When I Became the One Who Left

Elise’s POV

After handling my mother’s funeral, I returned to work at the hospital like it was any other day. Grief clung to me like a second skin, but I kept moving, kept working—because, really, what else was there to do?

It didn’t take long before my mentor, Dr. Paula Reeve, popped by my office. She didn’t waste any time getting straight to the point.

“Dr. Montague,” she said, her brow furrowing with concern. “I heard about your application for Global Medical Relief. Are you sure about this? The area they’re sending people to is still a war zone. You’ll be facing gunfire, danger—every single day.”

I met her gaze, steady and unwavering. “I’ve thought this through, Dr. Reeve. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Just… never found the right moment.”

In the past, I couldn’t leave. I had my mother to take care of. And I had Hayes.

But now?

My mother was gone. And the Hayes I once loved—the one who once loved me—was long gone too. I had no real reason to stay anymore.

It didn’t matter where I was. If I could go somewhere and make a difference, even a small one, that was enough for me.

Dr. Reeve studied me for a long moment, clearly weighing her words. Then, she exhaled, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. She knew there was no talking me out of it.

“All right,” she said finally. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

I gave her a small smile. “I will.”

She left soon after, and I turned back to my desk, sorting through paperwork when the door suddenly swung open.

And there he was. Hayes.

His timing was impeccable.

He looked at me with those familiar furrowed brows. “Where did you say you were going just now?”

I froze for half a second, then slowly looked up, keeping my face neutral. No need to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his presence still affected me.

“I was talking about taking a trip,” I said, my voice smooth and calm as I continued to organize my desk. “Since I started working, I’ve barely had time to travel.”

Back in college, I used to plan trips all the time. I loved seeing new places and exploring unfamiliar cities, and Hayes knew that about me.

And just like that, any suspicion in his expression faded away.

“That’s good,” he said, nodding approvingly. “It’s good for your health to travel more.”

Then, without missing a beat, he added, “By the way, Zara’s coming in for a check-up. Can you help her schedule an appointment?”

So that’s why he was here.

No pretenses anymore. No fake concern.

My fingers tightened around the file in my hands, a dull ache settling deep in my chest.

He was so excited about their baby.

Did he ever stop to think about the one we lost?

For a split second, I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to ask if he ever remembered. If he ever thought about the baby we never got to hold.

But I swallowed it down.

The past was gone. No point digging up what was already buried.

Or maybe… he had forgotten a long time ago.

I forced my voice to stay calm and steady. “The doctors at our hospital are more than capable. You can just register and wait your turn.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the door opened again.

Zara Bennett.

Her baby bump was unmistakable as she walked in, linking her arm through Hayes’s. She looked up at him, her voice soft, almost pitiful.

“Hayes, is Dr. Montague unwilling to help us?” she murmured. “It’s my fault for forgetting to make an appointment. I didn’t mean to waste your time.”

Hayes didn’t pull away from her touch. Instead, he reached out and pinched her cheek playfully.

“I have time,” he said, his voice gentle, too gentle. “If she doesn’t want to help, it’s fine. I’ll wait with you.”

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, whispering something meant only for her.

The warmth between them was suffocating.

I didn’t know what hurt more—the fact that he had never been this gentle with me, or the fact that I once believed he could be.

There was a time when he would go out of his way to make me smile. When he’d spend his last dollar on a necklace I liked, promising me that whatever any other woman had, I’d have it too.

He used to come home worn out, his body spent from climbing the corporate ladder. But no matter how tired he was, he’d always make time for me. He’d still talk to me, still listen.

He used to tell me those late-night conversations with me made him feel alive.

And now?

Now, we barely exchanged words.

I tore my gaze away from them, forcing myself not to linger on something that had already crumbled.

Just as I turned back to my desk, Hayes spoke again, casual as ever.

“The incident last time… it was Zara’s fault,” he said like he was talking about the weather. “I had someone buy some supplements. I’ll send them to Mom later—to apologize.”

I froze. 'Apologize? To my mother?'

My jaw clenched, my nails digging into my palm.

She was gone.

What was the point of apologizing now?