Secrets
by;michimichiro
Chapter 9:
I sat at my desk, shuffling through patient files, when a sharp knock interrupted my concentration. The door swung open, revealing a nurse I didn't recognize. Her crisp uniform and nervous demeanour suggested she was new to the hospital.
"Yes?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow.
The nurse cleared her throat. "Doc, someone wants to see you," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.
I furrowed my brow, trying to recall if I had any appointments scheduled for the day. Coming up blank, I shrugged and said, "Let them in." As the nurse nodded and left, I quickly cleared my desk, pushing aside the scattered papers and patient records.
Moments later, the door creaked open again. My eyes widened as I recognised the unexpected visitor. "Mrs. Loire?" I questioned, surprise evident in my voice.
She stepped into my office, her movements hesitant yet purposeful. As she settled into the chair across from me, she offered a small, uncertain smile. "Doc, I'm not here to bother you," she began, her gaze fixed on me. "I just want to clarify something."
I nodded silently, unsure of what to expect. My mind raced, wondering what could have prompted this sudden visit from Mrs. Loire. The last time I had seen her, it was under very different circumstances.
A deep sigh escaped Mrs. Loire's lips before she continued. "I don't know how you discovered our carefully guarded secret," she started, her voice barely above a whisper. "But my husband and I have learned that Zia and Eli know the truth now."
As her words sank in, a wave of guilt washed over me. I knew I had no right to interfere in their family affairs, but the damage was already done. I had set in motion a chain of events that was now beyond my control.
"Doc," Mrs. Loire continued, her eyes searching mine, "by delving into the past, are you aware that you're ruining their lives? Isn't what Zia and Eli endured enough for you?"
Her question hit me like a punch to the gut. The guilt I had been feeling suddenly evaporated, replaced by a surge of anger. Who was she to accuse me when her lies had caused so much pain?
"With all due respect, Mrs. Loire," I retorted, struggling to keep my voice level. "I can't accept that you're blaming me. You are the ones who began the cycle of lies. You knew from the start that Eli was the child you abandoned."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw something change in Mrs. Loire's expression. A sad smile played on her lips, and her eyes held a mixture of pain and resignation.
"Is that what your father is saying?" she asked softly. "That I abandoned Eli?" She shook her head slowly. "You don't know the real story, Margot. So, before you disrupt the lives of Zia and Eli any further, I urge you to do some research. Don't believe everything you see and hear."
Her words struck a chord within me. Confusion washed over me as I realised she had a point. I had blindly accepted my father's version of events without considering her side of the story. What if my father had been lying to me all along? What if this woman sitting before me hadn't abandoned Eli after all? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
"Mrs. Loire," I began, my voice softer now, "I... I don't understand. What do you mean by 'the real story'?"
She leant forward, her eyes never leaving mine. "Margot, this is all I can say," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love my child, and I never abandoned her. Your father and his sister took her from me by force because your father's family looked down on me."
