because Maya is here.’
Her fingernails dug so deeply into her palms that the skin broke. She didn’t even notice the pain.
She wanted to turn around and leave. Yet her feet refused to move. It was as if they had rooted themselves to the floor.
Just then, Maya turned her head. The moment she saw Evelyn, the smile on her face disappeared.
Ian immediately noticed the change. Following Maya’s gaze, he saw Evelyn standing there. His heart skipped.
A familiar sense of panic washed over him. Old memories came flooding back.
The last time Evelyn had seen him with Maya, she had lost control. She had accused Maya of seducing a married man, called her shameless in front of the entire hospital, and even slapped her across the face.
The incident had become the biggest scandal in the hospital.
Ian feared history was about to repeat itself. He hurriedly stepped forward.
"Eve..."
"Evelyn." Maya beat him to it. She walked over with a gentle smile, pretending nothing had happened. "It’s been a long time."
Her expression softened. "When I heard about your eyesight, I was so worried. I’m relieved you are alright now."
She smiled again. "Ian told me everything. He even assisted during your surgery."
Looking at Ian with admiration, she added, "He is an exceptional doctor. I’m really proud to be working under him."
Evelyn remained silent. She simply looked at Maya.
Ian had always insisted there was nothing between them. But the way Maya looked at him, it was not just admiration. The affection hidden behind every smile was obvious to Evelyn.
Maya loved him.
Evelyn slowly tightened her grip on the sides of her dress. She was furious. But unlike before, she didn’t explode. She merely stood there, watching them.
That frightened Ian even more.
"Eve...why did you leave your room?"
Evelyn met his eyes. ’If I hadn’t, how would I have seen this?’
The words rose to her lips. But she swallowed them.
What was the point?
They were already divorced. Who he smiled at, who he spent time with—none of it should matter anymore. Even so, the ache in her heart refused to disappear.
She smiled faintly. "I heard about it."
Her voice was surprisingly calm. "I heard Dr. Whitmore spent the entire night studying my reports."
Maya’s smile froze. "The... entire night?"
Disbelief flashed across her face. She looked at Ian.
He didn’t even notice. His eyes remained fixed on Evelyn. Shock, confusion, and disbelief—every emotion surfaced in his eyes.
He had expected shouting, tears, and accusations. Instead, she was calm and composed.
’What is happening?" he wondered. ’Why isn’t she angry? This isn’t the Evelyn I know.’
"Yes," Evelyn continued. "The doctors told me you discovered the real reason behind my temporary blindness. Without you, the surgery might not have succeeded. I’m grateful."
Every word made Maya’s face grow paler.
Evelyn noticed. A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I actually came to thank you." She glanced between the two of them. "But I didn’t expect to find you together."
Maya immediately misunderstood. She assumed Evelyn was jealous.
She quickly explained, "I had just finished checking on my patients. I was heading back to my office when I ran into Ian. It was purely a coincidence."
Evelyn sneered. "Why are you explaining yourself?" She tilted her head. "You sound like someone who has been caught stealing."
Maya’s face stiffened. "N-No... that’s not what I meant..."
"Evelyn," Ian interrupted hurriedly. "We work in the same hospital. It’s perfectly normal for us to meet."
"I know." Evelyn nodded. "There are surgeries to discuss and patients to examine. I completely understand."
Maya stared at her in disbelief. "You are... not angry? Not jealous?"
Evelyn’s expression turned indifferent. "Should I be?"
Maya stepped back instinctively. "I’m only his colleague. Please don’t misunderstand. Ian..." She tugged at the corner of his sleeve. "Say something."
Ian barely glanced at her. He removed her hand from his sleeve. His attention never left Evelyn.
"You came looking for me." He stepped closer. "Come to my office. We should talk alone.
But Evelyn gently shook her head. "There isn’t any need. I only wanted to thank you."
She smiled politely. "Thank you, Ian. Because of you, I can see again."
It had been years since she had spoken to him so gently. Even if the smile wasn’t genuine, even if the gratitude carried distance, it still made Ian’s chest flutter.
"You don’t need to thank me." His voice softened. "I was only doing my job."
After a brief pause, he added quietly, "I’m glad I could help you."
For the first time, Evelyn noticed warmth and something akin to longing in his eyes. She was caught off guard.
Seven years... She had spent seven years searching his face for even the smallest trace of affection. She had found nothing but indifference.
Now, after everything had ended, she suddenly saw warmth she had waited years for.
’My mind must be playing tricks on me.’
She smiled bitterly. ’A man who stayed cold for seven years, how could he suddenly have feelings for me?’
Ian watched that smile. He couldn’t understand it. He had lived beside her for seven years. Yet, he had never truly understood her.
"Eve..." His voice became almost pleading. "Can we sit down and talk?"
Her smile paused for only a second before returning. "I was discharged today. I wanted to speak with you before leaving."
She glanced toward Maya. "But you seem busy."
"I’m not..." Ian immediately denied it.
"It’s alright," she interrupted gently. "I understand. You are a responsible doctor. You have patients waiting."
Those words pierced Ian’s heart.
He had said those exact words to her countless times. He had begged her to understand his responsibilities.
Now, hearing them from her, he felt strangely empty. Her calmness hurt far more than her anger ever had.
"My brother is throwing a party tonight." She smiled politely. "If you can spare some time, come. Leo will be very happy."
"And you?" Ian searched her eyes.
Evelyn froze. She hadn’t expected that question.
Once, she had told him she loved him, that she missed him. She had expressed her feelings without hesitation. She had waited to hear him say that he loved her. Yet all she had ever received was his cold indifference.
Now, when she had finally learned to let him go, he wanted to know how she felt.
How ironic.
Her expression became distant. "To Leo, you are his hero, his role model. He wants to become a doctor just like you. He loves you. I don’t want to disappoint him."
She looked directly into his eyes. "I’m inviting you for his sake. Don’t misunderstand."
She turned around. After taking a few steps, she paused.
Without looking back, she said, "Don’t make Leo disappointed this time."
She walked away.
Ian stood rooted to the spot. His eyes remained fixed on her retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner.
A hollow ache spread through his chest.
The woman who used to chase after him, who waited outside his office for hours, who smiled the moment she saw him, and who clung to him and whispered that she loved him was gone.
She no longer argued with him or cried because of him. She no longer looked at him as though he were the center of her world.
He had once believed her love would never disappear, that she would always remain by his side. That certainty had made him take her love for granted. He had distanced himself from her because her jealousy, insecurity, and constant need for reassurance had suffocated him.
He had wanted some space.
Now, she had finally given him everything he had asked for. She no longer questioned him, no longer waited for him, no longer needed him. And that silence was far more suffocating than her love had ever been.
For the first time, Ian realized her absence in his life was unsettling. Because somewhere along the way, he had grown accustomed to her love without even realizing it.
And now that it was gone, his heart felt unbearably empty.
"Ian..." Maya’s voice pulled him back to reality. "Is she angry with me?" She looked at him nervously. "Will she accuse me again?"
Ian slowly turned toward her.
"Last time, I had to resign because of those accusations," Maya said anxiously. "I don’t want to lose my job again. Please, talk to her. Tell her not to misunderstand us."
She reached out and clasped his hand.
Ian lowered his gaze. He looked at her fingers wrapped around his hand. Then he gently pried them away, one finger at a time.
"She won’t do that again." His voice was flat.
Maya stared at him. Only moments ago, he had been speaking to her warmly. But that warmth had gone now.
"Ian..."
"I have work to do." Without another glance, he walked away.
Maya watched his departing figure. Her brows slowly knitted together.