Chapter 29

Aria’s POV

The next morning, as I headed into the office disguised as Dr. A, I was still no closer to deciding Caleb’s fate. There were many things to consider, pros and cons for both sides. No matter what, I couldn’t be hasty and make the wrong choice.

The newspapers, somehow, already, caught wind of the potential story here and some reporters started hanging around the office. We refused to let them come inside for our patients’ safety and confidentiality, even having to ask a security guard to stand just inside the door. Instead, the reporters lingered in the hallway, peeking their heads in through the windows.

When Caleb’s family arrived, they were none too happy to hear of my indecision.

“I’m sure you can understand why I can’t take this matter lightly,” I said. “You father’s condition is not ideal…”

“Do you know what he’s done for this pack? The sacrifices he’s made?” Christie insisted. She was wearing a different pair of elaborate and expensive earrings again today.

“I know,” I assured her.

“Impossible,” Christie scoffed. “If you did, you wouldn’t deny him this medicine.”

“Your choice should be easy, Dr. A,” Montgomery added. “You are the only one making it harder than it needs to be.”

Then, because the universe seemed to be against me today, at that same moment, Sheila walked through the door for her appointment.

“What’s going on around here?” Sheila said, gesturing at first to the reporters outside the door. When she saw Caleb’s family, her attention diverted immediately. “Christie. Is everything alright with Caleb?”

“No,” Christie started, and then began to explain the situation, all while painting me in the best light.

I wanted to defend myself, but at the same moment, my stomach ached and my vision blurred. I was getting dizzy.

“Piper…” I said.

Piper jumped to attention at once, recognizing my symptoms. Taking me by the arm, she led me into my private office so that I could sit down and know peace for a minute.

Nothing good could come from Sheila talking to Caleb’s family, but right now, I had to focus on myself and my baby. This stress wasn’t good for either of us.

“Do you want me to cover Sheila’s appointment for today?” Piper asked.

“Please,” I said and thanked her.

Lucian’s POV

After leaving his note on Cathy’s door for Aria, I had been trying to push Aria from my mind for a few days. The family gathering at my parents’ villa had left me feeling shaken and uncertain, unusual feelings for a man as confident as I was.

I’d been so accustomed to the way things had been that any change felt unnatural. That night, I had learned that not only was Aria unhappy but because of my inability to fully commit myself to whatever feelings I might have had for Aria, I was denying her the chance to be a mother.

I needed time to consider that from every angle, especially since every time I looked too closely, the guilt and the pain pushed down on me too hard and made me want to flee from the thoughts.

For now, for my sanity, I decided to focus on other things while occasionally bringing light to Aria and her concerns.

Turning my attention to the collaborative project I was working on with Dr. A was a much safer prospect. We still had much to resolve. Perhaps I should call her to arrange a meeting…

Just as I thought it, Ben entered my office. “Have you seen the news yet this morning, Alpha?”

“No.”

“You are going to want to see this.”

I fixed my eyes on the screen as he clicked on the local news. A reporter was standing in front of the hospital, giving a report.

“Dr. A’s hesitation to administer the life-extending drug to war-hero Caleb has many people asking questions about her loyalty to the Nightfall pack,” the reporter said. “We’ve even spoken to person close to the source. Viewers will remember Sheila, Alpha King Lucian’s ex-fated mate.”

I braced myself, but annoyance still surged through me as Sheila’s face filled the screen. This wasn’t just an interview in passing. She was on a set. This had been arranged.

“Dr. A refuses to save Caleb, who has made great contributions in the war,” Sheila said. “Whether this brings Dr. A’s loyalty to the pack in question, I can’t say. But I do think it’s time the good doctor start answering some serious questions about who she is and why she would deny a war hero more time among us.”

It seemed my talk with Sheila about continuing to disrespect Dr. A had been ignored yet again.

“Turn it off,” I said.

“Yes, Alpha,” Ben said, and clicked the television off.

Lifting the phone, I called the house at once. When the maid answered, I told her to put Sheila on.

“Lucian. How nice of you to check in with me,” she said, when she came to the phone.

“I saw your news interview.”

“I looked so good, didn’t I? I need to wear my hair like that more often.”

Ignoring her, I said firmly, “I told you not to disrespect Dr. A…”

“I wasn’t disrespecting her,” Sheila whined at once. “At least, not without reason this time! You can’t tell me that you think she’s in the right with what she’s doing here. I talked to Caleb’s family and they are mortified! Dr. A is just going to let Caleb die. A hero like Caleb should be honored with long life.”

Admittedly, I had my own questions about why Dr. A would refuse treatment to Caleb. She must have had some reason for her hesitation. On paper, the decision seemed easy enough. I wasn’t a Healer, though. Not like Dr. A.

“If she is withholding the life-extending medicine, she must have a good reason,” I said.

“Who could know? She hasn’t told anyone. She’s just sitting on her hands while Caleb inches closer to the inevitable.”

“Regardless,” I said haltingly. “Stop making trouble for her.”

As if on cue, the waterworks began. Sheila started to sniffle. “You always take everyone else’s side but mine. Can’t you see that I’m right this time? How could you choose her over me?”

“It’s not like that,” I said, afraid of having a repeat of the other night, where Sheila had threatened to kill herself.

“You never believe me!”

I inhaled, preparing myself for a very long morning. “I do believe you. Calm down…”

Aria’s POV

As Dr. A, I kept trying to complete my tasks, but my dizziness was becoming more frequent. It became so commonplace that Cathy and Piper started sharing worried looks.

At lunchtime, Cathy led me into my office and forced me to sit down.

“All this stress is bad for the baby,” she said. “You need to do something before the worst should happen.”

I wanted to protect my child and myself. As a Healer, I knew the stress wasn’t good for us. I didn’t need Cathy to tell me. But I did need her to insist I do something about it, else I might just work myself to the bone.

“If you can’t back out of this Caleb decision, then you need to find other places where you can cut down the stress,” Cathy said. “Maybe it’s time to reduce your case load.”

Less cases meant less money. “I won’t be able to leave as soon as I want without getting paid.”

“You want be able to leave at all if you die, Aria.”