Chapter 3
Zoe's POV
That evening, I lay in the bathtub, hot water surrounding my body, but it couldn't wash away the chaos in my mind.
Looking at myself in the mirror—red, swollen eyes, pale face, hair a complete mess.
He said he didn't know why we broke up... could I have misunderstood something?
But that coffee shop scene was still so vivid—that woman's red dress, her intimate embrace with Ethan, their intertwined hands...
But I saw it with my own fucking eyes. How could that be fake? That woman was so intimate with him...
I picked up my phone, wanting to cancel tomorrow's appointment. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time, but I eventually put it down.
My knee wasn't fully healed yet, and the marathon in three months was too important for my career. I couldn't let personal feelings affect my work.
Maybe I should just ask him directly... no, if he really did cheat, would he admit it?
Lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Ethan's expression today, his confusion, what he said... it all seemed genuine.
But if he didn't cheat, who was that woman? Why did they look so intimate?
I hugged my pillow, feeling like I was going crazy. For two months, I thought I'd moved on, thought I'd healed. But today his touch made me realize my body still remembered him, my heart still ached for him.
Damn... why did things have to get so complicated?
The next afternoon, I sat in the corner of the clinic waiting area, palms sweating. Elena had an emergency today and couldn't come with me, which actually gave me the perfect opportunity.
Time to end this once and for all.
I stared at the recovery plan in my hands, Ethan's neat handwriting making my heart race. After leaving the clinic yesterday, I'd tossed and turned all night. His confused expression, his claim about not knowing why we broke up, and that damn... my body's response to him.
Hell, I can't keep going like this. Every treatment session is like playing with fire.
I took a deep breath and walked to the reception desk. Maria gave me a professional smile when she saw me.
"Miss Garcia, you're here a bit early today. Dr. Rodriguez is still with his previous patient."
"Actually..." I cleared my throat, trying to sound calm, "I wanted to ask about switching doctors."
Maria's smile instantly froze. "Switching doctors? But your recovery is going so well. Dr. Rodriguez's assessment shows your swelling has decreased significantly. Is there some problem?"
My fingers tapped nervously on the marble counter, trying to ease my tension. "No major problems, just feel like... the treatment style might not be right for me."
"I see..." Maria frowned, starting to search on her computer, "Let me see which other doctors have openings. Dr. Patterson specializes in sports injuries, he has time tomorrow afternoon. However..."
Just then, a voice behind me made my heart skip a beat.
"What's going on here?"
Fuck, why does he always show up at the perfect time?
I stiffly turned around to see Ethan standing nearby, wearing that damn fitted white lab coat. He'd just finished a session, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead that made him look even sexier.
Focus, Zoe! You're here to switch doctors, not to admire him!
"Nothing serious," I tried to stay calm, chin raised slightly, "I just want to switch doctors."
Ethan's gaze instantly sharpened, and he slowly walked toward the reception desk, each step full of intimidation. "Switch doctors? Why?"
"It's my personal choice." I tried to sound decisive, but my voice still trembled slightly, "I have the right to choose my own doctor."
He stopped in front of me, hands braced on the counter, leaning forward. "As your attending physician, I have the right to understand the reason for the change. Are you dissatisfied with the treatment results?"
You know damn well it's not that!
I bit my lower lip, avoiding his burning gaze. "I just feel like... the treatment style isn't quite right for me."
"Bullshit." He suddenly cursed, making Maria and several nearby patients look our way.
I was shocked by his sudden rudeness. "What did you say?"
He realized his outburst and took a deep breath to compose himself. But his eyes still remained locked on me.
"Miss Garcia, you're currently at a critical stage of treatment. Arbitrarily switching doctors will seriously affect your recovery progress and could undo all the progress we've made."
I was trembling with anger at his high-handed reasoning. "You fucking bast—" I almost cursed but caught myself in time, "You have NO right to control my decisions!"
His gaze became more dangerous. "If this is because of what happened yesterday, we should discuss it privately, not make impulsive decisions that could hurt your career."
"Impulsive?" My voice went up an octave, drawing more attention, "I think this is the most RATIONAL decision I've ever made!"
The entire reception area fell into an eerie silence, with everyone watching our medical dispute unfold.
Maria cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. "Perhaps... you should go to Dr. Rodriguez's office? We can handle the referral paperwork later."
I was about to refuse, but Ethan had already extended his hand in a "please" gesture, his eyes clearly challenging me.
"Miss Garcia, please come to my office. We need to have a professional discussion about your treatment plan."
Damn it, this cunning bastard.
The moment Ethan's office door closed, the tension in the air exploded. I crossed my arms and leaned against the door.
"Alright, now it's just the two of us." He turned to face me, taking off his white coat and hanging it on the chair. "Tell me the real reason you want to switch doctors."
I snorted coldly. "You have NO right to stop me from switching doctors! I have the freedom to choose!"
"Of course you have that freedom," he said calmly but firmly, slowly walking toward me, "but I won't stand by and watch you sabotage your recovery because of personal emotions."
Each step made my heart race faster, his heat and scent getting closer and closer.
"Personal emotions?" I laughed sarcastically, trying to stay clear-headed, "Are you sure this isn't about YOUR personal emotions? You just can't stand letting me go, can you?"
He stopped two steps away from me, looking directly into my eyes. This distance let me clearly see the complex emotions in his brown eyes—anger, confusion, and something I didn't dare identify.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "...Maybe you're right. But I'm serious—switching doctors won't be good for your recovery. I understand your condition better than anyone. I know what treatment methods work best for you."
Damn it, he admitted it.
I felt my defenses wavering, but anger kept me rational. "So I'm trapped here? Trapped in this awkward treatment relationship with my ex-boyfriend?"
Suddenly, he stepped forward, almost pressing against my body. "Zoe..." his voice became low and hoarse, "Look at me."
I desperately avoided his gaze, but he reached out to gently lift my chin, forcing me to look at him. That instant skin contact sent electricity through my entire body.
"Listen," he softened his voice, "can we call a truce for now? Focus on healing your knee, and deal with everything else later."
Looking at his serious expression, my resolve began to crumble. Honestly, his treatment was indeed effective, and if switching doctors would really delay things by two weeks...
"...Just focus on treatment?" My voice became very soft, "No more... inappropriate behavior?"
He nodded, his thumb gently stroking my chin, the action making my whole body tingle. "I promise. Purely professional relationship."
I bit my lip, feeling the warmth left by his fingertips. Damn it, why could I never resist him?
"Fine," I finally gave in, "but if you act like you did the past two days again..."
"I won't." He slowly lowered his hand, stepping back to give me space, but his eyes still locked on mine, "We start over."
I nodded, trying to ignore my body's craving for his touch. "Start over."