Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

The tension that had occurred earlier subsided as Seno and an unknown man eventually left Bi Yani’s rented house.

Lara still felt the heat of her husband’s slap landing on her left cheek, along with the pain in her heart and the shame that permeated her dignity. Lara felt like a weak woman who surrendered to her husband’s oppression. Was that what people around her thought?

“Mrs. Lara….” Bi Yani, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, accompanied by the faint whispers of her mother, who was still in shock from all the commotion.

“I’m fine,” Lara wiped her tear-stained face. Meanwhile, Andre dragged her out of that cramped room and began to talk to her.

“What kind of treatment has your husband given you all this time, Lara? Answer me!” Andre’s eyes gleamed with anger. His jaw tightened as if holding back something that couldn’t be expressed. Andre was so upset with everything that had happened, but… what right did he have?

“No, Ndre. He only slapped me this time.”

“And then?”

“Usually, well… he just rarely comes home.”

“Do you know what he does when he doesn’t come home?”

Lara nodded weakly.

“Damn!”

Andre knew the implicit meaning of Lara’s nod. Unconsciously, his fist began to bleed, after accidentally punching the hard, textured wall behind his back.

For some reason, Andre suddenly cried. It was clearly not the cry of pain from his fist that spilled fresh blood… his tears sounded like a lament that… ah. It’s hard to explain.

“Andre….” Lara also cried. Her heart felt pain. This was the first time she had found someone crying with her. Lara had never felt like she had anyone to lean on.

Her relationship with Andre was really complicated.

Part of her didn’t want to accept Andre’s sincerity, but another part of her was deeply touched and moved by everything the doctor had done.

“I can’t accept it, Ra! Divorce him! You–you… you… can….”

“Ssst! Be quiet, Andre! It’s not as easy as you say!” Lara cut him off. She felt unprepared to hear the offer Andre was about to make out of pity.

Lara knew very well that, as a bachelor, he probably had many admirers. Lara didn’t want to play the role of an owl longing for the moon. This was not just a television drama that could be easily conquered.

“But, Ra….”

“Enough. I’m very grateful for your concern and companionship. It’s enough, Ndre. Tomorrow, we have to return to our own worlds.”

Lara’s words were even more painful than the wound gaping in Andre’s fist. Remembering the wound, Lara immediately went to the kitchen, borrowed a basin, filled it with warm water from the thermos, and began to clean Andre’s wound.

“Ouch!” Andre hissed as the wet cloth touched his injured skin. Lara smiled, apparently the doctor could also feel pain, like any other patient.

“Next time, if you want to have a boxing match, use boxing gloves, okay…?” Lara said lightly. After piercing Andre’s heart so cruelly, she still managed to smile.

“Can’t I replace him, Ra?” Andre asked, extending his hand that had been clenched before. His fingertips were left to touch the palm of the nurse who was trying hard to sterilize the wound. But unfortunately, it wasn’t that wound that he should be treating.

Lara looked at Andre with a faint smile, as if unwilling to give a more painful answer. She tried to keep her tongue from hurting her old friend even more, who might be looking at her with sympathy that was misinterpreted.

Sympathy is not love.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Andre should know that.

“Well, it’s done.”

After applying the wound medicine, Lara moved away, leaving Andre still sitting on the front porch. A stiff and awkward feeling enveloped them both, after the companionship that had so softened the atmosphere.

This, of course, was because of Andre’s words, which were like a beacon in Lara’s dark life. There was no answer as beautiful as silence. They both knew that the situation was not in their favor.

Bi Yani, who observed the two of them, now understood why her employer didn’t want to be examined at the Andromeda Hospital. There was a strange bond between them that couldn’t be expressed in words.

However, Bi Yani was sure that if Lara wasn’t married, they would definitely be the sweetest couple she had ever met. Lara should find her own happiness and break free from the clutches of her rough husband.

“Bu, I hope what I’m experiencing won’t happen to you,” Bi Yani said when she met Lara in the kitchen.

At the moment, Lara was washing the basin as if it had just been used to play in the mud by the neighbor’s children, dirty and crusty. In fact, the basin was already clean. Lara only needed to rinse it with soap and water. Somehow, Lara deliberately avoided other people and wanted to linger in this quiet kitchen.

“Bi Yani, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

Bi Yani sighed deeply. She felt like she was seeing her reflection in a large mirror in a different position. The difference was, Lara was a rich person. At least, she could access any help, anytime.

One thing Bi Yani didn’t realize was that, whether rich or poor, victims of domestic violence experience the same syndrome. They’re afraid, frustrated, and have low self-esteem, feeling worthless.

For the first time, Lara felt like she had someone supporting her. Usually, she just surrendered and accepted Seno’s treatment without any resistance.

Lara now began to wonder, what was her motivation for continuing to live with such a despicable husband?

“Let’s go to sleep.”

Bi Yani led Lara into the room with a large bed. At first, they slept together in the living room, to accompany Bi Yani, who was troubled. This time, Bi Yani invited Lara to sleep in the main bedroom with a bed big enough for three people.

“May you have sweet dreams.”

Lara smiled and agreed with the prayer from her servant. For several nights now, she couldn’t sleep soundly. Hopefully, tonight, her deep sleep would erase all the worries in her heart.

For some reason, before drifting off to sleep, Andre’s angry face still lingered in her memory. Actually, why was that man so caring? Lara really didn’t understand.

The next day, the sun rose with bright rays. The morning atmosphere felt calmer and more peaceful. Bi Yani and Lara-who slept in the same bed-woke up feeling relieved and grateful that their night had passed peacefully.

“Mrs. Lara, please wake up, I’ll cook fried rice for breakfast.”

Bi Yani prepared breakfast in the kitchen. With whatever ingredients she had, she began to cook an easy dish that could satisfy their hungry stomachs. After a while, Bi Yani called everyone to gather at the dining table. The morning meal prepared by Bi Yani was immediately served with warm smoke characteristic of freshly cooked food.

“Wow, it looks delicious,” Lara said happily.

Bi Yani smiled at her. “Please enjoy it.”

The four of them started eating eagerly. Andre finished his fried rice first. Bi Yani’s mother followed, then Bi Yani, and finally, Lara

“Thank you, Bi Yani. The breakfast is delicious,” Lara said with a small smile.

“True. This is the most delicious fried rice I’ve ever tasted,” Andre agreed.

Everyone looked happy. Cheerful colors radiated from their eyes. This morning felt different, warmer, and more familiar. They all felt like a family.

While working at Seno’s residence, Bi Yani had never seen Lara laugh so freely like this. The mistress’s inner suffering was so great. It seemed that happiness was a luxury she had to sacrifice for the sake of marital status.

“I hope we can continue to be happy like this,” Bi Yani suddenly felt warmth emanating from the togetherness with these beloved people.

The other three nodded. Since her husband’s passing, Bi Yani planned to invite her mother to live with her in this house. Bi Yani would visit her once a week when she got a break from her employer.

Unfortunately, their happiness didn’t last long. Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. The scent of jasmine mixed with wood could be smelled distinctly, it seemed… the guest who came was a woman.

“Excuse me! I’m looking for someone here! Please, open the door!”