It didn’t take long before my mentor, Dr. Paula Reeve, popped by my office. She didn’t waste any time getting straight to the point.
“Dr. Montague,” she said, her brow furrowing with concern. “I heard about your application for Global Medical Relief. Are you sure about this? The area they’re sending people to is still a war zone. You’ll be facing gunfire, danger—every single day.”
I met her gaze, steady and unwavering. “I’ve thought this through, Dr. Reeve. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Just… never found the right moment.”
In the past, I couldn’t leave. I had my mother to take care of. And I had Hayes.
But now?
My mother was gone. And the Hayes I once loved—the one who once loved me—was long gone too. I had no real reason to stay anymore.
It didn’t matter where I was. If I could go somewhere and make a difference, even a small one, that was enough for me.
Dr. Reeve studied me for a long moment, clearly weighing her words. Then, she exhaled, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. She knew there was no talking me out of it.
“All right,” she said finally. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
I gave her a small smile. “I will.”
She left soon after, and I turned back to my desk, sorting through paperwork when the door suddenly swung open.
And there he was. Hayes.
His timing was impeccable.
He looked at me with those familiar furrowed brows. “Where did you say you were going just now?”
I froze for half a second, then slowly looked up, keeping my face neutral. No need to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his presence still affected me.
“I was talking about taking a trip,” I said, my voice smooth and calm as I continued to organize my desk. “Since I started working, I’ve barely had time to travel.”
Back in college, I used to plan trips all the time. I loved seeing new places and exploring unfamiliar cities, and Hayes knew that about me.
And just like that, any suspicion in his expression faded away.
“That’s good,” he said, nodding approvingly. “It’s good for your health to travel more.”
Then, without missing a beat, he added, “By the way, Zara’s coming in for a check-up. Can you help her schedule an appointment?”
So that’s why he was here.
No pretenses anymore. No fake concern.
My fingers tightened around the file in my hands, a dull ache settling deep in my chest.
He was so excited about their baby.
Did he ever stop to think about the one we lost?