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Chapter 30

Chapter 30:
Belinda’s response was icy. “Mom, you’re too emotional right now. Perhaps you should be alone for a while and calm down a little. I’m going to my room to clear my head.”
Without awaiting a reply, Belinda turned and left for her room.
Holley watched her go, her face etched with regret.
Back in her room, Belinda sank into the sofa, sighing deeply. She remembered Holley’s stories of her young love with Baker, marred by his family’s disdain due to Holley’s modest upbringing.
Carola, the esteemed daughter of the Happer family, had fallen for Baker at first sight at a banquet. Once Baker’s parents had caught wind of this, they had coerced Baker to sever ties with Holley and wed Carola.
Still in love with Baker, Holley had chosen to remain by his side in secrecy. In Holley’s heart, she believed Carola was the true interloper—the one who had stolen her man.
Belinda never resonated with Holley’s views or her decision to stay with Baker. She quietly disdained the choice. Yet, Holley was her mother, and Belinda believed it was not her place to judge the complexities of her mother’s relationship with Baker and Carola.
As Belinda mulled over these thoughts, her phone’s sudden ring snapped her back to the present.
She retrieved her phone, her eyebrows knitting together in a faint expression of resignation when she saw the caller ID.
With a weary sigh, she swiped to answer the phone, saying, “Hello…”
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“Star, come on, my dear! It’s been several days since you’ve been back—when will you make your way to the hospital?” The voice on the line belonged to Caiden Rodgers, the middle-aged deputy director of Grand Plains General Hospital.
With a hint of irritation, Belinda replied, “Why are you so eager for that? I’ve just come back to the country. Can’t I have a moment to settle in? Plus, I’m sure the Cardiac Surgery Department isn’t desperately in need of doctors.”
Caiden replied, “We may not be short-staffed, but we certainly lack an expert surgeon—namely, you.”
Feeling cornered, Belinda sighed. In fact, she hadn’t envisioned committing to a hospital job at all. Her obligation to Caiden stemmed from a favor he had extended while she had been overseas, which led to his request for her to join the Cardiac Surgery Department at Grand Plains General Hospital upon her return. Feeling indebted, she had agreed.
With a sense of resignation, Belinda said, “Okay, I hear you. I’ll go there the day after tomorrow. Does that work?”
“Perfect! I’ll escort you to the department myself then,” Caiden quickly said.
“No, that won’t be necessary!” Belinda quickly responded. “A formal escort by the deputy director would be too much. I’d prefer something more low-key. Just someone to point me in the right direction will do.”
“Alright then,” Caiden replied.
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