Chap8er 0023Caroline’s POV:
When the man behind the mask revealed himself, relief enveloped me like a warm hug. ” Martin, thank heavens,” I whispered, embracing him tightly.
Martin laughed and hugged me right back, a smile scrawled over his face. “Yeah, it’s me,” he replied softly. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Now, what’s going on?”
“William is looking for me,” I informed hurriedly, terrified that William would enter at any moment. “He wants the doctors to give me a full physical examination, and if they do, he’ll discover my secret. Martin, I can’t let that happen.”
Martin was mercifully understanding and tried to dissuade me from hiding. Instead, I was given a comforting pat on the arm and a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here ”
With every day that passed, my admiration for Martin grew. No matter the issue, he always believed me, and honorably helped me through thick and thin.
“Give me a moment,” he murmured, briefly disappearing from the room. After a few minutes of anxious waiting, my knight in shining armor returned carrying scrubs, a surgical mask, and a hair cover. “Here,” he announced, presenting them with a reassuring smile. “Just wear these and pretend you’re a nurse. I’ll lead you out of here.”
“Thank you, Martin. Truly,” I whispered, fitting on the scrubs over my clothes. We slipped out of the room unseen, where I dutifully kept my head down and pretended I was simply common nurse assisting him on a call.
a
“Morning, Mr. Martin,” kindly greeted his colleagues as he passed by. A few attempted to stop him for small talk, but he politely declined, saying he had some important business to take care of. My eyes remained nervously fixed on the ground to avoid being recognized by the more observant staff.
When a pretty raven–haired doctor waved him over with more demanding gestures, Martin shot me an apologetic look and stopped by. “Good morning, doctor,” she greeted, cautiously examining her medical records. “We have a family member saying he can’t find the patient. Her name is… Caroline, I believe. She’s due for a full physical examination, but he thinks she’s run off.”
Fear swelled in my chest, afraid that she might recognize me and inform William of his disobedient” ex–wife’s location. He was actually looking for me! I prayed that we wouldn’t stumble across him.
Martin put his acting to the test and pretended to ponder the information. “Hmm… the name doesn’t ring a bell,” he lied with a shrug. “Actually, I did see a female patient heading out to the cafeteria on her own. Maybe that’s the one you’re looking for?”
Chapter 0009
C +25 BONUS
“Perhaps,” she hummed, looking up from her clipboard. “I’ll inform her family and we’ll have someone take a look.
“Fantastic!” Martin said, a bit too cheerfully. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we must get going.”
Actually, Dr. Martin,” she interrupted, gently stopping him with a touch to his arm. Her smile was sugary sweet and her lashes fluttered with ulterior intent. “I was wondering if… perhaps you were free tonight? I have dinner plans, and I would be delighted if you would join me.”
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and I had to look away as she leaned in close. I felt like I was witnessing something private between two lovers. Although Martin laughed, it felt awkward and fake, and he soon stepped back.
“That’s very sweet of you,” he chuckled, his eyes crinkling
With discomfort.”
Unfortunately, I have an appointment this evening. Maybe next time?”
The other doctor’s face fell a tad, but she nodded in understanding. “Yes, of course. Next time,” she agreed.
The look of loss on her face was impossible to miss, but Martin took no time dwelling on it. Instead, he hurriedly led me out of the hospital and took me to his car, giving a cursory glance around to ensure we weren’t followed.
“What happened?” he asked once we were on the road. I gave him a swift rundown of the eventful past couple days, from William’s strange behavior to the alarming information on his computer.
“That sounds awful,” he murmured, sounding genuinely distressed by the information. “I never thought William could be so controlling.
“He is,” I replied, exasperation layered in my voice. “But what about you, Martin? How are you recovering from the car accident?”
Martin shrugged my concerns off. “Eh, just a few mild bruises,” he brushed off, as though he hadn’t gotten into an ugly car crash. “But I want to focus on you. What are you going to do next?”
The question left me without a clue for what to say. What was I supposed to do when my home was partially ruined by a hurricane? “I suppose I’ll need to find a new place to live,” I concluded. “I’m pretty sure my old one is wrecked and flooded.”
I received an understanding nod and a swift suggestion. “I actually have a vacant house,” he mentioned. “If you want, you can stay there for a while and hide away from William’s harassment. You can have your privacy back. Just consider it as some help from an old friend.”
Chapter 0028
The generosity of his offer astonished me. At fi the sincerity in his eyes and it warmed i
though?
hear
Today’s Bonus Offer
Chapter 0028
The generosity of his offer astonished me. At first I thought it was a joke, but I witnessed the sincerity in his eyes and it warmed my heart. Could I actually take such a gracious gift, though?
Today’s Bonus Offer
