Training a doctor wasn’t easy. For them to become good doctors wasn’t easy either. I didn’t want to ruin them — I just wanted what I was owed.
When the official reassignment list came out — and her and Henry's names were still on it — Irene finally couldn’t sit still.
When the call connected, her voice was already shaking with fury.
“How long are you planning to drag this out? Are you really going to push it until the entire hospital is in chaos before you’re satisfied? Do you have any idea how many surgeries are scheduled today? How are the doctors on that list supposed to work in peace?”
“This is a hospital — a place where lives are saved — not somewhere for you to throw tantrums and vent your anger.”
“Take down the announcement immediately. Come to the hospital immediately and apologize to everyone! Compensate everyone on the list with an extra year’s worth of performance bonuses!”
I replied calmly, “They signed the sponsorship contracts back then — agreed to obey any aid reassignment order from the hospital. Now that the orders are issued and they can’t do their jobs properly, it just proves they’re unfit to be doctors.”
On the other end of the line, her breathing grew heavy. Then came a string of curses.
“You’re insane! Fine — since you won’t listen to reason, don’t blame me for what comes next.”
“Leo, remember — you were the one who tore this all apart first.”
She hung up.
But I didn’t feel even the slightest bit of satisfaction.
Only bitterness. And sorrow.
I had tried so hard to convince myself — that she did love me, that she did love our children, that she was just cold by nature.
But the truth was, she could lose control. She could get furious.
The truth was, she never loved any of us at all.
I wasted ten years of my life with someone who never loved me. And I could only watch helplessly… as she caused the death of our two children.
***
I didn’t respond to any of the insults.
And perhaps to provoke me further, Irene began her retaliation—openly and shamelessly.
She took Henry with her to every academic conference, every gala, every public appearance.
They wore matching outfits like a couple, holding hands while being interviewed.
At the launch event for a research project I had personally funded—one that only existed because of me—she stood on stage and declared, loud and clear.
“Henry played a critical role in this project. Without him, it would never have succeeded.”