Doctor’s Fee Incident 47

THE NEXT MORNING, Laura's whole body ached. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and she felt utterly drained. She hadn’t wanted to be close with Paul last night, but he had left her no choice.

Now, she lay on the bed, staring out the window, lost in thought.

"I'm leaving now. There's food downstairs, just help yourself," Paul whispered into her ear before pressing a kiss to her hair.

Laura didn’t respond. She just kept her gaze fixed on the view outside.

A few moments later, she heard the door open and Paul’s footsteps retreating down the stairs.

Once she was sure he had left, she got up and walked to the window, peeking out to see his car pulling away.

"You monster!" she muttered, covering her mouth as tears welled up. "How could you…? It hurts so much! You’re like an animal…" she whimpered softly.

She moved back to the bed and sat down, clutching her stomach as a dull ache radiated through her. The pain throbbed deep inside, mingling with an ache in her lower abdomen and her private part from forcing her to make love last night.

“Why? I thought you’d changed…,” she whispered to herself, tears flowing freely. “How could you be so heartless, especially knowing I’m pregnant?”

Unable to shake the pain and betrayal, she curled up on the bed, feeling helpless and broken.

MEANWHILE, Clyde hadn’t gone home; he had spent the night in his private clinic.

“Laura… I hope she’s alright,” he muttered, trying to focus on the files in front of him. He was reviewing a case his friend Dave had referred to him, examining it in detail.

"Abnormal semen count? So… Paul, Laura’s husband, is infertile? So, the issue lies with him," Clyde murmured, frowning as he processed the information. He reached for his coffee mug and took a long sip, his mind racing.

Throughout the night, he’d downed more than seven cups of coffee, feeling strangely energized as he worked through Paul’s case.

He reached for his phone. “Why has she disappeared like this?” he muttered, dialing her number over and over again. When she didn’t pick up, he thought about calling Nurse Clair to request Laura’s records, hoping to get her address in Tarlac.

Despite his efforts to distract himself, Laura occupied his thoughts throughout the night. He’d been trying to reach her since she left, but it was as if she’d vanished. Even Gwen, Laura’s friend, hadn’t heard from her for almost a month. Laura seemed to have distanced herself entirely from everyone, consumed by Paul’s needs.

Though Clyde would say he was fine, his eyes revealed his true feelings. He often grew melancholy and distracted, passing time with Deynie, who was the sister of his half-brother. They were using each other to escape, both knowing their connection held no depth.

LAURA, still desperate to find her phone, turned the house upside down in her search. Her hands brushed against something under the bed—a black plastic envelope hidden away. She wouldn’t have paid it any mind, but she noticed a label on it.

"Tarlac Medical City?" she muttered, frowning. "Was Paul hospitalized?"

Her curiosity took over, and she quickly untied the string wrapped around the button closure and opened the envelope.

"Medical records?"

She dropped to her knees on the carpet, pulling out each document and reading them one by one.

"What…?" she whispered, flipping through the records faster and faster, her heart pounding as she pieced together the truth.

“Paul? He… he’s infertile?”

Laura sank back against the bed, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

“Paul?”

Tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t believe what she was reading.

“Oh, my God… How could he…?” she whispered, her voice breaking as she clutched her belly.

Anger and regret surged through her in a confusing mix of emotions. She felt a deep, seething rage toward Paul, remembering how he had blamed her all this time. She had carried the guilt, believing the problem was hers. Now, she realized how wrong she had been. And regret gnawed at her heart—she had left Clyde, thinking she didn’t love him.

“Clyde, I’m so sorry…” she whispered.

After a moment, she gathered herself, collected all of Paul’s medical records, and stuffed them back into the black envelope.

“You liar… I’m going to throw this in your face!”

She sprang to her feet, clutching the envelope, and rushed to the door. But just as she reached for it…

Laura’s pulse thundered in her ears as she clutched the black plastic envelope tightly in her hands, shockingly glaring at Paul. She was surprised to see him back home that soon.

“You liar! How could you? I’ll never forgive you for this,” she said, her voice barely a whisper but edged with fury.

Paul’s face twisted into a sneer, his voice low and menacing. “You think you can walk away from this? From me?” He took a slow step toward her, eyes cold and calculating. “You’re not going anywhere, Laura. You and that baby—”

Suddenly, Laura spun around, her heart pounding as she bolted for the door, desperate for an escape.

But in an instant, Paul’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist like a vice. "Where do you think you're going?" he shouts, pulling her back toward him.

Laura fought against his hold. She could feel her strength waning, fear tightening around her throat like a noose as she glanced at the door, so close yet so far.

Laura stumbled back, clutching the medical records to her chest as Paul’s face twisted with rage. 

“Give that to me, Laura!” he bellowed, grabbing for the envelope.

“No!” She yanked it away, her voice breaking.

In a flash, his hand swung, and a sharp crack filled the air as his palm met her cheek. The force sent her reeling backward, her vision blurring as she crashed to the floor, the papers scattering around her like fallen leaves.

“Laura… no one’s coming for you now.”

To be continued…