Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen: striking a devil’s deal.
Evelyn ran her fingers through her long hair while keeping one hand steady on the steering wheel. She bit her lip so hard she almost tasted blood. Her frustration and anger at Caleb was through the roof. All she wanted to do was turn the car around and slap him across the face.
Deep down it pained her that she was doing this, because she really had a soft spot for Malcolm. But Caleb was the cause of it all.
Evelyn spotted her destination appearing up ahead and a small smile graced her lips. It was a flower house that sometimes served as her quiet thinking place.
Evelyn packed her car and got out. The heady smell of flowers hit her hard, and somehow she found it calming. She spotted the owner of the flower house up ahead. Evelyn walked up to her.
“Miss Rose?” Evelyn said, calling the attention of the elderly woman.
“Evelyn!” Rose exclaimed, a smile on her wrinkled face. “Come in, come in!”
“How are you today?” Evelyn asked. “Are the flowers….” The loud sound of a car screeching to a halt made her pause.
Evelyn turned sharply to see a black Lamborghini skidding to a stop in front of the garden. The driver’s door opened and Caleb stepped out. Evelyn rolled her eyes.
“Evelyn!” Caleb shouted.
“What’s that?” Evelyn clapped back.
Caleb walked up to her, staring deep into her eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Why are you following this unskilled doctor around?” Evelyn said darkly. “I thought you got a more qualified doctor, didn’t you?”
Caleb sighed heavily. “That’s not…”
“I’ll leave you two alone now.” Rose said and patted Evelyn’s arm.
“Miss Rose,” Evelyn said. “I’ll be with you shortly.”
The woman nodded and left to tend to flowers on the other side.
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R
12:06 PM
Chapter 15
Evelyn turned and faced Caleb fully. She folded her arms, a stern look on her face.
“What do you want?” She asked.
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Caleb looked at her. Something was very different about her, and he hadn’t noticed it at the hospital because when was too busy sabotaging his father’s chances of survival.
She looked harder, but somehow it even made her look even more stunning. Her long red hair hand come undone and flowed behind her, like a curtain of fire. Her eyes that once held love for him stared at him with boredness and contempt. She still wore her lab coat, and he never thought seeing her in that would look so….perfect.
“You’ve changed. Caleb said, pushing his thoughts away.
“So have you.” She replied.
“I’m sorry for how I spoke to you back then.” Caleb said. “I should have shown you more respect, given your position now.”
Evelyn didn’t reply. She stared at him. It felt like she was seeing him for the first time. Maybe it was the afternoon sun though the glass ceiling of the garden, or maybe it was the flowers and butterflies. Her heart skipped. Once upon a time, she had been madly in love with this man.
“I told you you’d have to kneel and apologize.” She said at last, focusing her gaze on his eyes.
“Seriously?” He said.
She raised her chin up. “Maybe you’re not ready.” She said and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Caleb called out. She turned to him. He looked very embarrassed. “If it’s what you want, then fine. I’ll do it.” He said and started to go on his knees.
“Stop,” Evelyn said. She cleared her throat and straightened her back. “I am a doctor. I took an oath that I cannot break.”
“Evelyn…”
“Don’t call my name like that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Anyway,” Evelyn announced. “This time, we’ll have to do this on my own rules.”
Caleb sighed heavily. “What are your terms?”
“I’ll send them over to you later. For now, I need my peace.”
Caleb stared at her. This wasn’t the Evelyn he knew. What exactly had happened in the years they had been apart?
“Very well. He replied. “I’ll leave you alone for now.”
She didn’t reply. She turned and walked away, disappearing into the deeper part of the garden. Caleb wondered if he should go after her, but then he wasn’t sure what he would even say to her.
She had made it clear where they stood. She was a doctor and he was well, him.
Caleb turned and left the garden with the scent of it’s assorted flowers. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His father would live, and he would be fine too. He couldn’t believe he had nearly put his father in mortal danger because of his pride.
Caleb drove back to the hospital where his father was waiting for him, a displeased look on his face.
“Did you apologize for your actions?” Malcolm Winthrop asked. Caleb knew his father always had a soft spot for Evelyn, even in the days of their marriage.
“She’ll be sending over a contract soon. For the terms of the treatment” Caleb explained.
Malcolm sighed. “Very well.” He laid back on his bed. “I can’t believe you let her go.” He grumbled under his breath. Caleb heard him but pretended he didn’t.
Evelyn sighed, her head raised up to the ceiling. String of pearls grew from the ceiling, draping down to the floor. They looked beautiful, like tiny pearls like leaves. She glanced down at the herbal tea that Rose had prepared for her, a long tradition they had for a while.
She had agreed to the surgery, all she had to do was draw up the agreement and send it over.
Evelyn took her phone out and dialed Ashley. She picked on the second ring.
“Shouldn’t you be saving someone’s life right now?” Ashley asked. Evelyn laughed softly.
“You won’t believe what just happened now.”
“What happened? Tell me?”
“Shouldn’t you be at work now?”
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12:06 PM
Chapter 15
“Oh please, so are you.” Ashely laughed. “Come on, have you met a very handsome Mr somebody?”
Evelyn shook her head. “It’s more than that”
She told Ashley all that had happened with Caleb and Malcolm.
“You’re kidding right?” Ashley said, trying to control her laughter. She failed and burst out laughing.
Evelyn joined her. It was better to laugh about things than to cry about it
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