Chapter 24
Selene’s POV
It’s almost laughable how Maya, my stepmother, went out of her way to warn me to stay away from Maximus.
She actually left her house, came all the way to my hospital, and delivered that ridiculous message about keeping my distance from her son-in-law. Honestly, it’s pathetic. If anything, it proves how insecure Jess is about me.
I knew this visit was coming. Jess has always been quick to act on whatever her mother tells her. She probably begged Maya to step in and handle me because, let’s face it, my step-sister has been insecure around me for as long as I can remember.
When I moved back to this city, I wanted a fresh, quiet start. The last thing I expected was for Maximus to run his mouth about my return. And then he had the audacity to show up here with flowers, trying to play the good guy.
Years ago, I might have fallen for that act—the charming, “nice guy” routine. But not anymore. I’m no longer the naïve girl who would believe his lies. It’s going to take a lot more than flowers and apologies to win my forgiveness. Honestly, I doubt he ever will.
He isn’t part of my life anymore, just like I’m no longer part of his.
He needs to stay away from me. Every time he shows up, he makes my life miserable.
“So, how are you guys spending your summer? I’m hitting the beach. From morning till evening, I’ll be soaking up the sun, and by the time I’m back, I’ll be the hottest doctor in this hospital. Heads will turn—patients included,” Riley says with her usual confidence.
I shake my head. Riley is, without a doubt, the biggest flirt in the neurosurgery department.
If she could just tone it down, she might actually find herself in a stable relationship.
“You do know we’re spending summer here in the hospital, right?” Avery asks as she raises an eyebrow. “No break, just a few days off if we’re lucky. So, you can forget your tanning dreams, Riley.”
Avery giggles and rolls her eyes before turning to me. She doesn’t have to say anything—her look says it all. I already know exactly what’s coming.
“What about you, Dr. Andrea?”Avery asks with a smile plastered on her face.“You’re the owner of the hospital, so I’m sure you’ll have plenty of free time. Are you planning to hit the beach, travel out of the city, or maybe go on a romantic getaway with your boyfriend?”
I sigh, wishing I had just stayed in my office and taken a much-needed break instead of wandering into the on-call room. But Avery was right—what better way to get to know my doctors than by mingling with them?
Of course, I don’t talk to everyone in the hospital. That would be impossible with so many staff members under my wing. But the ones who work closely with me? I know them well enough to almost call them friends—if they weren’t so annoying and overly nosy most of the time.
“I’ll be spending my summer at home and in this hospital, as usual,” I reply with a tired scoff. “And how many times do I have to say this? I don’t have a boyfriend. Why is that so hard to believe? I’m as single as it gets.”
“Yes, Dr. Andrea is waiting for me,” Dr. Johnson suddenly says with a playful wink in my direction. “We’re spending the summer together. Isn’t that right?”
“Keep dreaming, Dr. Johnson,” Avery cuts in sharply. “Andrea would never go out with you, so you can stop fantasizing about my best friend. It’s not happening. But I’m sure Riley would be more than happy to spend some time with you.”
I glance at Avery, surprised by how aggressively she shuts him down.
The room falls into an awkward silence, everyone suddenly avoiding eye contact. The buzzing of my phone finally breaks the tension, giving me an excuse to step away.
I answer it, throwing Avery a pointed look as I do. She just rolls her eyes, unapologetic.
When I glance at the screen, I’m surprised to see a message from an unknown number. But the content leaves no doubt in my mind about who sent it.
Maximus is really testing my patience. The urge to march into his company and give him a piece of my mind is almost impossible to resist.
“How are you doing, Selene? I know you’ve told me a thousand times to stay away, but I just wanted to check in. I hope you’re not overworking yourself. I’ll keep in touch, and I mean it, Selene,” the message reads.
I scoff, my grip tightening around the phone. Without a second thought, I block his number, anger bubbling up inside me like a volcano about to erupt.
Why can’t he just leave me alone?
The walls of the on-call room feel like they’re closing in, and I can’t breathe. I stand abruptly and head outside to get some air, hoping to calm the storm inside me.
But a darker thought creeps in, one that sends a chill down my spine. What if he finds out about the kids? What would he do then?