Selfishness

"You've changed. You've adopted materialistic values. You'll do anything to get what you want now, won't you?"

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails cut into my palms and drew blood.

Fighting back tears, I said, "It's been five years. This is my last chance to transfer back to headquarters. If I miss it, I'll age out next year. George, I can't let this chance go."

I could not afford to waste my youth waiting until I was over the age limit and lost the qualification forever, or until the day he might finally change his mind.

If I wanted it, I needed to fight for it.

George's gaze locked on me for a long while. An emotion I couldn't name flashed across his eyes.

He softly coaxed, "I understand it's been five difficult years, but please be patient and wait another year. Ivy, I promise you. It won't be long."

He stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around me, lifting a hand as if to wipe away my tears.

I dodged his approaching hand and mocked, "Why do I have to wait? Did you give the spot to someone else? Let me guess. It's Mia, right?"

He dropped his gentle pretense. A shadow darkened his expression.

"Did you plan all of this only because you think I cheated on you with Mia? Fine! I'll do as you wish! I'll have you know that even if we get a divorce, you aren't transferring back any sooner. Is this what you want?"

I met his eyes without flinching. "Yes."

He grabbed his pen and signed his name with more force than intended, as if treating an enemy.

Then, he threw the divorce papers in my face.

"Don't think of coming back and begging for forgiveness when you fail to transfer back to the headquarters and have nowhere else to go!"

…

During the first month of the divorce cooling-off period, I threw myself into work. I took on every difficult case, every heavy assignment, and did everything I could to secure that transfer slot.

Finally, I was shortlisted.

Everything went as planned, except for one thing.

I was three months pregnant.

Because I had spent so long working in the harsh conditions of the battlefield, my menstrual cycle had become irregular. That was why I had not realized it sooner.

I worked backward and figured it happened three months ago, when George summoned me back to Kingsfield with one call.

He was drunk and rough in bed.

Suddenly, I recalled that Mia had been seen being very close to another man.

Our child was the result of George losing control.

It shouldn't exist at all.

Not long after I had learned about my pregnancy, he came to me.

His position allowed him to retrieve the medical reports from my workplace.

It was only a matter of time before he learned it.

He glanced at my belly and demanded, "Mia has learned about your pregnancy. She couldn't have babies after getting injured on the frontline. When she heard the news, it upset her. As her acquaintance, you should be thoughtful and abort it."

My fingers hovered over my stomach. I felt my blood run cold in my veins.

At the beginning of our marriage, we dreamed about a life with a kid.

Back then, he said, "It'll be perfect if it's a girl who looks like you. I've always wanted to meet a younger you."

But now, he wanted me to abort the child simply because it saddened Mia.

He was ruining the beautiful memories I hoped to cling to.

Something in me decided to rebel against him.

I refused to do as told.

I opposed him, "This is my child. I have the final say. Stay out of it."

His eyes darkened at once. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, his grip so hard it felt as though he might snap the bone.

"We're no longer together! Keeping the child will remind Mia of her loss! Don't you understand? If I want to make you get rid of it, I have plenty of ways to do it."

I had no choice but to meet his eyes, and I didn't waver despite the tears pricking my eyes.

"How funny you can't bear to see Mia's tears. Are you sure she's just a mentee, not something more?"

Fury clouded his eyes. Agitated, he raised his hand and snapped, "You're out of line, Ivy."

Playing Favorites

A swishing sound pierced the air. I bared my face, my cheeks wet with tears.

The pain didn't come as expected because George's phone rang.

The specific ringtone revealed that it was Mia calling.

Tenderness replaced the fury in his eyes. He picked up the call and softly asked, "What is it? Just wait at home. I'll cook. You don't need to do it."

Her soft sobs came from the other end of the line.

I supposed she tried to cook for him but ended up injuring herself, so he was now patiently comforting her.

"Sure. Don't worry. I'll have her get rid of the baby. You'll always be my favorite little one. Nobody can ever steal me from you."

He was as gentle as he could be, but somehow it made me sick.

I turned around and pulled the blanket over my chest.

Tears rolled down my face onto the pillow.

After he hung up the phone, he stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he adjusted my blanket.

"Abort it. I'll pay for the operation and the postoperative care. I understand your frustration about being unable to be transferred back to the headquarters. That's why you divorced me. Ivy, believe it or not, there's nothing going on between Mia and me."

I kept my eyes shut, refusing to reply as my tears continued to fall.

When his patience finally bottomed out, George rose to his feet, threatening, "Fine. You can keep the baby. But remember, you'll never get to work at the headquarters anymore. This is the only concession I'm making for you."

The headquarters were having a heavy workload at the moment.

I knew very well that the kid would be a hindrance, so I scheduled an operation without hesitation.

I left the room with an aching stomach.

They were announcing the chosen candidate today, and I had to be present.

When I arrived at the headquarters lobby, an ovation caught my attention.

"Let's welcome Dr. Williams back! Congratulations on gaining the opportunity to be mentored by Dr. Durand!" The crowd cheered.

Mia stood at the podium to express her gratitude.

George smiled proudly and always gave her encouraging nods.

Anyone could mistake them for a couple.

I staggered into the crowd and demanded, "Isn't the list coming out today? I've submitted the application. Why did you announce the results without me?"

Mia pointed at a notice on the notice board. "Dr. Drew, they won't consider a pregnant woman for the vacancy in the headquarters. Dr. Durand personally reported you, so I'm the only doctor who'll be transferred back to the headquarters this time."

A metallic taste spread on my tongue.

I held back my tears and turned to George for an explanation.

He returned my gaze indifferently, as though I were a stranger. "I suggested you abort the child, but you were too stubborn to listen."

An intense pain twisted my guts, making me feel nauseous. My temples throbbed from my headache.

My body was shaking violently as I laid out the facts. "You never asked me to abort the baby for my sake. You only wanted it gone because she cried to you. You manipulated the result and pushed her transfer through for your own selfish reasons."

He frowned at me.

"You're making a scene now, Ivy. At this point, the candidate has been selected. There's no use questioning it."

His words fueled my anger.

I sacrificed everything for a simple dream.

How could he deprive me of the chance?

I wouldn't let him abuse his status anymore.

I rushed onto the podium, pulled out my phone, and sent the evidence I had prepared into the group chat.

Then, I looked at the room and spoke clearly.

"During the past two years of Mia's deployment on the frontline, she violated regulations again and again by returning to Kingsfield without permission. Even when she was an intern, patients filed multiple complaints against her.

"Last year, she made a fatal mistake during surgery, and George helped cover it up. She is not qualified to be transferred back at all."