Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

The CEO sighed deeply. Even though the conversation was conducted over the phone, he could feel the anger boiling from his beloved daughter’s end.

“Yam…,” he called softly. A father’s heart certainly hurts more when news of the breakup is suddenly revealed, without adequate explanation and in haste.

“Dad, don’t hide anything from me! Tell me! What did Andre say? Why don’t I know anything?”

No matter how well you hide a carcass, it will eventually be discovered. That was the situation the CEO found himself in. He had unleashed anger, threats, and curses on his future son-in-law, but to no avail. Andre remained unmoved. He stuck to his decision.

“You can find a better man, Yam! Andre is not worthy of you!” Now, it was the CEO’s turn to raise his voice, accompanied by his daughter’s heartbreaking sobs.

“So, Andre really ended our engagement?” Miriam cried bitterly. Her sacrifices seemed to have been in vain. She was furious!

“Yam, listen to me–”

“Enough, Dad! I’m disappointed in you! I won’t let this go easily!”

“Yam!”

Before the CEO could finish his sentence, Miriam had already hung up the phone. Her face was wet with tears. Her chest was roaring. Anger was bubbling inside her.

“Andre, Lara! I won’t let you be happy!”

***

Meanwhile, Lara lay on her hospital bed with a disgruntled expression. She didn’t expect Miriam to treat her like a thief who stole something from her. “Ugh! Annoying!” Lara grumbled in frustration. She wanted to close her eyes, but Miriam’s words still echoed in her ears.

“Mine, she says? Ridiculous! Like Andre is an object?” Lara continued to mutter and sigh. She couldn’t understand why such an unpleasant incident involving her had occurred.

“Who belongs to whom?” Suddenly, a baritone voice came from Lara’s door, accompanied by gentle knocks that startled her.

“Andre!” Lara smiled to welcome him.

The man came bearing cold drinks and snacks. “Bored?” he asked again. Lara nodded, pouting. Somehow, she felt like pouring out her frustration on the man who was now close to her.

“Why is your face like that?”

“I’m annoyed!”

“Why are you annoyed?” Andre interrogated while opening a cold bottled drink for Lara.

“Your ex!”

“My ex?” Andre wondered. “Miriam?”

Lara nodded, sighing again. Andre then lifted the gloomy girl’s face and gently stroked her cheek. “Why her?”

“She confronted me.”

“What?!”

“Not physically, though. She just told me to stay away from you. But still, it’s annoying!”

Andre hugged Lara and rubbed her back. “I’m sorry! You got dragged into this. But this has nothing to do with you, Ra. I’ve been committed to you since forever, and Miriam… I only did it for this hospital.”

“What do you mean?”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Well, one of the conditions for the CEO to acquire this hospital is for me to marry into his family. I’ve gained a lot, but my heart wasn’t convinced…,” Andre’s gaze started to wander, but then he curved his lips to reassure Lara not to worry.

“What about your fate after the breakup?” Lara asked, concerned. She was starting to worry. Andre might end up unemployed, and worse… homeless because all his assets were seized by his future father-in-law!

“Don’t worry about me, Ra! I’m ready for everything. Even if this hospital is taken over by the CEO, I can work at another hospital,” Andre said confidently.

Lara furrowed her brow. She really didn’t want Andre to suffer losses. “Ndre, shouldn’t we just part ways? I can’t give you anything, Ndre… I’m just a burden.”

“Don’t say that, Ra! You can lean on me! I’ll always protect you. I chose you not because of business relations, Lara. I… love you,” Andre’s lips trembled as he uttered those words. Tears trickled down Lara’s cheeks slowly. She felt touched and afraid of all the possible bad outcomes of their relationship.

“I… also…,” Lara admitted her feelings, albeit feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable to express them so openly.

“And?” Andre teased her. His deep brown eyes intentionally locked onto Lara’s as he awaited the answer from his long-awaited sweetheart.

“And… love… you,” Lara finally said it! Even though her face immediately turned red. She covered her face in embarrassment. This was the first time Lara had confessed her feelings so deeply. Even when she had a husband before, the word ‘love’ was not something commonly discussed with her spouse.

Lara was truly awkward.

“Haha! Come here,” Andre tightened the hug and buried his face into Lara’s shoulder. He was very happy. “Thank you for coming back, Ra. Thank you. Because of you, I have a reason to fight again.”

Lara nodded with streaming tears. She became even more emotional, especially since Andre always did sweet things for her. Lara had never received such loving treatment before. Andre was truly an angel sent by God to heal all the wounds in Lara’s heart.

“Don’t worry about Miriam. I’ll handle her,” Andre assured her, looking deeply into Lara’s eyes. That face hadn’t changed, Lara’s beautiful face. Whether now or decades ago, that face was the one he had always dreamed of.

“Can I kiss you, Ra?” Andre asked before losing control that he had been holding back for so long. Lara’s charm couldn’t be ignored by him just like that. Her serene eyes, warm smile, and everything about Lara intoxicated him.

“Yes…,” Lara agreed, closing her eyes. Quickly, Andre landed a loving kiss on his lover’s lips. Their lips merged perfectly, creating a strange vibration that mesmerized them.

The world seemed to stop spinning.

‘Click!’

Andre even laid Lara down on the bed while continuing to softly kiss Lara’s lips. “Mmh…,” Lara sighed in pleasure, but she realized… they had to stop soon.

“We can continue this at a hotel next time, hm?” Lara pushed Andre away a bit. They were in a hospital, after all. Such a passionate kiss would only invite trouble in the future.

“I-I’m sorry, Ra,” Andre chuckled nervously. He rubbed his face roughly and cursed his uncontrollable lust as usual.

Lara laughed softly and hugged Andre from behind. She leaned her head against Andre’s back, and at that moment, Lara felt peace. That large and sturdy back was what she could rely on for a long time.

“Don’t call me Andre, okay?” he suddenly asked, grabbing Lara’s hands and kissing his lover’s handback tenderly.

“Hm? Call you what?” Lara tried to find the answer to Andre’s question. She really didn’t understand the context. “Do you want to be called like before?” Lara asked ambiguously.

“Before, what?”

“The bald guy!”

“No!”

“Then?”

“Call me ‘Darling’!”