Despite her tough exterior, Callie was still hurting from the breakup.
She had poured her heart and soul into the relationship, only to be betrayed by Simon for the sake of his career.
Simon’s face contorted with pain, his voice filled with anguish. ‘Please, Callie, give me another chance. Let me prove to you that we belong together.’
He grasped Callie’s wrist, pleading with her. ‘I know you still have feelings for me. I remember the promises I made, that I’d take care of you for the rest of my life. I haven’t forgotten.’
Callie’s eyes narrowed, disbelief written across her face.
She said mockingly, ‘Take care of me? Really, Simon? With your empty promises and broken trust?’
Simon’s voice quivered as he tried to explain himself. ‘You don’t understand, Callie. I’m just a surgeon from an ordinary family. I can’t give you the luxurious lifestyle you deserve. That’s why I had to marry Abby. But it’s only temporary, I promise. Once I have everything I want—the hospital directorship and wealth—I’ll divorce her and be with you.’
Callie shook off his hand forcefully, her eyes blazing with anger.
Her voice was filled with disgust. ‘You’re unbelievable, Simon Moncrieff. I could have understood if you left me for love, but to court Abby for her connections? You don’t love her at all. This is all about your own selfish desires.’
‘No, Callie, it’s not like that! I’m doing this for us, for our future together.’
Callie took a step back, her voice filled with disdain. ‘Save your lies, Simon. I won’t be a part of your selfish game. Get lost.’
She turned and walked away, leaving Simon standing there, his eyes filled with regret and anguish.
He whispered, ‘Callie, please... I never wanted to hurt you.’
Meanwhile, neither Callie nor Simon noticed the watchful eyes from across the street.
Unbeknownst to them, Abby had been witnessing their heated exchange since Callie stormed out of the café.
Standing on the other side of the bustling street, she seethed with jealousy and anger.
Abby muttered to herself, ‘How dare he still look at her like that? We’re about to get married, and he’s still hung up on his ex-girlfriend?’
She clenched her fists, feeling betrayed by the man who had catered to her every whim since they started dating.
She had believed that Simon was devoted to her, but the longing and pain in his eyes as Callie walked away shattered her illusions.
‘It’s all Callie’s fault!’ she said angrily. ‘She must have seduced him or led him on in some way.’
Her mind filled with vindictive thoughts, Abby took out her phone from her designer purse and dialled a number. ‘Hi, Uncle Preston, it’s Abby. Listen, I need a favour…’
***
Callie walked into Rosedale Hospital, ready to face another day of surgical duties.
Nurse Wendy, ever cheerful, greeted her with a big manila envelope in hand. ‘Hey, Callie! There’s a delivery for you. Looks like it’s from a magazine.’
‘Thanks, Wendy.’ Callie took the envelope from Wendy’s outstretched hand.
As she read the sender’s name, ‘International Journal of Medical Science and Research,’ excitement fluttered in her chest.
‘Wow, I can’t believe they responded so quickly!’ She tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
Her excitement quickly faded, however, as she scanned the words on the letter.
‘Dear Dr Hawthorne, thank you for submitting your article, “Advancements in Surgical Techniques: A Comprehensive Analysis,” to the International Journal of Medical Science and Research. While we appreciate the effort and clinical experience you put into your work, we regret to inform you that your article has not been selected for publication in our esteemed journal. Our editorial board carefully reviewed your submission and considered various factors in reaching this decision…’
Callie’s disappointment mingled with confusion.
Just days ago, she had received an email from someone at the magazine expressing optimism and the likelihood of her article being published.
What had changed?
She leaned against the nearest wall, her mind racing to find answers.
She had poured countless hours of effort into the article, drawing on her clinical experience and meticulous data as a dedicated surgical resident.
The rejection gnawed at her self-assurance, leaving her questioning her skills and worth as a writer and researcher.
She muttered to herself, ‘Did I miss something? Was the quality of my work not up to par? What if I’m not cut out for this?’
Five minutes later, Wendy came out of the locker room, having changed into her nurse’s uniform.
She couldn’t help but notice the downcast expression on Callie’s face. ‘What’s wrong? You were cheerful a minute ago.’
Callie let out a sigh, her disappointment evident.
She leaned against the nurses’ station, the weight of her rejection heavy on her shoulders. ‘My article got turned down by the medical journal.’
Wendy’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, her memory quickly recalling Callie’s confident optimism just days ago.
She crossed her arms, a mix of confusion and concern filling her voice. ‘But Callie, you were so sure they would publish it. What happened?’
Callie recounted her attempt to seek answers.
She had mustered the courage to call the magazine, only to be passed from one person to another, trapped in a maze of transfers.
‘I made the call, Wendy. But it was a wild goose chase. They kept transferring me, and when I finally reached an assistant editor, he danced around the issue. I asked if there was anything I could do to improve the article or if I could submit a revised edition for reconsideration. But the editor’s responses were evasive. He kept saying it depended on the quality of my work and the journal’s publishing schedule.’
Deep down, Callie knew the truth; her article was essentially dead, with no hope of being published.
Wendy’s indignation ignited, her voice rising in defence of her friend. ‘That’s absolutely outrageous! They can’t just go back on their word like that. You poured your heart and soul into that article, Callie. They should have given you a proper explanation.’
Callie nodded, her spirits lifted by Wendy’s support. ‘Thanks, Wendy. It means a lot to have someone in my corner. This setback won’t define me. I’ll just have to find another way to share my research.’
Abby, clad in her pristine white coat, finished her morning rounds and emerged into the bustling hospital hallway just in time to overhear Callie and Wendy’s conversation.A smug smirk danced across her lips as she savoured the opportunity to stir up trouble.She approached Callie, her voice dripping with false sympathy. ‘Oh, Dr Hawthorne, I heard about your article. Such a shame it got rejected. I thought it was top-notch.’Her tone was smooth and sugary, but her words rang hollow.Callie remained silent, refusing to take the bait set by her ex-boyfriend’s conniving fiancée.Abby continued, unfazed, ‘Maybe it just wasn’t good enough, Callie. It’s too bad. Such a rejection might even hinder your chances of getting your full-time position at the hospital approved.’Callie’s composure remained unshaken. ‘Thank you for your concern, Abby. But as a fifth-year surgical resident, I have offers from other hospitals. Staying at Rosedale isn’t my only option. Besides, you should be more concer
Callie bit her lower lip, her thoughts racing as she tried to gather her thoughts.The demands of her gruelling schedule as a surgical resident had left her with little time for personal matters, and she had honestly forgotten about Elias’s proposal.She looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes.‘I... I’m sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Westwood, I—’‘Just call me Elias.’‘All right. Um, Elias, the past few days have been a blur. I completely forgot about your, um, your proposal.’ She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the decision pressing upon her.Before she could utter another word, her phone buzzed in the pocket of her pristine white lab coat.The caller ID flashed ‘Abby Colman.’Confusion washed over Callie’s face—why would Simon’s new girlfriend be calling her?The two women certainly weren’t friends, given the tension that had lingered since the end of Callie’s relationship with Simon.Curiosity gnawed at her, and she stepped away from Elias, answering the call. ‘Hello, A
Callie’s voice trembled as she demanded to know if he had been eavesdropping on her phone call with Abby.Elias’s gaze never wavered as he spoke, his voice deep and resonant. ‘There were only the two of us up here on the roof, bunny. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. It wasn’t intentional eavesdropping.’His words held a mix of apology and understanding.Humiliation washed over Callie, her vulnerability exposed before this man she barely knew.Her voice broke as she sobbed. ‘Why? Why is she doing this to me? I don’t understand. All I want is to focus on my work as a doctor, to make a difference in people’s lives. Why is Abby persisting in tormenting me?’Elias’s strong presence remained unwavering as he leaned down, his voice a whisper against her ear. ‘Callie, be my woman. Marry me.’His words held a promise of protection, a vow to shield her from any harm that might come her way.He spoke with conviction, his voice tinged with the authority of a soldier accustomed to g
‘I... I didn’t...’ Simon stammered, his voice filled with desperation as he tried to salvage his delusion. ‘I know... deep down, you still have feelings for me. Your indifference only hides the space you’ve kept for me in your heart.’Callie’s patience wore thin as she listened to Simon’s feeble attempts to hold onto a love that no longer existed.She mustered her strength and shot back, ‘Simon, there is no space in my heart for you. You need to understand that and move on.’Desperation tinged Simon’s voice as he persisted, his words slurred and laden with false promises. ‘I want... I want to tell you not to come to my wedding. I’m afraid you’ll be hurt. Don’t worry, once I have everything, I’ll divorce Abby. I’ll choose you over her.’Callie clenched her teeth, her frustration boiling within her.She glanced up to meet Elias’s gaze, expecting to see a hint of disdain or triumph.However, to her surprise, his eyes held a clear, unwavering gaze.‘Give me the phone,’ Elias said, his voi
‘All right,’ Callie agreed, slipping off her white coat and making her way downstairs with Elias.Elias was in civilian clothes, his jacket devoid of any intricate design, yet the man exuded a charm that captivated those around him.His face remained impassive, and his dark eyes resembled the depths of a bewitching night, luring people into their enchanting gaze.As Callie and Elias stepped out of the lift, their mere presence drew the attention of the entire room, with most of the eyes falling on Elias.It wasn’t because Callie lacked in beauty, but Elias possessed a natural magnetism that compelled all eyes to gravitate towards him.Feeling overshadowed by his dazzling allure, Callie instinctively created a distance between them.She attempted to do so discreetly, but as a perceptive soldier, Elias caught onto her actions.Amidst the scrutinizing gazes of onlookers, he took the initiative and gently clasped Callie’s hand.Her hand, petite and delicate, was effortlessly enveloped by
The deafening sound of her own heartbeat made Callie wonder if Elias could hear it too.‘Are you mad?’ he asked.Rolling her eyes, Callie snorted. ‘Mad at you? Please, don’t flatter yourself.’‘All right, let’s go then.’ Elias stepped down on the gas pedal.The Pagani roared to life, then sped out of the parking lot.Under the night sky, Callie glanced at Elias by her side and couldn’t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions.Marrying a man she had only known for a few days—a soldier, no less—was beyond surreal.And on top of that, he was wealthy.It felt like she had stepped into a dream, a beautiful but unreal fantasy.Elias, observing Callie’s gaze, had the urge to flick her forehead. ‘Why are you looking at me like that? Having second thoughts? Bunny, let me make it clear: you’ve already made a promise, so there’s no turning back.’Callie shook her head, a playful smile curling her lips. ‘I wasn’t thinking about that. And who said I didn’t want to marry you? No matter how you look a
Elias frowned at Simon, still clutching onto him like a bear, his expression a mix of disgust and annoyance.Without hesitation, Elias delivered a swift karate chop to the back of Simon’s neck, causing him to instantly lose consciousness.With Simon incapacitated, Elias effortlessly lifted him in his arms, carrying him away from Callie’s house.He placed Simon on a bench about fifty meters away, ensuring he would be safe before returning to Callie.As the events replayed in Callie’s mind, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter once again, her joy infectious. ‘I can’t believe that just happened!’ she exclaimed, wiping away tears of mirth.Elias raised an eyebrow at her, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his eyes. ‘You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you? What would you have done if I wasn’t here today?’‘I... I don’t know,’ Callie stammered, her eyes flickering with vulnerability.She fidgeted, unsure of how to express her gratitude to Elias.The man just prot
Callie emerged from the bathroom, her damp hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders.Spotting Elias engrossed in a book on the sofa, she approached him with a smile.‘I’m done. It’s your turn now,’ she announced cheerfully.Elias looked up from his book and his eyes widened at the sight before him.Callie’s slender legs, flawless and captivating, seemed to go on forever.He couldn’t tear his gaze away, his thoughts veering into dangerous territory.‘D*mn, she’s got legs that could stop traffic,’ Elias thought, his mouth going dry.Callie, oblivious to Elias’s internal struggle, walked closer, her legs carrying her with grace.She absentmindedly wiped her wet hair with a towel, unknowingly intensifying the allure.Her proximity overwhelmed Elias.His normally disciplined self was being tested by the irresistible temptation.He swallowed hard, his desire threatening to break free.‘Uh, Elias?’ Callie’s voice broke through his trance. ‘Aren’t you going to shower?’Elias quickly s