Now You Want Me? Too Late

Ian looked at her for a moment. Then his smile faded into something more sincere.

"I told you I took the day off."

"But it’s an emergency."

"I know." His gaze didn’t waver.

If it were years ago, he would have already been on his way to the hospital.

"I used to think that every emergency, every patient, every responsibility was more important than anything else." His eyes lowered briefly. "I was wrong."

Evelyn’s heart gave a small, painful thud.

Ian looked at Leo, then back at her. "No one can force me to go on duty when I’m on leave. The hospital has other capable doctors. But Leo only has one father."

Evelyn stared at him, unable to hide her shock.

He had never said anything like that before.

She had expected him to leave. She had prepared herself for that familiar disappointment.

But he hadn’t.

For the first time, Ian had chosen them over his duty.

A strange feeling stirred inside her chest.

She didn’t know whether it was relief, disbelief, or something dangerously close to hope.

’Has he changed?’ The question frightened her.

For years, she had wanted him to choose her and Leo. She had wanted him to understand that they needed him too. And now that he had finally done it, she didn’t know what to feel.

Could one day really erase years of neglect? Could she trust him again?

Her heart whispered, ’Yes.’

But her mind immediately warned her not to be foolish.

She looked at Ian quietly.

Maybe this was only one day. Maybe tomorrow, he would return to the same man he had always been.

She couldn’t afford to believe too quickly.

Ian raised his hand and beckoned to Leo. "Leo. Come here. Enough running around."

Leo dropped the ball and hurried toward him. There was a trace of anxiety on his little face.

"Daddy, are you leaving?"

Ian laughed softly. "Not at all. I’m staying with you. I’ll spend the whole day with you."

Leo’s small face lit up with joy.

"The sun is shining brightly," Ian said. "Rest for a while and drink some juice, or you’ll get dehydrated. Come on."

He led Leo toward the shaded area beneath the tree, where he had spread the picnic blanket.

Evelyn followed them in a daze. She watched as Ian handed Leo a sandwich and poured him a glass of orange juice.

The father and son sat beside each other and began eating.

Evelyn stood there silently. Watching them together, she felt a warmth she hadn’t expected.

There was something different about Ian today. He wasn’t distracted by his phone, wasn’t glancing at the time, and wasn’t rushing to leave. He was simply there with them.

Her heart softened.

’Can I start over with him?’

The thought returned.

This time, she didn’t push it away immediately. She studied him carefully.

Perhaps people really could change. Perhaps losing her had finally made him understand what he had taken for granted.

Ian suddenly noticed that she was still standing. He looked up at her.

"What are you doing standing there? Come and eat."

Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts. She forced a small smile and joined them.

The next day, when Ian arrived at the hospital, Maya rushed toward him.

"Ian, you finally came." She moved closer and clasped his hand. "It has never happened before that you ignored your duty. Did something happen? What stopped you from coming to the hospital yesterday?"

Ian’s gaze dropped to her fingers wrapped around his wrist. "Take your hands off me."

Maya immediately released him. The coldness in his voice made her falter.

"Ian..."

"You caused unnecessary tension," Ian said, not letting her finish. "You knew I had taken a day off. You knew I wasn’t available to resume my duties. In an emergency like that, you should have contacted the other available doctors. Instead, you wasted valuable time calling me."

Maya stared at him, stung by his words.

"The patient’s family was demanding to see you," she said quietly. "They wanted you to perform the surgery."

"The patient’s family can demand anything," Ian replied coldly. "Some will demand this, others will demand that. We are not here to fulfill their demands. We are here to save lives."

Maya lowered her eyes.

"In an emergency, our priority should be the patient," Ian continued. "You should have contacted the senior doctors and the management team immediately. Instead, you called me while I was on leave. That was unacceptable."

"Ian, please listen to me—"

"The director is furious," he interrupted. "He wanted to dismiss you."

Maya’s face went pale.

Ian’s expression remained stern. "I spoke to him and convinced him not to take such a harsh action against you."

For a moment, Maya forgot everything. She looked at him.

He had spoken to the director for her. Despite everything, he had protected her job.

The relief that followed was immediate.

She had been terrified that she was losing him after learning that he had taken the day off to spend time with Evelyn. She had spent the previous night imagining him growing closer to his ex-wife while she remained on the outside.

But perhaps she had been wrong. Perhaps Ian still cared about her. And perhaps she still had a chance.

This time, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him how she felt.

"Thank you, Ian," she whispered. "Thank you for helping me."

Hope stirred in her chest. It lasted only a moment.

"I didn’t help you," Ian said coldly. "I didn’t want the hospital to lose a young, talented doctor."

Maya froze. The hope vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"The director didn’t dismiss you, but he still needs an explanation. Instead of wasting your time here, you should think about how you are going to explain yourself to him."

Ian turned toward his desk and sat down. He picked up a file and began reading, making it clear that the conversation was over.

Maya stood there for a few seconds. She had misunderstood him.

He hadn’t done it because he cared about her. He had done it for the hospital.

The realization humiliated her more than his reprimand had.

She bit her lip, refusing to let him see her cry, then turned sharply and walked out. The moment the door closed behind her, resentment replaced her humiliation.

"It’s all because of that bitch, Evelyn," she muttered. "She must have stopped him from coming to the hospital."

In the past, Maya had watched Evelyn’s insecurity and possessiveness toward Ian. She remembered being humiliated and called a homewrecker in front of everyone.

"She already divorced him. Why is she still clinging to him?"