The Biggest Regret Is that You don't Love Me Anymore

The moment those words left my mouth, I felt completely drained. If Doctor Swift had not been holding me up, I would have collapsed on the spot.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, but Gerry took it as a sign of my guilt, now that the truth had supposedly been exposed. Our eyes met, but he still remained silent. His gaze, however, was like a blade, cutting me apart piece by piece.

I refused to show weakness, lifting my chin defiantly, even as his fists clenched and unclenched before he finally sneered, "Selena, your love for me disgusts me."

So, he had known all along. He knew I loved him. Yet he had deliberately carried Larissa into my clinic. His reasons were clear now. My pale face drained of any remaining color after that biting remark.

Doctor Swift, who had been holding my arm, tightened her grip unconsciously. “Gerry, Selena isn’t lying to you. She really…”

Before she could finish, Gerry had already turned and stormed off, leaving the rest of her words to dissolve into the disinfectant-scented air of the hospital hallway.

Doctor Swift, with her eyes red, asked me quietly, “Selena, that baby…?”

I forced a weak smile, watching Gerry’s retreating figure as I replied softly, “It’s just an unwanted child.”

Doctor Swift was wise enough not to press further.

I spent the night at my office, barely holding myself together.

***

At eight in the morning, a colleague came by to tell me that the hospital director wanted to see me.

On my way to the office, people pointed and whispered as I passed. I knew the video had gone viral by now.

“How could a doctor do something like that?”

“Who knows? Maybe she can’t have kids of her own and is jealous of pregnant women!”

“Ugh, people like her deserve to never have children!”

It would be a lie to say their words didn’t hurt. But I kept my face expressionless as I walked into the director’s office. Gerry and Larissa were already there, waiting for me. The half-closed door did nothing to block out the gossip. Gerry could hear every word clearly.

I remembered when people used to gossip about me, calling me a wild child left behind by my parents. Back then, Gerry would confront those busybodies, his eyes red with anger as he defended me. Now, he just stood there, watching coldly as others ridiculed and cursed me.

The director cleared his throat, gesturing for me to close the door. But those hurtful words still echoed in my ears, cutting deep into my heart.

“Selena, this incident has caused quite a stir. You should apologize to the patient first.”

Gerry held Larissa gently, his eyes full of concern for her. Larissa, with her swollen eyes, glanced at me with a fleeting look of smugness and provocation.

After a sleepless night, I had reviewed all the possibilities. I was now certain—Larissa had stolen my pills and placed them in her own medication bag.

“I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?”

As a doctor, I had already apologized for not being able to save her baby. But I would not apologize for something I didn’t do.

The director, clearly surprised by my stubbornness, sighed heavily and bowed to Gerry and Larissa on my behalf.

Seeing the elderly director, with his graying hair, bow for my sake made my eyes sting with unshed tears.

I turned to glare at Gerry. He responded with a faint, mocking smile. It was strange how that smile, so at odds with the cultured, refined man I once knew, didn’t seem out of place at all now.

“Director, I’m here on behalf of Selena’s parents. As her guardian, I believe she should be punished for this grave mistake.”

With what they called “irrefutable evidence,” even the director couldn’t protect me. I was suspended from my work and duties then forced to apologize to Larissa once again.

She stepped back hypocritically and feigned modesty. “Selena, I hope you can find your way back from your mistakes,” she said, her smile full of hidden meaning.