On my wedding day, Stella's childhood friend Marcus crashed the ceremony and announced that the baby in her belly was his. She took his hand. Didn't deny it. Canceled the wedding right there in front of everyone. "Julian needs this child for his green card application," she said, calm as ice. "Once he gets citizenship, then I'll marry you." Everyone assumed I'd wait for her like a pathetic fool. They had no idea that same night, I accepted my family's arranged marriage and left New York. Vanished from her world completely. ...... Five years later, I'm back in the city to finalize a major acquisition. My wife—renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Charlotte Reed—is here to perform a groundbreaking surgery. She's three months pregnant. Exhausted from the flight. So I personally prepare her a gourmet lunch and bring it to the hospital. That's when I run into Stella for the first time in five years. Her expression shifts from disbelief to arrogance in seconds flat. "You actually came back?" Her voice drips with superiority. "It's been five years. Marcus's kid is in kindergarten now. If you behave and take care of him properly, I might let you back into my life." Her gaze holds absolute certainty. Smug satisfaction. She thinks one snap of her fingers and I'll come crawling back. Five years ago, she would've been right. Not anymore. "Stella, isn't that Julian Smith? The guy who used to worship you?" "Told you. No matter how long it's been, he'd come crawling back eventually." Stella looks at me with triumph and confidence. Like she predicted this exact moment. Three of her friends surround her. Their eyes scan me up and down without shame. Judging. Mocking. "I remember Julian threw a tantrum and stormed off back then, right? Now he sees Stella made Chief of Surgery and comes back with his tail between his legs?" "Look at this elaborate 'coincidence.' What's he even wearing? Ratty clothes to meet our Stella?" "Just look how pathetic his life is now. Without Stella, who'd treat him this well?" Their mockery washes over me. I don't care. I'm wearing a loose T-shirt and comfortable jeans. My hair's a bit messy—I didn't bother styling it. Nothing like the old me who'd dress up meticulously just to see Stella. Can't help it. My wife's pregnant. As her husband, I handle everything personally to make her comfortable. "Stella, weren't we supposed to meet Dr. Reed? Let's not waste time on him." The reminder makes Stella snap to attention. She gives me a dismissive look. "Stay close. You'll be taking care of me and Marcus's son from now on." She assumes I'll follow her around like a trained dog. But five years changed me. I'm not the fool who loved her enough to tolerate anything. Now? Every extra second near her feels suffocating. Like talking to an idiot. I tighten my grip on the insulated lunch box. This is for my wife. Ever since she got pregnant, she’s been obsessed with my cooking. If I wait any longer, it'll get cold. I turn to leave— Marcus bursts out of the hospital entrance. Sees Stella at the door. His face lights up. Then he sees me. The smile vanishes. "Well, well. Julian Smith. After all these years, you finally came back?"
There's surprise in his voice. But I catch the flash of disgust in his eyes. Before I can speak, he continues: "You heard our son was sick, so you came to bring food? How thoughtful." His gaze lands on the thermal container in my hands. Pride and smugness flash across his face. Like he's reading my mind. "Hand over the food. Then go wash the kid's clothes." He doesn't just order me around—he reaches out to grab the container from my hands. I step back instinctively. "What are you doing?" Stella frowns at this. Then her expression smooths. "Fine. Since you brought food anyway, take it inside." "Take good care of our son." "Five hundred dollars a month salary. More than enough for a single guy like you." Her words make her friends burst out laughing. Their eyes fill with mockery. Like they've found a fun new toy. "See? Five hundred! Better than whatever you're making now—can't even afford decent clothes!" "Right! At least you'll get some meals! If you're willing, maybe Stella will let you earn extra on the side." Their gazes crawl over me without restraint. The discomfort makes my skin crawl. Marcus flashes the Rolex on his wrist. "Julian, see how good Stella is to you? Five years later, she still wants to help you out." His voice turns cruel. "Just take care of our kid. Don't worry about anything else. You're not going to bully a little boy, are you?" Stella laughs coldly. "Grown some backbone, haven't you? " "Got your feelings hurt over nothing and ran away like a baby." "Now you can't make it on your own and want me to bail you out. Of course there's a price." Her words hit like a punch to the chest. Nothing? At our wedding, my bride announced she was pregnant with another man's child. Humiliated me in front of everyone. Canceled the ceremony. Made me wait. That's nothing? The Stella who once loved me is dead. She's not the girl who'd rush over in a thunderstorm to take care of me when I had a cold. Not the one who confessed her love to me on stage at the school festival, telling the whole world I was the only one she'd ever love. Not the one who'd learn nutrition and plan my meals because she cared about my health. But that was five years ago. Time to let it go. Especially since my wife and I are about to have our first child. I step back to walk around them— But they block my path. "Where do you think you're going? Aren't you here to bring food to my son?" Marcus grabs my arm. The sudden movement nearly makes me stumble. I jerk away from his touch, disgusted. That's when he spots the label on the container—For my darling Dr. Reed. "Dr. Reed? You've got some nerve! Everyone knows Dr. Reed just got back to the States. Already trying to suck up to her?" Marcus puts two and two together. There's only one Dr. Reed at this hospital. Charlotte Reed. "Everyone knows Dr. Reed is married. And you're still trying to get close to her?" Stella's face darkens. Anger flickers in her eyes. "Have you no shame?"
I shake off Stella's hand. Marcus spots the watch on my wrist. Grabs it. "Patek Philippe?" He freezes for a second. Then immediately denies it. "Impossible! This particular Patek Philippe is called the King of Watches. The Reed family won it at a Christie's auction." "When the Reeds bid on it, they made global headlines. They said it was a wedding gift for their son-in-law." "Worth three hundred million! A symbol of their marriage!" His voice gets shrill. Jealousy burns in his eyes. But he shakes his head. "Your replica is pretty good, I'll give you that. But wearing it around like this? Aren't you embarrassed?" "Feels real too. Almost perfect." "But Julian, do you really think wearing a fake Patek Philippe will make you Dr. Reed's husband?" Laughter erupts around us. They don't believe for a second that I could be the legendary Mr. Reed. Charlotte Reed is a world-renowned cardiac surgeon. Five years ago, I was chasing after Stella like a lovesick puppy. Willing to do anything for her. I got humiliated at my own wedding. Became a joke. There's no way someone like me could be connected to Charlotte Reed. "Nice work. I'll buy it from you. Full price." I don't have time for this. I try to grab the watch back. "Impossible! Charlotte gave this to me!" Marcus deliberately yelps in fake pain. Then Stella's hand cracks across my face. My ears ring. Burning pain spreads across my cheek. I clench my fists. My upbringing won't let me hit a woman. "Are you insane? Dr. Reed isn't someone you can just claim to know!" "You've got some nerve trying to associate yourself with her!" Stella's voice shakes with fury. Her friends glare at me. Their contempt is palpable. "Julian, I'm asking Dr. Reed to help my son! You hear me?" "If you piss her off and she refuses to treat him, I swear I'll make you pay!" "If something happens to my son because of you, I'll kill you myself!" I narrow my eyes at them. Stella's never seen this look from me before. She finishes her tirade, then suddenly looks uncertain. Scared. Marcus rushes forward. "Julian, you lunatic! You hurt me, fine. But now you're trying to drag Dr. Reed into this to hurt us?" "I know you're mad about Stella leaving you at the altar. But you can't frame her like this!" "Our son is innocent! He never did anything to you! Why are you trying to destroy us?" Tears stream down his face. He looks pitiful.
Seeing Marcus like this takes me back five years. Back then, whenever he cried and played victim, everything became my fault. Even when he was always the one who started it. At first, Stella would take my side. But as time went on and her feelings for me faded, she'd turn on me too. Just like now. Stella's face hardens. "You've really disappointed me. How did you become this person?" She doesn't continue her verbal assault though. She glances at me. "Apologize to us now. We'll forgive you. You can still be our son's nanny." "Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can't survive in this city." She stares down at me like I'm an insect beneath her feet. I frown. "I haven't done anything wrong. And as for the nanny job? Find someone else. I'm not interested." It's not that I don't want to fight back. But this is in front of Charlotte's hospital. I don't want to cause trouble for my wife. But I won't let this slide. My phone buzzes. Charlotte's message pops up—she's got an emergency trip, won't be at the hospital for two days. Don't bother bringing lunch, save myself the trouble. Her words are so warm. My heart softens. I turn to leave. Marcus won't let it go. "What? Not bringing food to Dr. Reed anymore?" His mocking tone makes me frown. "Don't you know Dr. Reed's out of town?" I throw it back at him. Stella's eyes bore into me. "I don't know where you got that information. But two days from now, the Reed family is holding a gala. They're introducing Dr. Reed's husband to everyone." "Take this money. Buy yourself some decent clothes. Come with me to the event. See for yourself who Dr. Reed's real husband is. Maybe then you'll give up." I shake my head. "No thanks." She looks stunned that I'd refuse her. Offended that I'd embarrass her like this. She grabs Marcus. "Since you don't know what's good for you, I'll take Marcus instead." "Don't worry, I'll behave perfectly. I won't embarrass you!" I'm done listening to this. I turn and walk away. Stella's voice calls after me: "Two days from now, let's see if you're still so arrogant!" I ignore her. Get in a taxi. Five years ago, my family arranged a marriage for me. I begged them. They finally agreed to let me marry for love. They gave me three months. I convinced Stella to marry me. We rushed to plan the wedding. Then Marcus destroyed everything at the last minute. She wanted me to wait until Marcus's child was born and registered for citizenship before marrying me. Left me alone at the altar. That night, my parents sent me overseas. Into an arranged marriage with Charlotte Reed. I threw myself into the family business. That's why we waited five years to have a child. Five whole years before the baby in her belly now. If it weren't for her mentor's invitation, I never would've agreed to come back for this surgery. And I never would've run into Stella.
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