After My Boyfriend and Best Friend Betrayed Me, Regret Haunted Them Nightly Chapter 09
Milton’s father recovered surprisingly well, transferring from the ICU to a regular room after two weeks.
Milton visited every day, and over time, we grew familiar with each other.
He offered a warm, bright smile. “I’m an attorney. If you ever run into medical disputes, feel free to reach
out. Or if you deal with difficult patients…”
Milton unbuttoned his suit cuffs, revealing well–toned arms. “And I’m not too bad with my fists, either.”
The nurses around burst into laughter, and even Dr. Nelson chimed in with a chuckle.
“Dr. Palmer, that lawyer Mr. Simpson is really a good man–he takes such good care of his father.”
I just smiled, but I couldn’t help feeling a faint ripple stir in the stillness of my heart.
On the day his father was discharged, the elderly man held my hands tight, refusing to let go.
“Dr. Palmer, you saved my life. I owe you everything.”
I chuckled softly. “Saving lives is a doctor’s duty.”
Milton pushed the wheelchair, looking deeply at me. “Dr. Palmer, could I get your number? I’d like to take
you out for a meal sometime.”
I froze for a moment.
He was so candid and direct that I couldn’t find a reason to say no.
After my night shift that evening, Milton stood by his car under the moonlight, waving at me with a smile.
Later, he would pop by the hospital occasionally.
Sometimes he brought a hot bowl of chicken soup.
Other times he just sat on a hallway bench waiting for my shift to end, quietly answering business calls in a hushed tone so he wouldn’t disturb anyone, looking a
bit flustered yet endearing.
The nurses nudged each other playfully, offering unsolicited advice. “Dr. Palmer, don’t say yes too fast!
Men need a little chase, or they won’t appreciate what they have.”
Another nurse scoffed. “Ignore her, Dr. Palmer! She just wants the juice Mr. Simpson brings us every time!”
Dr. Nelson would take over my charts, sternly telling them to focus on work while ushering me out the door.
When Milton parked outside my building, I initiated the conversation.
“You come every day, even though I’m too busy to give you much attention. Doesn’t it get boring?”
He thought for a second before shaking his head with a smile. “When I’m waiting for you, it’s never boring.”
I didn’t immediately agree to be with him.
Yet I no longer turned down his offers to drive me home.
I might not be ready to fully let go of the past and open my heart to something new just yet–but I wasn’t going to stay trapped in my own memories, either.
I still didn’t think I’d done anything wrong. Everyone had their own choices to make–as long as they were willing to answer for them.
That winter, Preston and Paige broke up for good.
Paige came to see me before leaving. Skinny and pale, she let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
“Julissa, I know you won’t forgive me. But I wanted to say goodbye anyway. I’m leaving. I depended too much on others in the past–Timothy, Preston, and you.”
“From now on, I want to live differently.”
“Whether you believe it or not, I really, truly wish you the best.”
The following spring, Preston also boarded a flight to Germany.
He didn’t come to see me again, only sending two messages from an unfamiliar number.
[Julissa, seeing how calm and focused you were at the
operating table that day made me remember our freshman year when you took first place. I said I wasn’t satisfied and would win it back sooner or later. That day, I realized how wrong I was. I lost.]
[I know no amount of apologies will fix things, so I’ll spend the rest of my life using what I’ve learned to save others. To you, to medicine, and to our ideals.]
I looked down at the texts, ultimately locking my phone without replying.
Outside the window, sycamore leaves rustled in the wind, carrying the fresh scent of spring soil.
The broken bones had finally healed, growing into something even stronger.
I stood by the window watching the sunset settle between distant buildings.
Then Milton’s figure appeared below, standing in the evening light and smiling as he waved up at me.
I smiled, shut off my computer, and headed down.
Walking side by side down the tree–lined path, I took his hand.
“Milton, when you pick me up tomorrow, bring me a bouquet.”
Broken bones regrow, and spring winds always melt the winter snow.
A new chapter had opened for me.