2. Broken hopes!

Veronica's pov

"Doctor Veronica?"

I gasped and quickly turned around, I thought he is behind me. 

"What happened? You look... Umm... Mess!"

Head nurse, Mrs. Larson said looking at me confused. She is old and will retire this year, she has worked here almost for thirty years. 

I fixed my hair while giving her small smile. 

"Nothing, it's just too much work..."

She hummed like she sensed the lie. her head turned towards the ward from where I have escaped few minutes ago.

"I am so sorry that you have to take other doctor's responsibility too... You are already working really hard..."

She patted my back.

"It's late... Let's have a cup of coffee together..."

Yes! I need it now. 

I looked back towards the ward and my heart picked up the race again.

Is that what he was thinking all this time? 

I am not that beautiful, that he wants me. I am sure with that kind of money, he can get any woman. Why does he want me?

'Think about it'

His words rang in my head again like he was compelling me. 

God! What's happening?

"Vera... You are like my daughter"

Mrs. Larson grabbed my attention again.

I smiled and nodded at her. 

"I think you should give Mr. Volkov a discharge now... He has recovered."

"You don't seem to like him much..."

I took the mug from her.

"I prefer to stay away from rich people..."

She smiled.

"And I will suggest you the same... I have heard many rumours about him and I don't want you to get in any problem."

"What rumours?"

I asked Curiously. 

"That he is involved in some dirty work"

She scowled. Isn't every businessman is involved in dirty work. I can tell from the experience. 

"And he is very famous among women, you know what I mean..."

She doesn't have to tell me. I can see that rich businessman like him won't be staying with one woman. 

And to be honest, I don't care. I shouldn't care. It's none of my business.

He did offer me that but it's on me if I want to accept it or not. Anyway he will leave till morning. I shouldn't think about him. 

"I know, Mrs. Larson and thank you so much for being there for me... I don't know what I will do without you..."

She smiled at me sympathetically.

"I see myself in you, Vera but the thing is, I made my choice and you can't"

"Right!... I can't!"

My smile disappeared and uneasy feeling coiled around my chest, suffocating me with unwanted thoughts. 

"Thanks for your time, Mrs. Larson... I should go back now..."

She nodded in understanding. 

It's been two years that I got married. This Saturday will be my second wedding anniversary.

Two years ago I fell in love with Zen. He came into my life when I needed warm shoulder. I successfully completed my studies and joined this hospital as a Doctor but I was struggling between the flexible work shifts and my brother who is disable. I love him and he is my responsibility after my father's unfortunate death in car accident. 

I was dealing with my father's death, my brother's condition and work load. That time I met Zen In the hospital, Managing director of this hospital. Zen made me feel loved and special. 

He took the responsibility of my brother and told me that he can walk with surgery. 

I was happy after hearing that my brother can walk again so I let Zen take care of him. He sent him to another city, assuring me that he will come back on his own legs and I believed. 

Zen was too good to me and I couldn't say no when he proposed to me for the marriage, that day I fell in a big trap. 

After two months of marriage I caught him cheating on me and when I confronted him, he said he doesn't love me. My little world crashed down. 

He just wanted to marry because his father had denied giving him inheritance because of his spoilt behaviour. He wanted Zen to settle before acquiring his inheritance. 

I was beyond angry, he used me for his selfish motive. He fooled me and married me so he could get his inheritance. I threatened to tell his father everything, I was ready to divorce but then he started blackmailing me with my brother's life. 

He was planning it all along, he never meant to treat my brother. He was taking him away so later he could blackmail me. I would have fought back but I can't risk my brother, Ryan's life. 

I tried whatever was in my hands but I experienced that Zen has connections. He is a fish of the big ocean and I am suspicious that he is more than he shows to people. I am sure because of his connections Mr. Volkov is in this hospital. 

I tried to talk to Zen that I am not comfortable with treating Mr. Volkov but he simply told me to satisfy his every need and I was stunned by his words. 

'Mr. Volkov is very important, Veronica... Don't fucking piss him off... Do as he says and you will be fine...'

Imagine coming it from your husband's mouth. He doesn't give a single fuck about me.

I tried to talk to him but he told me that he will divorce me once he gets his property and since then I am waiting for that day. His father put a condition to stay married for at least three years, two years have passed, one more... Then I will be free. 

I'll take my brother and will leave this country. I am not really familiar with Russia. We shifted here from America just one year before my father's accident. 

All love I had for that man slowly converted into hate. Every second I curse myself for falling in his trap. Every night he comes home with a different woman and I have to hear them moaning and worst thing is I can't even complain. 

After initial two months he haven't touch me till now. I don't see that old loving Zen anymore. We are leaving like a stranger under one roof. I just accompany him to the parties like a good obedient wife and I hate it. 

Still I have a little hope that he will realise my worth and will apologize. 

I completed my Shift and headed towards Zen's office. He usually pick and drop me to the hospital to show people that we are loving couple. 

I halted in my place when I saw Mr. Volkov leaving the hospital with his bodyguards. 

There was a instant feeling to hide somewhere before he sees me but why should I? I haven't done anything wrong. 

I looked at him standing confidently in my place and his eyes found mine like he sensed that I am here. 

My body jolts up with sparks whenever this man looks at me. It feels so unrealistic to feel like this. 

Our eyes connected for a minute before he broke the eye contact and sat inside his car. Without saying anything!

Was I expecting him to say something? 

No!

I can't read this man. His demeanor, his mysterious face, his riddle like eyes. He never let his emotions reflect except anger. 

He is gone now, I hope we don't meet again. 

I shook my thoughts aside and head towards Zen's office. It's almost twelve a clock and I just want to sleep. 

I was expecting Zen with some woman, it has become a habit now. He changes girls like clothes. But what I am hearing now, shattered my heart into pieces again. I never realised that it's still in me, that his actions can hurt me more than before. 

Zen is with Mila, One of the doctor in our hospital who has joined one month ago. She is beautiful with brunette hair and blue eyes. 

"I am so happy, Babe..."

Zen hugged her with the love which I have never seen in his eyes for me. 

"You are really pregnant"

My heart clenched in pain. He impregnate another woman, we aren't even divorced yet. 

"Yes, Zen..."

Mila placed her head on his chest.

"I am so happy but__"

"But what sweetheart?"

He asked like her worries bothers him more than his. 

"What will be the future of our child?... You are married and You don't want to divorce her..."

She looked at him.

"What about us, Zen... Don't you love me?"

I don't know if this woman is good or bad but I really hate her now. 

"You don't have to care about Veronica, she is nothing to me..."

He caressed her cheek while slicing my heart with his words. 

"Just one year, Mila and I will divorce her... I have to do it for my inheritance... Till then you have to keep it secret."

"Secret?..."

Mila stepped back from him madly.

"I am pregnant, Zen... I can't hide my swollen belly for long... I want to stay with you, in your house... I can't do this alone... If you love me then leave your wife... I don't want to hear anything."

Just one month and they have came so close.  Now I realised that he never really loved me like this.

"Mila... Sweetheart. Just give me some time. I can't divorce her now. We have to wait for one year."

He said in pleading voice.

"But if you want to stay with me then no one will stop you... I will take you to my home, you will stay with me..."

"But your wife will be there..."

Mila scowled.

"I Don't care about her... Your happiness matters to me..."

He said and I stood there numb. 

I thought our relationship is still alive but now I realise I was looking for the heartbeats of dead body. Our relationship is dead long ago and now there is nothing but a rotten smell and I didn't realise that I am getting infected too. 

I shouldn't have keep hopeless expectations. I was so stupid to think that he will change. 

"Veronica!"

My eyes snapped towards Zen when he called my name.