Chapter 1 Physical Check
"Hey, have you met Dr Carroll today? He's so handsome!"
"Yeah, but I heard he has been married. And it's said that the doctor newly inducted into the emergency department used to be his first love."
"Well, I gotta say they look like a perfect match."
Some of the nurses were gossiping happily outside the gynaecology department of the Halberk Central Hospital.
With her head down and eyes fixed on her toes, Aurora Robertson caught every single sentence of the conversation.
Indeed, the guy addressed as Dr Carroll was exactly her husband, whose name was Sion Carroll.
However, only less than five people were knowing about her.
Sion, the neurologist working in Halberk Central Hospital, was known as a young and promising gentleman with his appearance more attractive than many of those male celebrities. What was more, he was greatly renowned in the medical system in the city.
No wonder he had been the topic of other's conversation.
Then a middle-aged lady with curly hair rushed over.
It was Maisy Carroll, Sion's mother and also Aurora's mother-in-law.
She asked Aurora anxiously as if she were her real mom, "Your name hasn't been called?"
Aurora collected herself and took a look at the screen, where it showed she would be the next.
"I am the next."
About two minutes later, her name was called by the speaker. She was told to have the consultation in Room No. 3.
Maisy then hurried to take her hand to lead her in.
A young doctor with glasses slightly nodded to indicate a chair to her, "Please take a seat. What's your symptom?"
Aurora casually sat down and replied, "I don't feel any unwell symptoms."
Maisy sat down next to her and cast a reproachful glance, "Doc, she needs a thorough gynaecological examination. She has been married for three years and still hasn't got pregnant. I am afraid there might be problems concerning about her ovary or hormone."
The doctor carefully stared at her face. He found it a bit surprising to notice that she had been married for three years at such a young age.
"Well, I suggest her husband should be fully checked as well."
Before Aurora could reply, Maisy hurried to respond, "My son has been physically well! I don't think it should be his problem."
Aurora pouted in silence.
Though she had been married for three years, Sion had never slept with her. It would be against the odds if she got pregnant.
However, judging from her silent response, the doctor also reckoned she might have acquiesced in Maisy's opinion.
The doctor sighed and continued, "Don't worry. You're still young. It should be fine. Let's perform an endoscope check. Come with me."
After taking a look at Maisy, who seemed a bit displeased, Aurora was left with no alternative but to stand up and follow.
It was nothing but a check. Maisy would probably give up after that, she reckoned.
As soon as she followed into another room, she saw equipment placed next to a bed.
It looked much like that equipment for B-ultrasonography check on her belly when she suffered from cramps at a younger age, she supposed. So she told herself there was nothing to worry about.
The doctor kept on working on the equipment and then put on a pair of gloves, "Take off your pants and lie on the bed."
Aurora asked again while leaning against the bed, "What?"
"Take off your pants."
Upon hearing that, she felt like her heartbeat started running wild.
Staring at the equipment, she finally noticed what kind of check it would be.
She couldn't help swallowing. Panic somehow started to crawl all over her body. She felt like speaking but she failed.
Maisy was just a step away from her. There was nothing she could say to refuse.
Was she going to confess that she had never slept with Sion?
Undoubtedly, Sion had been an outstanding doctor. However, he could never be recognized as a responsible husband.
During the three-year marriage, he deemed her nothing but a living piece of decoration.
However, it would be embarrassing for Aurora to confess that.
What if Maisy knew the truth?
Aurora got rather distraught at the thought of that.
Whatever.
She gritted and then took off her pants and got onto the bed before the doctor ran out of patience.
Though she was still a virgin, it was nothing to be ashamed of, she told herself. It would be fine a few minutes later, she supposed.
"Spread out your legs and hold your knees with both hands." While speaking, the doctor approached with the equipment.
She couldn't help shivering when hearing the slight beep coming from the machine.
She felt like her naked legs fell into a sudden cramp out of nervousness. Soon, she got overwhelmed with a terrible sense of shame and fear.
She felt like she wanted faked unconsciousness.
She clenched her fists hard with palms sweating and nails poking deep into the flesh.
"Relax."
The doctor bent over.
With her eyes closed, Aurora could feel there was something cold approaching her crotch.
However, the weird feelings she expected didn't come to her. Instead, the machine suddenly stopped.
Aurora slightly opened one of her eyes. The machine seemed to be out of work.
The next second, the doctor left and exclaimed surprisedly, "Oh, Dr Carroll, what brings you here?"
A bad feeling crawled up in her mind. She hurried to get off the bed and lift her pants.
How came Sion suddenly dropped by?
Chapter 2 Nevaeh Burns
Staring outside the window where there was a fountain glowing under the sunlight in the garden, Aurora felt a bit dazzled.
With hands in pockets of his white gown, Sion stood up straight.
Undoubtedly, his appearance looked too perfect to be challenged. His facial features looked aloof with fair skin and a clear-cut jawline. The indifference revealed in his eyes seemed to indicate his carefree character.
He stood up straight casually while staring at her from above.
"Who brought you here?" his questioning voice sounded chilling and husky, for which Aurora couldn't help shivering.
With her lips pressed, she repressed the grievance in her heart. Then she raised her head to take a look at him. But soon, she averted her gaze, silent.
Sion stared at the top of her head, displeased, "Don't you know you aren't suitable for a check like that?"
While speaking, he frowned to show how displeased he appeared.
"I know. But I am 23 years old…" biting her lips, she avoided his cold eye contact to reply timidly.
He had been used to talking to her like that as if she were a fool knowing nothing.
At the thought of that, Aurora was rendered a bit aggrieved. She suddenly refuted, "It's…it's your mom who supposed that there might be something wrong with my fertility."
Maisy always considered her too young to serve as a satisfying wife for Sion. After they got married, she despised Aurora for not having a baby for three years.
After she failed to dissuade Maisy, she compromised to follow her to the hospital for a check.
Upon hearing that, Sion realized what happened.
He looked a bit sulky while pinching his brows to relax. Then he huffed coldly, "I will tell her we have been sleeping in different rooms."
His voice appeared so cold that it seemed he deemed it something common.
Aurora shook her head. The sense of grievance was growing stronger and stronger. She somehow blurted out, "Why can't we have a baby?"
The air suddenly fell into silence.
Sion turned around to cast a glance at her with surprise.
Golden sunlight shed upon every inch of her face. Her almond eyes revealed nothing but innocence, pureness and charm.
She still looked the same just as he met her for the first time ten years ago.
Though she still appeared like a little girl, she dared to propose to have a baby with him.
Sion started frowning his eyes turning unpredictable.
Aurora's courage soon waned in a second.
His impassive response must be indicating his reluctance, she reckoned.
After all, there was nothing to maintain their marriage but responsibility only.
A marriage based on no love could never lead to a baby.
Aurora felt like speaking, "I…"
"Dr Carroll," A sweet female voice suddenly cut in.
Aurora looked ahead. Soon, she felt like getting choked while blinking nervously.
The gossip among those nurses just now appeared to be true.
Nevaeh Burns was back.
The lady, also wearing a white gown with two pens fixed on the pocket on her chest, walked over. Her tall figure enabled her to show her appearance of refinement and elegance.
On top of her neck, there fixed her amicable face.
Seeing Nevaeh coming over, Sion seemed a bit more tender, "What brings you here?"
Aurora noticed the change in his attitude. A bit of pain came across her mind. But soon, it faded away.
He had been a lot more different when talking to Nevaeh.
"I am looking for you!" Nevaeh approached with a smile. The breeze slightly flipped her hair, "I wanna know where we will go after we get off work. Haven't you promised to welcome me with a nice treat?"
Both in white gowns, they looked like a perfect match when standing together just like in the old days.
Sighing, Aurora held back the sense of upset and averted her gaze from them.
Nevaeh also noticed Aurora was here. She exclaimed surprisedly, "Aurora? It's been a long time! What brings you here? Would you like to join us for dinner tonight with Sion?"
Aurora was rendered speechless. Nevaeh's tone sounded so intimate with Sion that she was more like a stranger to him.
Of course, she was fully aware that they used to be truly affectionate with each other back in the old days.
Though Nevaeh walked away at that time, it still looked quite common for both of them to patch things up.
But now, there was someone embarrassedly happening to intervene between them-it was exactly Aurora herself who married Sion.
Aurora smiled decently to reply, "No, thanks. I got an appointment tonight. And welcome back."
After that, she averted her eyes from Sion's face in case she would capture something displeasing.
Sion turned a bit livid while staring at her coldly.
Nevaeh seemed to hear something regretful, "Okay…"
Then she nudged Sion, "Hey, after a few years of departure, I haven't expected Aurora to become so beautiful. I still remember back in the old days, Professor Robertson always took her to medical school while delivering lectures to us. She kinda admired you back then, huh?"
Speaking of her father, Aurora drowned in bitterness.
If it weren't because of her father, she wouldn't have met Sion, let alone married him after that.
Aurora still remembered it was raining on the day of her father's death. While Sion was exactly the 'backup' her father appointed to her before he passed away.
Sion had been paying the greatest respect to his teacher, Professor Robertson. Thus, he spared no endeavour to take care of Aurora for the last three years except for one thing-he never loved her.
Chapter 3 Can We Start Over?
Aurora pretended to be unconcerned, "Well, I almost forgot about the old story."
Sion cast a cold glance at her. Though he remained silent, Aurora somehow found it rather stressful.
She couldn't help wondering if he tried to indicate his annoyance for her being such a burden for years.
"Well, I gotta go…just feel free to continue with your talk." After that, Aurora fled away before she got any response from either of them.
Commonly speaking, they seemed more like a perfect match in all aspects.
While she appeared to be rather inferior when compared to Nevaeh.
She knew the longer she stayed, the more humiliated she would get.
Thinking about the past, she couldn't help letting out a smile of self-mockery. Then she sped up her pace.
Sion watched her back fading away in panic. But still, he remained emotionless while speaking to Nevaeh, "Let's go."
Aurora didn't let out a breath of relief until she walked out of the gate.
As she raised her head, she found Maisy waiting for her afar, who was revealing a seemingly unfriendly look.
Aurora frowned worriedly.
She had no idea how to deal with it.
If she simply walked forward, it would bring her in trouble.
Without any scruple, Aurora hurried to hail a taxi to run away.
Meanwhile, Maisy happened to notice her. She rushed over for a few steps forward, exclaiming with annoyance, "Aurora, stop!"
But soon, the taxi galloped away.
Under the weird gaze of others, Maisy stomped her foot out of madness while cursing Aurora secretly.
How ill-mannered!
It was literally the greatest fortune in her life ever to marry Sion, Maisy believed. However, she never seemed to appreciate that.
If she was proven to be infertile, Maisy would suggest her son divorce her.
Maisy turned around to cast a mad glance at the hospital. Meanwhile, she couldn't help complaining about her son.
That boy didn't even act like his mom!
There was nothing special about Aurora but her pretty face.
An extraordinary gentleman with a promising future and a privileged family like her son should be appealing enough to attract whoever ladies he liked.
However, she had never expected that Sion refused to end the marriage.
According to Sion's explanation, he did this because of Professor Robertson's will. But a three-year marriage should be enough for his promise, Maisy believed.
Actually, Aurora did have an appointment with her bestie, Elle Ford, whom she was going to dine with tonight.
So Aurora went back home to get herself changed. Then she headed to the restaurant she often dined with Elle.
With delicate makeup on her face and curly hair naturally hanging on her shoulder, Elle arrived.
The pair of luxurious diamond earrings she was wearing shone dazzlingly under the light.
"Come on, why should you care about Maisy? You followed her to the hospital as she required?" Elle was a bit exasperated at Aurora's timidness. But meanwhile, she felt sorry for her, "How could you get pregnant if he has never slept with you? Sion is emotionally abusing you! Just divorce him! I can afford to back you up financially!"
Aurora had been living alone like a widow while being continuously bothered by an unreasonable mother-in-law. How could she bear to keep on living like that?
Aurora was a bit touched when hearing Elle's straightforward suggestion.
Elle was born into a rich family and Aurora knew how much she cared about her.
Smiling, she fed Elle a piece of dessert, "Yeah, I know you are rich. But I won't divorce."
Blinking her shining eyes, Aurora continued softly, "After all, my dad's last wish is to let me live with him forever."
Speaking of Aurora's dad, Toby Robertson, Elle sighed, "That was because your dad passed away so unexpectantly. There was no one around him worth his trust but Sion, the only student he was proud of the most. That was why he entrusted your life to him."
"But after all these years, neither of you has grown any feelings for the other. Are you still gonna let yourself be bound by the marriage? You are at your prime age. Are you gonna let yourself wither at your prime age?"
Aurora let out a meaningful smile while taking small bites of the dessert and hearing her talking exuberantly.
Actually, she did grow some affection for him, but she never received the same from him in return.
She had been carefully keeping her affection deep inside her heart for years, which she cherished like a piece of treasure and told no one about it.
"You're just being too kind…Damn!" while speaking, Elle seemed to be frozen as soon as she casually turned her head aside. Then she whispered to Aurora, "Hey, on your left!"
Aurora looked over there as Elle indicated. Soon, she felt like the food she was chewing tasted plain and lame.
On a table next to the window, there sat a gentleman and a lady dining together. Under the candlelight, the atmosphere between them felt warm and intimate.
Nevaeh was cutting the steak elegantly while talking about reminiscence, "The city remains the same after all these years. I miss the old days when I felt like we could go through everything as long as you were with me."
With a warm smile, she raised her head to take a look at him. After a short pause, she continued, "Luckily, after going through all these, I am happy to find that everything remains unchanged. The one I care about is still here."
"Sion, do you still resent me for me insisting on studying abroad?" while asking, she was worried.
Leaning backwards on the seat, Sion responded casually, "You know I respected whatever choice you made."
Nevaeh smiled at ease. Then she lifted a glass of wine to toast, "Thank you."
Sion had been aloof, and always told exactly what he thought.
Nevaeh then put down the glass and fixed her eyes on the sparkling wine next to Sion's plate.
Her voice sounded a bit joyful, "You haven't changed."
Just like before, he loved to have steak medium well with a glass of sparkling wine.
Perhaps it was out of the effect of alcohol, or the fact that Sion didn't change at all, Nevaeh mustered up the courage to reach out her fair hand to have his covered with hers. Meanwhile, she cast an affectionate gaze at him.
Sion remained unmoved. He looked down at her hand on top of his. Then he took a look at Nevaeh.
A trace of blush appeared on her face. Then she confessed, "Sion, can we…can we start over?"
Chapter 4 His Emotional Abuse
Elle got irritated by the affectionate atmosphere between them.
"What the hell?" she slapped on the table and continued, "You haven't divorced yet! He leaves you alone while dating another girl? What's wrong with that goddamn two-timer?"
While speaking, Elle stood up in the madness and was about to rush over to them.
"Elle!" Aurora hurried to follow.
As short-tempered as Elle had been, she might probably stir up trouble.
Besides, the marriage between Aurora and Sion should be kept secretive. Thus, she couldn't let Nevaeh notice that.
Aurora grabbed Elle's arm to drag her backwards.
"Hey, don't stop me. I want justice for you." Annoyed, Elle was determined to teach them a lesson.
In her point of view, her best friend Aurora couldn't be trifled with.
"Elle, you gotta chill. Let's talk about it later…" while she was dissuading Elle, a waiter suddenly came over with some dishes on a tray, who accidentally bumped into Aurora from behind.
Soon, the dish of hot soup spilt all over her. She couldn't help exclaiming when feeling the burning pain in her back.
"Aurora!" when seeing her face get twisted out of pain, Elle fell into panic. She hurried over to lift her top to check. But soon, she feared it might look indecent in a public area. So she got some tissue to clean the soup off her body softly.
She felt like crying in fear, "Oh my gosh, you are gonna get scalded!"
The noise caught the eyes of all inside the restaurant.
Nevaeh withdrew her hand and looked over there. Then she saw the backs of two girls in a fluster. After taking a glance, she returned to look at Sion again.
However, Sion fixed his eyes on Aurora. Something unpredictable seemed to be brewing within his eyes.
Elle held Aurora's arm to support her up. She suggested anxiously, "Aurora, we gotta go to the hospital."
She knew how tough Aurora had been. But now she could notice how much she sweat. Undoubtedly, it was a burning pain.
"I am fine. I don't think it's necessary to go to the hospital…" Aurora happened to tilt her head to cast a glance, which was exactly captured by Sion.
She felt like being frozen. But soon, she averted her eyes from his, overwhelmed with great embarrassment.
She found it so embarrassing to get caught amid awkwardness at this moment.
When compared to them sitting together like a perfect match, she looked more like a fool.
"Elle…you're right. Let's go to the hospital…" Aurora gave a tug on Elle's sleeve to indicate.
Regardless of the pain in her back, Aurora hurried to run away from the restaurant.
When Nevaeh cast a glance over there once again, both Aurora and Elle had left. Thus, she didn't even have a chance to see their faces.
Looking a bit disinterested, she looked back at Sion and was about to continue the topic just now. However, Sion suddenly stood up to grab his coat.
It seemed that he was leaving.
Nevaeh was a bit surprised, "Sion, where are you going?"
After a short pause, Sion continued in a husky voice, "I got an emergency case to deal with. Sorry to leave you alone for the dinner."
After that, he walked away without hesitation.
While watching his back fade away, Nevaeh frowned and started contemplating.
Meanwhile, Elle stared at Aurora reproachfully, "Didn't you just say you gotta go to the hospital? Why are you telling me to go home right now?"
Aurora smiled awkwardly, "I am okay right now. It's nothing but mere pain in my back. I don't wanna bother you. I can go to the hospital on my own and have you noticed with a few pictures after that, okay?"
"Come on, don't play tough."
"Don't you worry about me! Trust me. I am fine. Just go home."
While speaking, Aurora pushed her into the back seat, "You gotta go home before your dad has you grounded for being late again."
Though reluctant, Elle finally compromised and told the chauffeur to drive her home.
Watching the car leave, Aurora let out a breath of relief.
After what had happened today, she got to take some time to ease herself from the mixed feelings.
Checking herself all over, she felt like she just survived a junkyard. With her stained clothes, she couldn't even hail any taxi that would like to give her a ride.
She clicked on the map on her phone to check the hospital nearby.
But then, a white BMW parked in her front.
As the window was rolled down, she saw an eye-catching jawline.
Her heart seemed to skip a beat. Sion should be having candlelight dinner with Nevaeh at this moment, she supposed.
Sion reminded her when seeing her standing still, "What are you waiting for? Get in the car."
She licked her lips awkwardly. While clenching the strap on her handbag, she looked like a kid being lectured. Frustrated, she opened the door to get in the car.
Soon, Sion started to speed up. She saw everything outside the window rushing backwards.
The air inside the car fell into dead silence.
Sion maintained a serious expression while driving in silence. Aurora felt that even the air was turning cold.
Was he mad at her for ruining his date with Nevaeh?
Sitting on the passenger seat, Aurora slightly straightened herself up to avoid her back touching the back of the seat.
She reached her hand to her back to touch where she got scalded. And, she got struck by sheer pain.
What a day of bad luck, she complained to herself.
At the thought of that, she felt like being overwhelmed with grievance and an urge to cry.
She slightly turned her head to look at Sion, whose straight face was highlighted by his clear-cut jawline coupled with a sense of disinterest.
Elle was right about him, who knew how to resort to emotional abuse.
Aurora murmured, "Do I deserve to be slighted just because I ruined your date with your ex?"
As she just finished, Sion suddenly hit the brake to pull over, for which she lurched forward a bit.
"What did you…" when she was about to ask him what was happening, she saw him squinting at her.
While lazily laying his hands on the steering wheel, he turned to stare at her with his unpredictable eyes, "What are you murmuring about? Are you complaining?"
Aurora hurried to shake her head.
Sion slightly nodded with an inconspicuous smile.
"Sit still and wait for me."
