Chapter 74 If It Were Someone Else
Danny walked out of the office and bumped into Rick.
Seeing Danny's puzzled expression, Rick couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Did Major Gonzaga chew you out?"
Danny shook his head. "Not really, just feels like the Major... seems different somehow."
"Different how?" Rick asked curiously.
Danny frowned. "Can't put my finger on it. Ever since meeting Dr. Spencer, he's been a little off."
Rick shrugged. "I don't see it. He's still the same quiet guy, isn't he? Doesn't really pay attention to Dr. Spencer either."
Danny sighed. "You don't work closely with him. Never mind."
Rick scratched his forehead—fair enough. He was just a guy who fixed military vehicles, good with cars but completely hopeless at reading people. Otherwise he wouldn't still be stuck at this remote outpost.
Over the next few days, Matilda often found herself staring at the military thermos in her room.
She had to admit, it was incredibly useful—amazing insulation that kept drinks hot while doubling as a hand warmer.
But she didn't dare use it outside, afraid someone might recognize it.
She also debated whether to return it to Wentworth, but then thought: 'Why should I care? If he wants it back, he can come get it himself. I'm not returning it first.'
She didn't want him thinking she still wanted to reconcile.
Two weeks later, one morning, Levi told her early, "Matty, you need to go to the military base today."
"What for?" Matilda was brushing her teeth in the clinic's back courtyard, spitting out foam as she asked.
Levi said, "To assist with their annual physicals. It happens every year—today's their turn."
"Do we have examination equipment?" Matilda asked.
"They have it at the base. The military medical center is sending vehicles. You're just helping read reports and do basic checkups—whatever they ask you to do."
Matilda knew rural clinic work was varied, but she hadn't expected it to be this diverse.
But in places like this, with staff shortages, one person doing the work of two was normal.
So Levi and nurse Sarah stayed at the clinic while Matilda drove the old van herself.
The van cooperated today, getting her to the base smoothly.
This was Matilda's first time entering a military base. Seeing the solemn gates and ramrod-straight sentries made her nervous.
In her mind, these soldiers had always seemed sacred and untouchable.
Thinking that her ex-husband was also military, she marveled inwardly—she'd been so bold before, actually going through marriage procedures with him.
"Halt. State your business," a sentry stopped her.
She stammered, "I... I'm from Stoneford Community Health Center, here to assist with physicals."
"Get out and sign the confidentiality agreement first," the sentry said.
Apparently entering a military base required extensive procedures—first signing confidentiality agreements, then filling out various forms and personal information. It took nearly half an hour.
Then she could drive in.
After parking, she walked to the edge of the training ground and saw soldiers already lined up in neat formation, with Wentworth at the front, his commanding voice loud and powerful.
He looked like a battlefield commander, imposing and untouchable.
Matilda's heart trembled slightly.
It was hard to connect this Wentworth with the man who'd once cooked her steaks and coffee in the kitchen.
She watched for a while until Wentworth turned to glance at her, snapping her back to reality—she was here to work, not to watch him.
Two examination vehicles from the military medical center were parked by the training ground. Matilda found the supervisor, reported her identity, and was assigned to the ECG room.
ECG tests required subjects to lie down, lift their shirts, and have electrodes attached.
The soldiers filed in one by one. After doing a few tests, she found the work relatively easy—if this were female doctors from the hospital who got crushes easily, they'd be thrilled.
After all, these soldiers were all in great shape with barely any excess fat.
However, after only three or four examinations, she saw a tall figure walk in—Wentworth.
Their eyes met, neither speaking.
Matilda broke the silence first. "Please lie down, Major Gonzaga."
Wentworth lay on the bed and lifted his uniform shirt.
Matilda first attached the limb electrodes, then applied conductive gel to his chest before placing the chest electrodes.
Involuntarily, her gaze fell on his upper body—taut pectorals, defined abs, and with his shirt lifted, she could glimpse the V-line disappearing under his belt.
ECG tests required silence and no movement.
But Matilda lost track of time until Wentworth reminded her, "Is time up?"
"Y-yes." She quickly removed the electrodes and grabbed a tissue to wipe the gel from his chest.
But his hand pressed down on hers. "I'll do it myself."
Matilda froze. "Okay, you do it."
Wentworth asked, "Do you personally wipe everyone else too?"
"What do you mean?" Matilda frowned.
"Exactly what I said."
Of course not. Her action had been instinctive, perhaps because they'd once been intimate.
But she stubbornly said, "Yes, I'm a caring person. Got a problem with that?"
Wentworth straightened his clothes and stood up, but didn't leave. Instead, he stood to the side watching.
"Why aren't you leaving?" Matilda asked.
Wentworth didn't answer, just called outside, "Next one, come in!"
The next person was Danny.
Seeing Wentworth still inside, Danny asked, "Major Gonzaga, you're done—why aren't you leaving?"
Wentworth used Matilda's tone to reply, "What's it to you?"
Danny immediately shut up.
Wentworth just stood there, watching every soldier who came in, making them too nervous to talk much to Matilda beyond basic greetings.
A simple ECG check had turned into psychological warfare.
The soldiers who left whispered complaints outside:
"What's Major Gonzaga doing? Why's he standing in there the whole time?"
"A week ago, he personally drove Dr. Spencer back to the clinic."
"Didn't the Major get divorced? Could... could he have feelings for her?"
That afternoon, after Matilda finished all the examinations, she was furious.
She looked at Wentworth angrily. "Don't you have other checkups to do?"
Wentworth crossed his arms. "I'm perfectly healthy. Doesn't matter if I get checked or not."
"You..." Matilda hesitated, then asked, "Wentworth, you don't still have feelings for me, do you? Otherwise why did you keep watching?"
Wentworth didn't answer.
Matilda was too tired to keep asking—her work was done anyway.
She was about to leave when the supervisor from the military medical center asked her to stay for dinner.
Matilda had rushed out that morning without eating anything and was starving now. Plus, leaving would make the base look inhospitable, so she agreed.