Chapter 97
Chapter 97: As soon as Belinda and Fred reached her apartment building, her phone began to buzz. It was Marlene calling. Sensing urgency, Belinda picked up immediately. “Belinda,”’ Marlene began, her voice laced with hesitation. “Remember the patient who wanted to use the same medicine as yours?”’ Belinda, her eyebrows arching in recognition, responded, “Yes, what about her?”’ “Well”¦”’ Marlene’s voice trailed off as she observed a woman leaning on a tall man’s arm, engaged in conversation with another doctor a distance away. Distractedly, Marlene wiped away some sweat from her forehead before continuing, “She”¦ she showed up at the hospital today, insisting she needed to see you.”’ “But I’m tied up with something critical at the moment,”’ Belinda replied, clearly distracted. There was a pause before Marlene said again, “But”¦”’ “Dr. Reid,”’ Belinda interrupted, aware that this woman had considerable influence and was someone Marlene couldn’t risk provoking. “Tell her I can’t find my son and I’m currently with the police. I don’t have the time. We can reschedule for another day, or her lawyer can contact me. She mentioned getting a lawyer, didn’t she?”’ Marlene exhaled deeply, indicating her reluctance to press further, and replied, “Alright, I’ll let her know.”’ Belinda wasn’t entirely sure if Marlene grasped the full extent of her request. Finally, Marlene reassured her, “Don’t worry. You’ll find your son.”’ With a weary smile, Belinda responded, “Thank you.”’ In a peculiar way, Fluffy truly was her son. After ending the call, she turned to address Fred, who stood vigil by her side. “Let’s get moving.”’ Your favorite stories are on Fred was casually leaning against a lamppost, arms crossed. The streetlight cast his features into sharp relief, accentuating his angular profile. He looked over at Belinda with a grin and remarked, “You’re quite the convincing liar, aren’t you?”’ Belinda raised her eyebrows. “Well, I don’t want to bump into someone I’d rather avoid. Is it so wrong to tell a little white lie?”’ “I didn’t mean it that way.”’ Fred quickly backtracked, a grin spreading across his face as he approached her. “If lying is an option, why didn’t you invent a new boyfriend when we bumped into your ex-husband? If he could betray you, why can’t you play the field a bit?”’ Belinda turned away, her steps quickening toward the apartment building. “There’s no point.”’ “Give it a shot!”’ Fred encouraged, catching up to her. “What if he sees you with someone new and gets jealous?”’ With a scoff, Belinda didn’t slow her pace. “That’s never going to happen.”’ She knew all too well that making Kristopher jealous was a lost cause. Two and a half years earlier, upon waking from a deep sleep, his first words had been a cold directive for her to leave. The memory still stung, but she had come to terms with it over time. Had their roles been reversed, she wasn’t sure she could accept someone who had coerced her into marriage and then cared for her every day, especially during the months she was unable to speak or move. Over the span of six months, every day, she tenderly cared for him””bathing his body and attending to his most intimate needs. She nourished him, kept him clean”¦ She had witnessed his moments of utmost vulnerability and humiliation, all without his consent. Five years ago, it had been the same as it had been three years prior. Kristopher, ever the proud man, could never harbor affection for her. Regrettably, she realized this truth too late. Perhaps Kristopher had appreciated her care, but he would never hold romantic feelings for her. Unwilling to let go, Fred challenged her, “Why not give it a shot? How can you be sure it won’t work?”’ At last, Belinda halted. She turned to Fred with a frosty glare and countered, “Why are you so adamant about me trying? Don’t tell me you’re aiming to be my next boyfriend.”’…