Chapter 14 Saved by Damian
A female doctor, peeling off the bandage, grew irritated at once, “How can you be so careless? Even a child knows not to get a wound wet. Aren't you afraid of tetanus?"
Ashley frowned in pain and didn't argue with the doctor, “Got it wet in the shower. Could you put a little extra medicine on it?"
The doctor frowned back, "The wound's infected. I'll treat it, but you'll have to go a couple of days without showering; it's not like it's hot now."
Ashley agreed verbally but thought back to something Damian had once said.
They had been married less than a week when Ashley came home exhausted from a busy day and collapsed on the sofa, too tired to move. She playfully pleaded, "Honey, I'm so tired. I don't want to shower today."
Damian's reply was cutting, "You think you're not dirty enough?"
He wasn't joking.
His serious expression was like he was talking about a reckless woman of ill repute, dirty both inside and out.
After that, no matter how tired she was, Ashley always showered morning and evening, using more body wash, fearful of seeing that same look on Damian's face.
It took her three years to shake off the shadow of that moment.
"Does anyone else live with you? You should reapply the medicine tonight."
Jolted from her thoughts by the doctor, Ashley dressed and responded, "I can apply it myself."
"You can't reach the spot on your back. Have a friend help you," the doctor advised.
After having her bandages changed, Ashley was lost in thought, walked out of the clinic, and accidentally bumped into someone.
Hayden, carrying a medical report and discussing a case with a colleague, paid no mind to the distracted woman he almost collided with. He only turned around once she had passed through the glass doors.
Something about her was overwhelmingly familiar, her delicate silhouette, her soft, flowing hair.
Wasn't this Ashley? The same one Damian had rescued just days ago?
"Mrs. Hearst?" he called out.
It had been so long since Ashley had heard that address, and if not for Hayden's distinctive voice, she wouldn’t have grasped that he was calling for her.
Regret washed over her; how could she forget that Hayden worked at this hospital?
To be precise, the hospital belonged to Hayden's family.
With others around, Ashley offered a polite smile in response, “What a coincidence."
Hayden excused his colleagues with a gesture, his hand resting in the pocket of his stark white coat, his black pants making him look taller and more imposing, “Mrs. Hearst, feeling under the weather?"
"I’m divorced. Please don't call me that," she said.
Clapping a hand to his forehead, Hayden chuckled, "My bad, force of habit."
Ashley's medication was in her bag and she showed no signs of distress, preferring not to delve into details with Hayden, “It's no big deal. Had an appointment with a general surgeon."
"Has the injury from before not healed? A recurrence?" Hayden simply replied.
Ashley paused, "What?"
"I mean the one from the fire. Damian rushed you here in such a state. I’m still shaken by it. You wouldn’t believe how he looked that day, his clothes torn and face covered in soot. I've never seen him quite so..."
"Hold on..." Ashley interrupted, her focus snapping to one detail, "Who did you say?"
In a picture of innocence and awkwardness, Hayden muttered, "Damian. He brought you here, didn't you know...?"
Wasn't she brought in by emergency services? What did Damian have to do with it?
There wasn't a single detail in her memory involving him, except for the aftermath, when Damian barged into her hospital room with a scowl, hurling insults and sarcasm without a kind word to spare.
"How did he save me?" Ashley questioned, a mix of curiosity and disbelief etched on her face.
Hayden scratched his head, clearly troubled.
Ashley grew impatient, “Come on, what's going on?"
"You know, Damian just happened to be nearby that day and saw a house on fire. It just so happened to be your place. He went rushing in to help."
---
Hayden didn't return to the clinic; instead, he raced to the general surgery office and leaned on the door as he knocked.
"Dr. Lawrence, are you busy?"
Dr. Lawrence recognized the good-looking and popular Hayden without much interaction but had heard plenty of gossip, “Dr. Sackler, to what do I owe the pleasure? How may I help you?"
Hayden strolled in cheerfully, pulling out a chair to sit down, “They say Dr. Lawrence is a real beauty, I had to see for myself."
Wendy Lawrence, who could've been flattered had she been twenty years younger, chuckled; her son was already in college, “No need for flattery. Just get to the point, I'll help however I can."
It was his first real interaction with her, and her up-front demeanor was quite endearing.
Hayden peered outside the door before asking, "How's your female patient doing?"
"I have a good hundred female patients, which one are you talking about?"
"The prettiest one."
Dr. Lawrence's first thought was Ashley, and she eyed Hayden with a hint of amusement, “Got a crush on her? I knew it! Such a beauty, catches everyone's eyes, including yours, apparently."
Hayden just grinned, accepting her assumption, “Fill me in."
Matchmaking was common among young folks, and Dr. Lawrence was more than happy to play Cupid, especially since sucking up to Hayden could benefit her own career; rumor had it that he had a close rapport with the hospital director.
She pulled out Ashley's clinical history and tapped on a few lines, “Trauma, infection turned into an abscess, and without care, it could lead to tetanus. She lives alone, it's hard for her to apply medication by herself, and she's a neat freak who insists on showering every day."
Medical scribbles notwithstanding, Hayden perused the chart with ease, “It looks quite serious! What happened?"
"She claims she fell, but anyone can see it was caused by a blunt object. Such delicate skin; it'd be such a shame if it doesn't heal well."
Ashley's skin was indeed fair; although girls from Rochester generally had tender complexions, none could compare to hers. Hayden felt a pang of sympathy, “Next time she comes in for treatment, let me know, will you?"
Dr. Lawrence adjusted her glasses, “You do realize you could call her yourself?"
Hayden thought to himself, 'As if I don't already have her number.'
"It's not the same. We need tactics, strategy; can't be too direct. Serendipity is the most romantic."
---
Sitting in the car, Ashley's thoughts were scattered.
Her savior was Damian.
Under normal circumstances, she'd personally thank anyone who rescued her, but why did it have to be him?
The fire had happened at night, and if her neighborhood lay in the opposite direction from Damian's home, it was no mere coincidence that he ended up nearby.
Anyone with half a brain could figure it out. Damian had headed there for her.
