They Thought I Was Just Her Husband

CHAPTER 11

The following morning, a sleek black sedan pulled up to Oakridge General Hospital, delivering a heavy, embroidered red silk banner to the administration desk. Because of the boy Theo Hanks had saved at the restaurant, the family had sent a formal token of appreciation, complete with gold-stitched lettering honoring his swift intervention.

Hospital Director Martin Zahn personally called Theo into his top-floor office and praised him. He never doubted Theo's abilities, not even for a second, but he was surprised that Theo had finally done something notable other than being in his wife's shadow.

"Theo, you're genuinely capable, and you have more experience than most doctors here," Martin said as Theo walked in, gesturing for him to take a seat. "If you hadn't always shown so little interest in moving up the ladder, I would've taken matters into my own hands and promoted you a long time ago."

Theo looked apologetic, his eyes weary. "Director Zahn, actually... there's something I need to talk to you about too." He hesitated, adjusting his sleeves as Zahn straightened into a more attentive posture. "I've been going through a divorce with Tracey these past few days, and I still need some time to deal with everything. I'd like to take some formal time off."

Martin's eyes widened with a shock he just couldn't hide. When he looked across the desk and saw that Theo wasn't joking, the warm smile on his face vanished.

"Did I hear you correctly, Theo?" Martin asked, leaning forward. "You just said you're divorcing Tracey Teague Hanks? Good mother of bloody Christ."

Theo didn't avoid the question, there was no point doing that anyway. "Yes I am, Director Zahn," he replied, reached into his inner coat pocket, and laid Hope's notarized paternity test report onto the desk. "Let's just say some things are far beyond repair."

As an experienced physician and the head of the hospital, Martin immediately understood the genetic impossibility staring up at him from the page. He read it silently, processing the shock of it all.

Theo sighed bitterly, staring down at his hands. "All these years, I've put almost all my energy into my marriage and family. Everything revolved around Tracey and Hope. I treasured her more than anything else on this earth. I never even looked twice at another woman," he let out a long, hollow breath, "and after all that, this is how it ends. I honestly don't even know what to say."

Martin felt deeply sorry for him, his expression solemn. "There's really nothing I can say that will make this better, Theo. This is something you'll have to work through yourself," he paused, setting the report down gently, "but I can give you one piece of advice: as a man, you still need to put your career first."

 

Theo nodded slowly to himself. Although he agreed, he didn't utter a word.

Martin stood up, walked around the mahogany desk, and stood beside Theo. He placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly, "I first noticed you years ago when you were still a student in one of my classes at Oakridge. I thought you had extraordinary potential. After you graduated, I brought you into this hospital myself. I had very high hopes for you."

Martin shook his head, looking back on the past. "But before you'd even had the chance to accomplish anything, you went ahead and got married. If the woman hadn't been Glen Teague's daughter, I probably would've cursed you out on the spot."

Glen Teague was Tracey's father. He was a legendary, highly respected figure in the medical field who had known Martin for decades.

Theo lowered his head yet again with a devastated sigh. Meeting Tracey sixteen years ago had been a coincidence; falling for her afterward had felt completely unavoidable. Even if he were given another chance and sent back to that exact same moment in his youth, Theo suspected he still would've fallen in love with her.

"I ended up like this because of my own choices," he said quietly. "I probably deserve to be cursed at."

Martin sighed, and squeezed his shoulder again. "Then, start changing from now on. Stand up straight and put most of your energy back into your career." He looked at Theo seriously. "I've never doubted your professional ability."

 

 "I know you didn't, sir."

 

"You know what, boy? Don't overthink it," he says, "if you believe it is the right thing to do, I suggest you take as much time so you get it right. Your request for a leave is granted," Martin said without hesitation.

Watching Theo walk out the door, Martin couldn't help feeling deeply sympathetic for the poor lad. He had always thought highly of Theo, both for his medical talent and his quiet, grounded character. He had never expected such a decent man to be dealt a hand like this. Sometimes, life really was unfair.

What Theo didn't know was that the hospital-wide medical theory exam he had taken the day before had been secretly orchestrated by Martin to identify future department leaders and a potential successor.

Theo had scored a perfect score, ranking first in the entire hospital. In fact, that was what Martin had originally called him in to discuss—he just hadn't expected Theo to bring up his divorce first.

 "Some other time," Martin whispered to himself and returned to his desk.

***

Theo returned to the off-brand motel in a daze, his mind heavy with Martin's words, but when he reached the door of his room, he found someone he hadn't anticipated meeting waiting outside in the dimly lit hallway.

It was his supposed daughter, Hope.

Hope didn't bother hiding her contempt for even a moment. The moment she saw Theo walking down the corridor, disgust written all over her face, she pinched her nose with two fingers and looked around at the stained carpet and peeling wallpaper. Theo's heart sank, but he didn't show a flicker of emotion.

"Theo, you're seriously ridiculous," she sneered, stepping back. "You have a perfectly good home, but instead you're staying in this filthy, run-down dump? What are you even trying to do?"

Then, as Theo drew closer, her eyes widened as she caught the scent on his jacket.

"Wait, you're smoking too?" Hope immediately gave him a smug, victorious look, crossing her arms. "I'm telling Mom the second I get home. She's definitely not going to let you get away with this."

She grinned wickedly. "You're so dead."