Chapter 203 Dirty past

Chapter 203 Dirty past
Chapter 203: Dirty past 

She didn't go home that night. She didn't pick anyone's calls.

By the next morning, St. Augustine no longer felt like a hospital. I felt like a courtroom. Golden felt the whispers and glances the second she stepped out of the elevator.

Even the sudden silence whenever she walked past. People looked away too quickly. Others stared too long. Some pitied her, some judged her. Some were simply entertained.

Golden kept her face straight as she walked through the hallway in heels that suddenly felt too loud against the polished floor. Her chest still felt tight from yesterday.

The video and humiliation was too much. She tightened her grip on her bag and kept moving.

Inside the joint office, Linda sat at her desk scrolling through paperwork while Fabulous typed on his laptop with headphones hanging around his neck.

Alex arrived moments later holding coffee. The atmosphere immediately became awkward. Nobody knew what to say first. Golden walked quietly toward her office. Before she could open the glass door, two nurses passed nearby whispering carelessly.

“I heard he slapped her too.”

“Apparently he used to abuse his ex.”

Golden froze slightly. The nurses looked up and realized she heard them. Their eyes widened.

“Dr. Nixon, we weren't talking about you,” one said quickly.

Golden gave a small nod. “It’s okay.”

But it wasn't okay. Nothing about this was okay. She entered her office and shut the door gently behind her. Then she finally exhaled. A knock came minutes later.

Golden looked up expecting Alex. Instead, Allan walked in. He looked calmer than everyone else in the building. He studied her face carefully.

“You shouldn’t have come to work today.”

Golden gave a dry laugh. “And stay home while the entire hospital discusses me?”

Allan’s jaw tightened slightly. “That won’t continue.”

Golden looked at him tiredly. “You can't control gossip.”

“No,” he replied calmly. “But I can control my institution.”

There was something cold in the way he said it. He sounded dangerously protective.

Golden looked away first. “I’m fine.”

Allan clearly did not believe her. But before he could respond, his office line rang through her desk phone.

Golden picked automatically. The boardroom requested Allan urgently. He held her gaze a second longer before leaving quietly.

The second he stepped out, Golden dropped into her chair and closed her eyes briefly.

Her phone vibrated. Varney was calling. Her stomach twisted instantly. She answered softly.

“Hey.”

“Where are you?”

“At work.”

“I’m downstairs.”

Golden sat upright immediately.

“What?”

“Come downstairs, Gigi.” His voice sounded serious.

Golden grabbed her bag and left immediately.



Varney stood outside the building near the fountain area in dark jeans and a black shirt, hands inside his pockets. The moment he saw Golden walking toward him, something in his expression shifted. He was very pained. 

Golden slowed down. “What are you doing here?”

Varney looked at her face carefully. “You okay?”

Golden nodded automatically. “I’m fine.”

Varney stared at her for a few seconds before speaking again. “Did he hit you before?”

Golden's breath caught. She looked away immediately.

Varney stepped closer. “I won't judge him for his past with his ex but i will judge him for his current behavior. Has he hit you before ?”

She swallowed hard. “It was one time.”

Varney’s eyes shut briefly. That alone destroyed him.

Golden rushed quickly. “He was angry and things got out of hand and he regretted it immediately.”

“But he did it.”

Golden stayed quiet.

Varney looked completely broken for a moment. Like something sacred inside him cracked.
“She’s all I have left.”

The thought kept echoing inside his head. Golden was all that remained, and he failed her.

Varney rubbed his face slowly. “You should've told me.”

Golden's eyes watered instantly. “I didn't want everybody to hate him.”

Varney laughed painfully. “You're still protecting him.”

Golden looked down silently. For a long moment neither spoke.

Then Varney finally asked quietly: “Do you still love him?”

Golden answered instantly. “I don't know.”

That hurt him too. Because he understood now why she stayed.

Varney nodded slowly. “Even if you still love him, i won't tolerate domestic violence,” he said finally. “I never will.”

Golden wiped her face quickly. "I tried calling you. You didn't pick."

Varney looked toward the hospital building. Then back at her. "I’m going to handle this."

Fear immediately crossed her face. “Varney, don't start anything.”

He didn’t answer.