Chapter 4

When I woke up after the C-section, I noticed the nurse who came to check on me gave me an odd look. I tugged on Sasha's sleeve and asked what had happened.

She rolled her eyes at me, the look in them telling me she didn't want to be known as my sister.

"You kept mumbling Dr. Sadler's name while you were conked out. Don't tell me you were dreaming about him because he's handsome."

"Dr. Sadler?"

"Ian Sadler, the anesthesiologist during your surgery."

I hurriedly asked whether he heard me. Sasha merely gave me a look, which was enough to explain everything. I silently cursed, accidentally tugging on my sutures in my agitation. I cried for Sasha to give me painkillers.

Sasha pushed the baby to me and asked whether I had a name for it. I thought about it for a long time, ultimately settling on Neo Gray. Neo represented a new beginning, which was what I wanted. "His name will be Neo Gray."

"Alright, then. I'll go get his birth certificate settled, so you can call the nurses if you need anything. Mom went home to pack your things."

Once Sasha was gone, Ian came. "Doesn't your husband have anything to say about the child taking your surname?"

"I'm widowed," I said.

He gave me a dark look and asked whether Neo was his. I didn't want our families to have anything to do with each other anymore—digging up the dark truth and the bad blood wouldn't do us good. So, I told him he wasn't Neo's father before shutting my eyes.

Ian didn't say anything else. He looked at Neo before pretending to check on my painkillers. Then, he left.

Fortunately, Neo's newborn face was still crumpled and wrinkly, so there was no telling who he resembled yet.

…

I had to be hospitalized for a week. During that time, Ian would occasionally appear at the entrance to my ward and glance at me. Then, he would leave.

He happened to be at the door when Keith Holt came to visit me. I asked, "What are you doing here, Keith?"

"I heard from Dr. Gray that you'd given birth, so I came to see how you were doing," he answered.

I was surprised to see Keith. He was one of the doctors working at my family's clinics and four years older than me. I knew he had feelings for me, but there wasn't room in my heart for anyone else. I'd rejected him several times, yet here he was, in my ward with a bouquet of roses.

Ian stood silently behind him, his gaze focused on the roses. When we were still together, I would buy some roses every weekend to decorate the apartment. I would tell him they were a symbol of our love.

…

Keith came to visit daily for a few days. Each time, he would happen to run into Ian. The more Ian saw of him, the deeper his scowl became. However, he would just tell me to get some rest before leaving.

The day before I was discharged, I received a phone call from an upscale sanitorium. The young woman on the other end of the line told me sweetly that my room had been disinfected and that their staff would be at the hospital to pick me up at the agreed time.

I was lost. I hadn't made any such arrangements.

"Mr. Sadler arranged this for you, Ms. Gray."

Ian?

I clutched my phone and hesitated briefly before unblocking Ian's familiar number. I called him.

He picked up, saying, "DeeDee."

That was my nickname. My family and Ian were the only ones who called me that. My heart trembled when I heard him say that.

When we were still together, he loved holding me and calling my name, especially when he was aroused. The affectionate way he called my name made me tremble all over.