Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Gemma felt a wave of discomfort. His harsh demeanor made her nervous, but she tried to keep her voice steady.
“Can’t I just do this?”
“No,” he said bluntly, his voice cold.
“Follow the rules.”
Gemma’s cheeks flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She had never felt so exposed in front of a man, yet she knew this was a medical setting, and there should be no gender differences. Still, his lack of compassion made her uneasy.
With a deep breath, she reluctantly lifted her shirt, exposing her skin to him.
The doctor placed the electrodes on her skin without a word. The cold metal made her shiver, and her chest trembled involuntarily.
For a brief moment, the doctor hesitated. His eyes seemed to linger on her, an expression of distaste creeping into his features.
She blushed, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself as she wished the procedure would end quickly. Finally, the doctor finished and stepped back.
“You can get up now. Wait outside for the report,” he said dismissively.
Gemma, still feeling unsettled by his attitude, contemplated filing a complaint. But when she tried to glance at his name tag, all she could focus on was his muscular build under his coat, which only made him seem more intimidating. She sighed inwardly, feeling small.
As she started to leave, the doctor called out to her, his tone unexpectedly curious.
“Is that guy out there your brother?”
Gemma’s expression softened slightly, and pride crept into her voice.
“Yes.”
“Just wait until your shift ends. Corey would beat the crap out of you,” she said in her heart.
The doctor gave a quick nod.
“You can leave now.”
As Gemma stepped out of the room, she passed by nurses hustling through their tasks. A wave of empathy washed over her, and she suddenly felt that sometimes, the medical staff’s impatience and detachment weren’t entirely unacceptable. After all, they might just be too tired, not that they were unfriendly.
Gemma then second-guessed the idea of reporting that doctor.
Alicia’s insomnia had gotten worse again. She couldn’t pinpoint the cause-maybe emotional stress-but even her usual medication wasn’t helping this time. Realizing that she couldn’t keep going like this, she finally made an appointment at the hospital.
When she arrived, she handed the doctor her case file.
“This is my previous assessment from a hospital in another city, Xada.”
The doctor took the file, flipping through it, his brow furrowing slightly.
“This type of case is rather unusual,” he remarked, his tone one of mild disbelief.
Alicia let out a nervous laugh.
“I thought it might be. That’s why I’m here – I want to make sure it wasn’t a misdiagnosis.”
The doctor looked up at her, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary.
“Could it be that you have unrealistic expectations from your partner?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Alicia’s mind immediately went to Caden. He was a great guy, no doubt about it, but for her, finding the right person meant connecting on a much deeper level. She had yet to meet anyone who truly made her heart race.
After a beat, Alicia made her decision. She wanted to conduct another assessment.
Later, when Caden heard Alicia had been at the hospital for a while, he decided to visit. But when he arrived, Alicia had already left. He looked at the psychologist’s information by the door, his expression turning slightly puzzled.
With determination, he knocked and stepped into the office.
“What’s wrong with Alicia?” he asked bluntly, his voice full of urgency.
Caden was the most influential figure at the hospital, and his position as a major shareholder gave him immense power. No doctor in this hospital, no matter how prestigious, could refuse his requests. So when he demanded Alicia’s medical records, the doctor complied without question.
As Caden flipped through the files, his gaze sharpened. The diagnosis before him was something he’d never expected to see. His eyes narrowed, and his expression grew tense. The doctor noticed the shift and quickly reassured him, “Mr. Ward, I know this might seem concerning at first, but let me explain. The situation is a bit complicated. To put it simply, Alicia is dealing with unresolved physical desires, which has led to severe neurotic behavior and chronic insomnia. This lack of sleep has, in turn, triggered several other issues. She came to me seeking a treatment plan to address all of this.”
Caden’s heart sank at the mention of Alicia’s struggles with sleep. He sighed, his thoughts drifting to his own sleepless nights. It had been two years since he’d had a good rest, ever since his life had spiraled into chaos. He had tried everything – pills, therapy, even meditation – but nothing worked.
What struck him most was the mention of “unresolved physical desires.” His ears perked up as he tried to make sense of it.
“Are you saying she’s dealing with sexual dysfunction?” Caden asked, his voice heavy with concern.
The doctor hesitated for a moment before responding.
“It’s not exactly that. It’s more that Alicia simply doesn’t feel anything toward men.”
The words struck Caden like a blow. A thought suddenly hit him, and his brow furrowed with suspicion.
“Wait a minute… Has her sexual orientation changed? Is she now attracted to women?”
The doctor gestured for Caden to take a seat, then quietly closed the door. He took a deep breath before continuing, “We did a thorough physical check-up. From everything Alicia has told me, her sexual orientation hasn’t changed. But there’s a noticeable lack of sensitivity in that area – almost like she’s emotionally shut down.”
Caden stared at the medical records, unable to speak for a moment. It wasn’t a typical medical issue. This wasn’t something that could be solved with pills or therapy. It was clear Alicia hadn’t moved on from him. He remembered how fiercely she had loved him, her dedication to their relationship, and how she had given everything she had. And when she left, it wasn’t because her love for him had faded. It was because she couldn’t bear the reality of their situation.
At that moment, Caden realized that he was the one who had caused her pain.
“Is there any way to fix this?” Caden’s voice was strained, barely audible as he looked up at the doctor.
“To start, we can try medication,” the doctor suggested.
“If we manage her insomnia, it could help regulate her other bodily functions and potentially resolve some of the underlying issues.”
Caden shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes.
“Medication doesn’t work. I know it.”
He had a different plan in mind for Alicia – one that didn’t involve pills.
The doctor, sensing there was more to the situation, hesitated before asking, “Mr. Ward, is Miss Bennett your…?”
Caden cut him off with a cold, piercing stare.
“She’s my fianc?e.”
The doctor froze, taken aback by the revelation. The name “Alicia Bennett” suddenly clicked in his mind. He now understood why her face seemed so familiar. After Caden’s extravagant proposal two years ago, Alicia had been all over social media, captivating the attention of everyone in Warrington.
“Keep her medical reports confidential,” Caden said firmly, his tone brokering no argument.
The doctor nodded quickly, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“Does she have any other discomforts?” Caden pressed again, his voice now tinged with urgency.
The doctor hesitated, unsure. This wasn’t exactly his area of expertise, but he wanted to help.
“I’ll reach out to some colleagues. Give me a bit of time, and I’ll get back to you.”
Caden waved it off dismissively.
“No need for that.”
He was already planning to handle things on his own. Within moments, he made a decision that, while questionable, felt necessary.
“When she comes back, you’ll follow my instructions,” he said, his voice low and resolute.
Alicia had grown resistant to medication over time, so this time, she chose to try physical therapy instead.
When she returned to the hospital for her session, she immediately noticed a shift in the doctor’s demeanor. He seemed much friendlier than before. She couldn’t help but smile, a spark of hope lighting her eyes.
“Did you come up with a solution to my problem?” Alicia asked.
The doctor paused for a moment, considering his words carefully. Finally, he replied with a small grin, “Sort of. And by the way, I got a raise.”
Alicia chuckled, genuinely happy for him. But as she thought about it, one question weighed heavily on her mind. Given who was in charge of the hospital, she had to ask, “Doctor, is my treatment confidential?”
The doctor answered quickly, without hesitation, “Absolutely. Every patient’s record is private here.” What he didn’t mention was that, in her case, confidentiality had already been compromised. Caden had already reviewed her entire medical case.
And what Alicia didn’t know was that Caden was in the adjoining room, listening intently to their conversation. The frosted glass door between them blurred the line of sight. Alicia couldn’t see anything clearly, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Her gaze drifted toward the door several times, her thoughts clouded by a strange, familiar sensation. It was as though a pair of eyes had been trained on her the entire time.
The doctor handed her a treatment plan, shifting the focus back to the task at hand.
“We’re going to try sleep therapy. I’ll give you an injection to help you sleep, and then we’ll introduce you to ten different types of men for interaction.”
Alicia raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.
“What exactly does this interaction entail?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and skepticism.
The doctor, sensing her hesitation, quickly reassured her, “It’s nothing too extreme – just casual conversation.”
“No touching is involved at first. We’ll take it slow. According to our research, if you start to feel any kind of emotional or physical attraction, then we can progress with softer touches, hugs, and maybe even some kissing. How does that sound?”
Alicia paused, contemplating the idea. After a moment, she asked, “Can I see what these men look like?”
The doctor smiled, glad to see her engage.
“Of course!” He quickly retrieved a folder containing profiles of the ten candidates.
As Alicia flipped through the pages, she couldn’t help but notice that each man was strikingly handsome and attractive. Just a quick glance at their pictures might make any woman’s heart skip a beat. She studied their health reports next. All of them appeared to be in excellent shape.