2
After Brendan Forrest finished his examination of Roly, he started working on his computer.
Taking advantage of the momentary pause, Nurse Leigh suddenly asked.
"Why didn't your husband come with you today?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Brendan Forrest's hands froze over the keyboard for a moment.
'Where did I get a husband?' I was about to ask, when I suddenly remembered I had come with my younger brother last time.
That was the first time Roly had an upset stomach, and both Evan Sutton and I were completely frazzled.
The doctors and nurses had mistaken our relationship, but we were in no state to explain.
After Roly calmed down, we completely forgot about it.
For some reason, Brendan Forrest's already grim expression soured even further.
I was just about to explain when someone burst through the door in a flurry.
"What's going on? Did she eat too much again?" Evan Sutton appeared in the doorway.
"Roly, you didn't listen to your mom again, did you?"
Roly didn't seem as uncomfortable as before, and some color had returned to her face.
"I did not! Roly always listens to Mommy! Mommy, Evan Sutton is yelling at me."
For some reason, Roly just refused to call Evan Sutton "Uncle," always insisting on using his full name.
"You little rascal, you have the nerve to tattle..."
Before I could finish, Brendan Forrest cut in.
"The prescription's ready. You can go to the pharmacy and pay. Nurse Leigh, please take them for the IV drip."
Brendan Forrest's gaze never rested on me for even a second. After rattling off the instructions in a brisk, professional tone, he prepared to call in the next patient.
Seeing him act this way, a bitter feeling welled up in my heart.
'This coldness is only to be expected, I suppose. After all, it's been five years since we separated.'
Lost in thought, I found myself staring at him for a moment.
As my gaze shifted, I noticed a packaging bag on his desk.
'Strange... isn't that a bag from my shop?'
Before I could dwell on it, the nurse was leading us out.
Evan Sutton went to pay and pick up the medicine while I sat with Roly in the infusion room.
"Mommy, that doctor was super handsome. Can I ask him to be my daddy?" As soon as the IV was in, the little one added in all seriousness, "Godmother says when you see something you like, you have to make the first move."
Roly's words left me stunned for a long moment.
'For a second, I even thought that through some mysterious bond of blood, Roly had managed to pick her own father out of a crowd.'
'But I quickly dismissed the idea.'
'How could Roly possibly recognize him? She's never even met Brendan Forrest.'
'Then my thoughts turned to Elise Duval, and I cursed her inwardly. What on earth has she been teaching my daughter?'
"Roly, from now on, I don't want you to listen to a word your Godmother says."
"Oh, so you two aren't husband and wife?"
I turned my head and saw Nurse Leigh was still standing there.
I gave Nurse Leigh a small smile and explained, "We're brother and sister."
"Oh, my apologies. I misunderstood."
Nurse Leigh then leaned down and said to Roly with a smile, "Roly, you can't just call any man 'Daddy'! That handsome doctor from earlier is already engaged, you know!"
'So, Brendan Forrest is engaged?'
'Is it to Raina Channing?'
Nurse Leigh's words sent my mind reeling back into the past.
Roly suddenly spoke up. "Mommy, what's 'engaged'?"
I tugged at the corners of my mouth, but a smile wouldn't come. "Engaged means... he's going to have his own family. He'll be someone else's daddy, so he can't be Roly's daddy, okay?"
Roly pouted, looking very disappointed. "Oh. Okay, then."
