My Dad's Surgeon Is My Ex

Chapter 1

While I was going through my late mother's things, I found an old, discontinued

phone tucked away in the back of a drawer.

It was the same one I'd used back in my senior year of high school.

I thought I'd lost it a decade ago, but it turned out my mom had been hiding it

all this time.

I plugged it in, and as it powered up, the screen lit up with hundreds of unread

messages.

They were all from the same person Silas Thorne.

The last message was sent three years ago.

"Zoe, this is the last time I'll ever reach out to you."

My mother only told me the truth about why she broke Silas and me apart right

before she passed away.

One, Silas's mother was her bitter rival.

Two, his mother had stolen her first love.

Three, Silas looked too much like that man.

After all these years, hearing the truth didn't exactly shock me, but it didn't

leave me indifferent either.

Maybe I was too calm, because even my mother let go of her obsession in her

final moments.

"If you and Silas are meant to find each other again, don't let it slip away. I

know you stayed away for years because of me. I was wrong, and I'll be watching

over you both from above."

My heart was a mess of emotions, trapped between resentment and regret.

I aimlessly scrolled through the old phone. The lock screen was still a photo of

Silas and me.

Every app icon was part of a matching set we'd chosen together back then.

Dusty memories flooded back all at once, making my chest tighten painfully.

In my flustered state, my finger accidentally brushed against the speed dial for

number one.

The next second, Silas Thorne's name flashed on the screen as the call

connected.

I snapped out of it and hung up immediately. It only rang for two seconds, so

surely it didn't go through?

My fingertips went numb, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

I quickly stood up, trying to focus on packing my mom's belongings into boxes.

Suddenly, a violent vibration shook the room.

Acting faster than I could think, I lunged back for the old phone.

But the old phone was silent. The noise was coming from the phone in my pocket.

I let out a breathless, dry laugh and answered it, only to be hit by another

bolt from the blue.

My father's condition had worsened, and he was being rushed into emergency

surgery.

I scrambled to the hospital as fast as my legs would carry me.

Outside the ER, the red light was blindingly bright, making my heart lurch into

my throat.

The agonizing wait didn't last long before the doors swung open, and a lead

surgeon emerged followed by a group of interns.

I rushed forward immediately. "Doctor, how is my dad? Is he out ofD"

The word "danger" died in my throat as the man pulled off his surgical mask.

A face that was both familiar and hauntingly cold was revealed. The boyish voice

I remembered had been replaced by a deep, steady baritone.

"The patient is out of the woods."

My feet felt like they were nailed to the floor, and I forgot how to breathe.

The doctor who had just saved my father was Silas Thorne.

Unlike my internal chaos, Silas looked perfectly indifferent.

"His vitals are stable for now, but he needs to be in the ICU for twenty-four

hours of observation. We'll need more tests to pinpoint the bleed and monitor

his recovery."

His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. "A nurse will go over the details

with you shortly."

Every move he made screamed professional.

Once upon a time, we'd made a pact to go to med school together and save lives.

But I had broken that promise and chose to study photography instead.

He finished speaking and began to walk past me.

"Silas..."

I couldn't help it. I whispered the name I'd screamed in my heart a thousand

times over the years.

He stopped and turned slowly, his distant gaze landing on me. "Is there

something else?"

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain everything that happened back then.

But my eyes fell on a faint smudge of lipstick on his collar, and the words

choked in my throat.

I lowered my gaze and shook my head. "Nothing. I just... thank you for saving my

dad."

The silence between us was suffocating and stiff.

Finally, Silas spoke coldly. "Why did you call me earlier? Did you need

something?"

My head snapped up. He had actually received that accidental call.

For a brief moment, I found the courage to mention the past.

But Silas cut me off with an annoyed expression.

"In the future, don't call me unless it's an emergency. Our history is...

awkward, to say the least."

Awkward?

I managed a faint, bitter smile and twisted my fingers together, agreeing

quickly. "Right. Of course."

The thing he was worried about wouldn't happen anyway.

In one week, I was moving to New Zealand with my father.

The air was better there, perfect for his recoveryDand perfect for my fresh

start.

Chapter 2

Once he got the answer he wanted, Silas brushed past me.

He was like a gust of wind that only touched my skin for a fleeting second.

I didn't stay there. I followed my father's gurney, walking in the opposite

direction from Silas.

My mother's sudden death had been a massive blow to my father.

The first thing he asked for when he woke up after surgery was a photo of her

when she was young.

My heart trembled at the sight of him.

There was no doubt my father loved my mother deeply. He loved me, too. He was

always the one trying to fix the rift between my mom and me.

Even though he knew she never quite forgot her first love, he remained devoted

to her until the end.

I leaned over to comfort him. "I'll have Aunt Martha bring them over. You just

need to..."

My words died as I noticed the chart at the head of the bed.

Patient Arthur Rowen. Attending Physician Silas Thorne.

I froze for a moment, my mind flashing back to our high school graduation

ceremony.

Silas had said he wanted to be a surgeon who traveled the world, saving people

in need.

The heart monitor suddenly began to beep rapidly.

I snapped out of it instantly. I slammed the emergency button and ran out into

the hall.

"Doctor! Someone help!"

I saw Silas sprinting toward the room, his expression grim. "What happened?"

My heart was racing so fast I couldn't even form a sentence.

"Don't panic. I'm here."

He squeezed my shoulder briefly before rushing into the room.

My heart, which felt like it was sinking in mud, suddenly felt a tiny tug of

hope. I followed him inside.

Silas administered a sedative to my father.

Slowly, the old man drifted back into a deep sleep.

I let out a heavy sigh of relief and whispered, "Thank you."

Silas still looked like he was carved from ice.

"I'll be checking on him every three hours. Don't go screaming in the halls;

it's bad for the patients."

He left as soon as he finished speaking.

A nurse who was with him leaned in and whispered softly, "Don't take it

personally. Dr. Thorne is always this cold. It's just his way."

I gave her a small, tight smile.

The nurse sighed, her eyes filled with admiration. "Dr. Thorne saves all his

warmth for his girlfriend. He's so talented that the top hospitals in the city

tried to recruit him, but he refused just so he wouldn't have to be

long-distance with her."

"Can you believe that?"

Girlfriend... her words were like a pebble dropped into a still pond, causing

ripples in my chest.

I forced a smile. "He sounds very devoted."

So, three years ago, when he said it was the last message... was it because he

had started dating her?

I didn't let myself dwell on it. It was to be expected. It was only natural.

I called my aunt and asked her to bring the photos to the hospital.

But Aunt Martha had other things on her mind.

"Now that you're back, stay for good. Your mother took your father's soul with

her when she died. If you don't look after him, he won't last long."

I hadn't told anyone about the immigration plans yet.

Aunt Martha kept talking, but I was barely listening.

"You're thirty now. You can't keep living in the past. Plenty of people fail at

their first love, but they don't stay single forever..."

I gave a neutral hum. "I never said I wouldn't get married. And it has nothing

to do with my first love. I wouldn't even think of him if you didn't bring it

up."

I subconsciously rubbed the raised scar on my wrist and continued in a soft

voice.

"I've dated plenty over the years. It's just... none of them felt right. They

didn't really do anything for me."

Before I could finish, a cold sneer sounded from behind me.

"How hard could it be to please you?"

Chapter 3

I froze, my whole body turning stiff before I slowly turned around.

Silas was standing at the door of the hospital room. I didn't know how long he'd

been there.

I awkwardly looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze.

With a cold face, Silas walked into the room.

He set a bottle of pills down on the nightstand with a heavy thud.

"Give him one of these as soon as he wakes up. Just one."

I nodded quietly.

I looked up, meeting his dark eyes, but the explanation I wanted to give died in

my throat.

I expected him to walk away as if nothing had happened.

Instead, he pointed to a health poster on the wall. "A girl should have a little

more self-respect. It's better for you and for society."

I followed his finger to a poster about preventing STDs.

There was a red ribbon and a cheeky local slogan underneath that warned about

the dangers of "playing around" with too many strangers.

A wave of bitterness and hurt washed over me. I let out a soft, dry laugh.

"Thanks for the concern, Dr. Thorne."

Silas's face darkened, and he turned to leave.

"Dr. Thorne, when are you getting married?" I asked casually.

He paused but didn't look back. "That's none of your business."

"I know."

My gaze was flat. "I just meant that if you were planning on inviting old

classmates, you can skip me. Don't bother sending an invitation."

Silas let out a cold, mocking laugh. "You don't need to remind me. You aren't

exactly someone important to me."

I rubbed the scar on my right wrist, staying silent for a few seconds before a

faint smile touched my lips.

"I'm glad we're on the same page. Otherwise, it would be quite awkward for me."

Silas's knuckles turned white as he gripped his clipboard.

I looked away and pulled a chair over to sit by my dad's bed. "I'll press the

call button if anything changes."

With that, I leaned over the side of the bed and closed my eyes.

I waited until the sound of his footsteps faded and the door clicked shut. Only

when the room was silent, save for my father's breathing, did I open my eyes.

I tugged my sleeve down to hide the scar.

When I closed my eyes again, a tear slid silently into the pillow, soaking into

the fabric.

I fell asleep right there and slipped into a dream I hadn't dared to have in

thirteen years.

It was a dream of a hot July afternoon, the sound of cicadas buzzing loud enough

to drive a person crazy.

In the dream, the exam results were out, and Silas and I had promised to go pick

our colleges together the next day.

We parted ways at the corner. He went east, and I went west.

I took my usual shortcut through the deserted area marked for demolition.

Then, a nasty voice broke the silence from behind me.

"Silas Thorne cost us our payday. It's only fair we have some fun with his girl,

right?"

I turned around to see three local thugs.

They had been shaking kids down for protection money until Silas caught them and

called the cops.

I ran as fast as I could, but they were like ghosts catching up to me. They

dragged me into one of the abandoned houses...

The dim yellow light pinned my shadow against the wall.

I dug my nails into my palms, but I couldn't claw my way out of my own paralyzed

body.

Later, I put my clothes back on and went home.

After that, I gave up on being a doctor. I played the fool and accepted my

mother's decision to keep Silas and me apart.

I pretended I didn't know she'd used my phone to send him a breakup text. I

pretended I didn't know she'd hidden my phone.

I could never pick up a scalpel in this life anyway.

Because every time I held a blade, a dark, frantic thought would fill my mind.

Kill them.

I wanted to drive the blade into those monsters, pierce their hearts, and make

them pay in blood.

A loud clap of thunder woke me up.

A familiar male voice sounded right in my ear, thick and confused. "Zoe, why did

you break up with me back then?"

Chapter 4

I woke up with a cold sweat soaking through my shirt.

The rain was lashing against the window, and the only light in the room was a

dim bedside lamp that cast long, twisted shadows.

I looked up, my heart shrinking in my chest.

Silas was standing right by the bed. His crisp white coat was wrinkled, and his

sharp, cold features were flushed.

His eyes were hazy, filled with a strange confusion.

I was still shaking from the nightmare, and seeing him like this felt like an

illusion.

"Dr. Thorne, what's wrong?"

Before I could finish, he took a shaky step toward me.

"Zoe, answer me. Why did you leave me?"

He repeated it, his voice heavy and congested.

My throat tightened, my mind a mess of conflicting feelings.

Silas suddenly leaned forward and grabbed my wrist.

His palm was burning hot, and his grip tightened right over the raised scar on

my wrist.

A jolt of pain shot through me. I flinched and tried to pull away, but he held

on tighter.

"Silas, you have a fever."

Just then, the door swung open, and a soft female voice broke the suffocating

tension.

"Silas! Did you sneak some of that grapefruit cheesecake again?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? You're allergic to grapefruit! The

medicine barely even works!"

Grapefruit cheesecakeDa niche dessert that happened to be my favorite.

I'd tried to get Silas to try it so many times back in the day, but he'd always

turned his nose up at it.

The moment he saw the woman walking in, Silas let go of my hand.

He turned and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"Just hold me," he mumbled.

The woman supported him gently, looking worried. She looked at me with a bit of

an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry. He's been working too much and

accidentally ate something he's allergic to. He's not thinking straight. I hope

he didn't bother you."

"He didn't do anything inappropriate, did he?"

I paused, watching the way he clung to her.

Once, whenever Silas was upset, he would hide his face in my neck and say the

exact same thing "Just hold me."

I shook my head. "No. You should take him back so he can take his medicine."

The woman helped him up, muttering softly, "Why do you have to work so hard?

Don't you know someone is waiting for you at home? You scared me to death."

Silas's voice was thick. "I missed you, too."

I stayed silent, turning my gaze back to the heart monitor. My father's rhythm

was steady.

I forced a tiny smile. Seeing him happy was a good thing.

I should be happy. My father was getting better.

The rain hammered against the glass all night. By the next morning, I had dark

circles under my eyes.

My father was awake, and he seemed much better than before.

His eyes were full of guilt as he looked at me. "I'm a burden to you again."

I fought back tears. "Dad, when you're discharged, let's move to New Zealand,

okay?"

He blinked. "But I can't leave your mother. If we go, she'll be all alone here.

She'll be scared."

I couldn't help but snap. "You're always thinking about her. You need to think

about yourself for once."

The air went still. After a long silence, my father looked at me.

His gentle gaze felt like it was reading my soul. "What about you?"

"Have you finally moved on from that boy, Silas Thorne?"

I choked up. I wanted to say yes, but the word wouldn't come out.

I looked away. "I moved on the day I decided not to go to med school."

Finally, my father gave in. "Fine. I'll go with you. But I want to come back

every year to visit her."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay."

The mood in the room was heavy, so I picked up the electric kettle.

"I'll go get some hot water for your medicine."

As soon as I stepped out, I heard a burst of cheerful laughter.

I looked toward the sound and saw Silas's girlfriend handing out wedding

invitations.

She was glowing with happiness.

"I told him we should just keep the wedding simple since he's so busy, but Silas

insisted that a wedding only happens once. He wants it to be a huge celebration.

I couldn't say no."

"For our honeymoon, he's taking me to the Butterfly Springs in the mountains..."

I looked away and hurried down the hall to the hot water room.

I turned the tap, and the steaming water hissed into the kettle. The white mist

blurred my vision.

Chapter 5

Butterfly Springs was the first stop of my career as a travel photographer.

I'd gone there and, in a moment of weakness, hung a love lock with Silas's name

and mine on it.

Back then, I thought "If we can't be together in this life, then maybe the

next."

A sudden stinging pain on the back of my hand snapped me back to reality.

The kettle had overflowed, and the scalding water was splashing onto my skin.

I hissed in pain and jerked my hand back.

Suddenly, a warm, strong hand grabbed my wrist and pulled it toward the sink.

He turned on the cold water and shoved my hand under the stream without a word.

I looked up in shock. It was Silas.

The icy water numbed the burn and cleared my foggy head.

The man kept his head down, his long lashes casting shadows over his eyes.

I hurriedly pulled my hand back and took a step away.

"Thank you, Dr. Thorne."

He spoke coldly, his voice devoid of warmth. "Don't mention it. I'd do the same

for anyone."

The awkwardness in the small room was thick.

I tried to change the subject. "By the way, is your allergy better today?"

Silence followed, making the sound of the running water seem incredibly loud.

Silas looked up at me, his dark eyes swirling with a complicated mess of

emotions.

Then, he spoke with a sharp edge.

"Worry about yourself. Don't go getting burned again and expecting the hospital

to take the blame."

I winced at the malice in his voice.

"Silas, I'm not that kind of person..."

A soft voice called from the hallwayDit was his girlfriend.

Silas stiffened slightly. The way he looked toward the door was so much softer

than the way he looked at me.

"Remember to put ointment on that," he muttered before leaving.

I stood there until his footsteps disappeared, then I picked up the kettle and

walked out.

I treated the burn, and by evening, the pain had finally subsided.

Aunt Martha came by with dinner, and to my surprise, a young man was following

her.

She was serious this time. She'd actually brought someone for me to meet.

"Zoe, you didn't like the ones I described before, but surely you'll like an old

classmate."

It was Caleb Brooks, a guy from my high school class. He was a year younger than

me but had already made a name for himself with a tech startup. I'd even seen

him on the news.

I looked at my aunt awkwardly. "Aunt Martha, what are you doing?"

Caleb sat across from me and gave a humble smile.

"It's been a long time, Zoe."

I paused, the rejection on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it.

He was an old friend, after all. I figured I'd play along to get my aunt off my

back and then turn him down later.

The door opened just as Caleb and I were exchanging phone numbers.

Silas was there for his rounds.

He didn't look at me, and he didn't look at Caleb.

But just as he finished checking my dad and started to leave, Caleb called out

to him.

"Hey, Silas! Don't be like that. It's been ages. Don't act like you don't know

me. I used to be the one bringing you coffee and saving your seat in the

cafeteria!"

Caleb's words reminded me that they had actually been roommates in the dorms.

The silence that followed was agonizing.

Silas turned around, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"What are you doing here?" he asked Caleb.

Caleb glanced at me with a meaningful smile. "I'm on a blind date with Zoe."

Silas gave a flat nod. "Right. Catch you later. I have rounds."

He turned and walked out without another word.

Caleb let out a long sigh.

"Silas has changed so much. That car accident senior year didn't just change his

path; it changed his entire personality."

My mind went blank. I stared at him in confusion.

"Car accident? What car accident?"

Caleb looked surprised. "You didn't know? He got into that wreck because of

you!"

"Because of me?!"

"It was the day we were supposed to submit our college applications. He said he

was going to pick you up, but he got into a massive crash on the way. He almost

didn't make it."

I froze, my ears ringing.

I knew nothing about it because my mother had hidden my phone.

Guilt, heartache, and regret all surged up at once, making my nose sting.

I forced a dry laugh. "That's all in the past."

I tried my best to stay calm, but my mind was flooded with images of a horrific

crash.

On the day I almost died inside, he almost died on the road.

I managed a weak, shaky smile at the stunned Caleb. "It's all in the past,

right?"

Chapter 6

I couldn't get Aunt Martha to back off, so I ended up adding Caleb on social

media.

I was honest with him through text, telling him I was moving abroad soon and

asking him to keep it a secret from my aunt.

My father fell asleep again.

I sat by the bed, my mind spiraling. All I could think about was the "accident"

Caleb mentioned.

I didn't even want to imagine what it looked like.

I knew there was no future for us. I wasn't good enough for him anymore...

But the guilt was eating me alive. I stood up and headed toward Silas's office.

The office was empty.

I paced back and forth outside. In that moment, I just wanted to see himDjust

onceDto make sure he was truly okay.

A head nurse passed by and noticed me. "Are you looking for Dr. Thorne?"

I nodded slowly.

"Dr. Thorne took some time off. He's at his wedding rehearsal. He's getting

married soon, after all."

I froze. That tiny spark of courage I'd gathered vanished instantly.

I practically ran away from his office.

He had his own happiness now. Any guilt or concern I had would just be an

unwanted intrusion.

For the next few days, Silas was gone. A different doctor handled the rounds.

I focused entirely on taking care of my father. He was recovering well and even

started smiling again. Seeing him get better calmed the storm in my chest a

little.

On the day he was set to be discharged, I finished all the paperwork and packed

our bags early.

The guilt that had been drowning me for days had started to settle.

I'd made peace with it. The best thing an ex can do is stay out of the other

person's life forever.

He had his new life, and I had a future with my father. No contact was the best

ending.

Just as I was about to lead my father out of the room, the door pushed open.

My heart stopped. It was Silas.

He was in his white coat, looking sharp and cold. There wasn't a hint of a happy

groom in his expression. "I heard you were looking for me. Is there a problem?"

It took me a second to realize the head nurse must have told him.

I pushed down the lump in my throat. "It's nothing. I just wanted to ask about

my dad's condition, but I already got the answers from the other doctor."

Silas gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

Looking at his tall, distant back, I couldn't help myself. I called out to him.

"Silas."

He stopped but didn't turn around. "Yeah?"

I took a deep breath and forced the words out. "Congratulations on your wedding.

I hope you have a long and happy life."

A long pause followed before his cold voice drifted back. "Thanks."

Then he walked away without looking back.

I watched him disappear down the hall. My eyes finally burned, and a silent tear

tracked down my cheek.

Silas, this is the last time. The last time I'll ever look at you.

I took my father home after we finished the paperwork.

By the time we finished packing, it was almost time for our ten o'clock flight

to New Zealand.

My father went to the cemetery to say goodbye to my mom. I sat in the yard

alone, feeling incredibly restless.

I decided to take one last walk around the city before leaving.

I wandered aimlessly until I realized I'd walked all the way to our old high

school.

The place had changed a lot. It was much livelier than when we were students,

but the old oak trees by the gate were as grand as ever.

For a second, I thought I saw a teenage boy in a school uniform, with clear eyes

and a mischievous smile, sitting by a window and teasing me.

I didn't want to get emotional, so I turned to leave. But then I saw the "Wall

of Fame" near the entrance.

I couldn't stop myself. I walked over and saw a photo that stole my breath.

It was Silas. He had graduated from the top med school in the country. During

his studies, he'd gone on several international aid missions.

With his credentials, he could have worked anywhere.

But he had chosen to come back to this small city to be a regular surgeon at the

local hospital.

The text underneath made my chest ache.

He gave up such a brilliant future to stay here for his girlfriend.

He must love her so much. Enough to give up his biggest dreams for her.

I lowered my head, my eyes landing on the quote he'd chosen for his profileD

"Waiting for a migratory bird to return home."

"Migratory Bird" was my username on every social media platform.

Chapter 7

My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. I could barely breathe.

Suddenly, my phone rang, snapping me out of it.

It was a friend of mine. She sounded frantic. "Zoe! Someone broke into my

studio, and I'm at the police station right now. Can you please help me out?"

"I have a couple waiting at the church for their wedding photos. Can you go

shoot them for me?"

I wiped my tears and told her not to worry. I went home, grabbed my gear, and

headed to the address she gave me.

I found the church easily.

A couple was standing at the altar with their backs to me, their hands clasped

in prayer.

I walked up and spoke softly. "Sorry for the wait. I'm the photographer filling

in."

When they turned around, I froze. It was Silas.

His brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but his girlfriend beat him

to it. "What a coincidence, Ms. Rowen! I didn't expect you to be the one

capturing our happiness."

I looked away quickly. "Yeah. Small world."

I focused my lens on the bride, clicking the shutter repeatedly.

"ZoeDI mean, photographerDdon't just take pictures of me. Take some of my

husband! He looks so handsome today!"

I hummed an agreement. I moved my camera, and as the lens swept over Silas's

face, my chest felt heavy.

Suddenly, Silas's phone rang.

He answered it, and his expression changed instantly. He whispered something to

his girlfriend.

"There's an emergency at the hospital. I have to go perform surgery."

"Go, then. Be careful on the road."

He strode past me like a storm and vanished through the entrance.

His girlfriend looked at me with a sigh. "That's life with a doctor."

I forced a smile. "Let's just do some solo shots of you, then."

She didn't answer immediately. The smile on her face slowly faded.

"Ms. Rowen," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "I know you and Silas have

a history. A deep one."

My grip on the camera tightened.

"I've seen your name in his journals."

She took a step closer, her voice even lower.

"Silas hasn't had it easy these past few years. I was the one who stayed by him

through his darkest days. I can't lose him. I need him."

"So please, stay away from him. Don't show up in his life ever again. Don't ruin

our happiness."

I looked at her, feeling a mix of bitterness and strange calm.

I pulled out my phone and showed her my flight confirmation.

"My flight is at ten tonight. I'm moving to New Zealand."

I gave a small smile. "If it weren't for my dad's surgery, I never would have

seen him again in this lifetime."

I said it for her, but mostly for myself.

The tension in her face vanished. "Then I wish you a safe trip. I hope you find

someone you love."

"I will."

I would take my father and leave. I would cut every tie to this city and to

Silas Thorne.

As for the truths that came too late, let them stay buried in my heart forever.

At the hospital, Silas scrubbed in as fast as he could.

The patient on the table was a prisoner who had been injured while trying to

escape during a medical furlough.

A piece of rebar had pierced through his right wrist, and he was bleeding out.

The entire operating room was filled with his screams.

But when his eyes landed on Silas, the man began to thrash. "Not him! I won't

let him touch me!"

Silas frowned and asked the nurse, "What's the patient's status?"

He was used to difficult patients, so he assumed the man was just agitated.

But the prisoner screamed again, his voice filled with pure hatred. "Silas

Thorne! Don't you act like you don't know me!"

Silas looked at him again, confused. "And you are?"

The man seemed enraged by Silas's calm. The wound on his face tore open further

as he snarled.

"Stop pretending! I won't give you the chance to get revenge for Zoe Rowen!"

Silas's heart skipped a beat. "What does Zoe have to do with this?"

The man laughed maniacally. "Keep acting, hero!"

"If you hadn't called the cops on us for that protection money, I never would

have gathered the guys to ruin her the day the exam results came out thirteen

years ago!"

"I wouldn't have ended up in a cell, and she wouldn't have been trash!"

Chapter 8

The air around Silas turned freezing.

His professional mask shattered. His breathing turned heavy, and the veins on

his forehead bulged.

He leaned down and grabbed the man by the collar, his words coming out like a

snarl. "Tell me you're lying!"

The man gasped for air as Silas choked him, his face turning purple.

"You want to hear it? Fine. I'll say it again. I found her and we took turns

with her. We started when the sun was up and didn't stop until it was dark. She

kept screaming your name until her voice gave out!"

The words hit Silas like a sledgehammer to the head. His mind went blank.

The rage and heartbreak inside him were enough to tear his soul apart.

His grip on the man's collar tightened. He looked like he wanted to snap the

man's neck right then and there.

The prisoner struggled for breath but kept going. "What? Shocked? She kept

calling for you, but I just slapped her harder. You should have heard her

scream!"

The nurses were frozen in shock, but they finally snapped out of it.

They rushed forward to pull Silas's hands away. "Dr. Thorne! This is the ER! We

need to start the surgery! You have to calm down!"

Silas froze. He forced himself to let go, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

"Prepare for surgery," he whispered, his voice cracked and hollow.

He tried to be professional, but the man's words were playing on a loop in his

head.

He was on the verge of exploding.

The prisoner started screaming again. "I said don't let him touch me! He hates

me! He'll kill me on the table! Get him away!"

The commotion brought the hospital director running into the room.

The director looked at Silas's ghostly pale face and the thrashing patient. "Dr.

Thorne, go take a break. We'll have someone else take over this case."

Silas didn't argue. He didn't look back. He stumbled out of the OR, his legs

feeling like lead.

The bright lights of the hallway were blinding. He felt small and broken.

He didn't want to think about what the man said. He didn't want to imagine the

darkness Zoe had faced that summer thirteen years ago.

He remembered that day perfectly. He'd left her at the corner and promised to go

pick her colleges with her the next morning. They were supposed to go to the

city together.

He should have walked her all the way to her door. It was just a few more steps.

But he'd had an emergency at home and left early.

Guilt and self-hatred swallowed him whole. He practically ran out of the

hospital, heading back to the church.

But when he got there, the place was empty. The staff were already packing up.

He grabbed a worker by the shoulder, his voice frantic. "The photographer! Where

is the photographer who was shooting the wedding?"

The worker blinked. "She left. She packed up and gone right after you did."

Silas's heart sank to the bottom of his chest.

Just then, his fiance, Vivian Lane, appeared.

"She's gone, Silas. She said she's never coming back. She told me to tell you

not to go looking for her."

Chapter 9

The cold wind blew through the open doors of the church, making Silas shiver.

It felt like a hole had been carved out of his chest. He couldn't breathe.

He turned away in silence.

She had left again. Just like thirteen years agoDquietly, without an

explanation.

Vivian stepped forward. "Silas, she's in the past. She's starting a new life,

and you need to let go. We have a future to think about."

Silas's eyes trembled. His throat was so tight he could barely speak. "I was

just angry... I was angry that she left without a word. But I didn't know she

had suffered like that. She was forced..."

He couldn't finish. The words turned into a lump of pure regret in his throat.

He hated himself. If he hadn't been in that crash, he might have found out. He

wouldn't have missed so much.

And when he woke up from the coma, he shouldn't have let his pride get in the

way. He'd been mad that she didn't visit him, assuming she didn't care.

He was supposed to be the person who knew her best.

Vivian watched him in silence. The bitterness in her own heart started to boil

over. "You came back to this city for her. You waited for her. And when she

finally came back, you chose to push her away. You even used me to make her

jealous. You had to know this is how it would end."

"Silas, you have to live with your choices."

Silas looked up at her sharply. "Do you know where she went?"

Vivian looked away, her voice turning cold. "Silas, you failed her. Are you

going to fail me now, too?"

Silas opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"I know you never loved me," Vivian whispered, her voice shaking.

"I went along with your little game because I wanted to. But I'm not a saint. I

can't just hand the man I love over to someone else."

She turned and walked out of the church, leaving Silas alone in the cold.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

He whispered it into the silence, his voice full of despair.

He stayed there until the hospital called him, telling him he was needed.

Silas finally snapped out of it.

He pulled up the contact info Zoe's father had left during his stay. He dialed

the number, but all he got was a cold automated message "The number you have

dialed is no longer in service."

His chest felt like it was filled with lead.

On the other side of town, my father and I were at the airport.

Arthur Rowen sat in the waiting area, watching me stare at my phone. On my

screen was a photo of Silas's back.

"Zoe," my dad said suddenly.

"You never really moved on, did you?"

I tried to deny it. "Dad, why are you asking that? I told you, I'm over it."

He shook his head, his eyes full of pity. "You're my daughter. I know you."

"You didn't break up because you wanted to. Your mother let her old grudges ruin

your life."

He patted my hand. "Love isn't something you can just switch off. If there's a

misunderstanding, fix it. Don't let it haunt the rest of your life."

My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, a notification popped up on my phone. A

friend request from a user named "Waiting for the Bird."

The message attached said It's Silas. I just want to say one thing to the bird

who never came home.