Broken Seven Times Over

Once upon a time, I was a surgeon, and a great one at that. I ended up quitting my job because Zachary didn't like seeing me covered in blood.

At the time, Dr. Lane tried very hard to convince me to stay at the hospital. He considered me the best doctor under his management. On the day I left the hospital, he solemnly asked me, "Claire, is it worth giving up your dream just for a man?"

Back then, all I could think of was Zachary's gentle expression, so I nodded and replied, "Maybe not all men are worth it, but Zachary is."

…

Dr. Lane remained quiet on the call for a while before he asked me hesitantly, "Are you sure your boyfriend won't mind?"

Smiling as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I replied, "I won't have a boyfriend anymore."

Without asking any further, he sent me the document detailing my acceptance into the medical relief program.

"Ms. Claire Stewart, welcome to the Sauvaine medical relief team. Your team will be departing in three days."

After closing the email, I entered my social media account and posted a short update.

"The engagement between Zachary and me has been called off. Thank you to all my friends for your support all these years."

Not long after I posted that, Zachary came barging into my room with a scowl on his face.

"Are you being serious, Claire?"

I looked up at him with a steadfast expression. Leaning against the doorframe, he said gravely, "You haven't been working for years, Claire. I bet you don't have any more savings. Won't your life just get worse if you leave me?

"Moreover, your parents adore me very much. I'm sure you wouldn't want to disappoint them."

Zachary sent threat after threat my way, each one with the goal of hitting me where it'd hurt the most. He stared fixedly at my face, his eyes glinting smugly when he saw me frown. He thought he had managed to scare me, but I had simply reached the limit of my tolerance.

"Delete that post. I can pretend as though I never saw it. And by the way, proceed with arranging another wedding ceremony. I'll go wedding gown shopping with you tomorrow," Zachary declared.

"Lulu will be tagging along as well. She majored in fashion, so she wants to check out the haute couture gowns. I'm telling you this in advance because I don't want you to make things difficult for her again tomorrow."

Once he finished speaking, he slammed the door shut so hard that the water in the glass shook.

Not long after he left, my parents bombarded me with a flood of messages. After reading the insults that filled the screen of my phone, I let out a heavy sigh. My parents did adore Zachary, but rather than liking him personally, what they liked was his wealth and status.

I could still remember the first time I brought him home to see them. They had always treated me coldly, but from that moment onward, they suddenly doted on me like a princess.

Zachary was right. Everything I had now was credited to him. That was why I cried until I fainted the first few times he skipped our wedding ceremony.

Each time, my parents would simply stand on the side with matching icy expressions. Right there, in front of all the wedding guests, they would lash out at me, calling me a worthless piece of trash who couldn't even keep my fiance in check.

"You've brought nothing but shame and humiliation to the entire Stewart family! If he backs out of the wedding one more time, I'll make sure you have hell to pay!"

I knew that my parents would make my life a living hell if I called off the wedding. The thought of this made the old wounds they inflicted on me sting once more.

Still, no matter what happened, I had to make it through the next three days. Once I left for Sauvaine, I would disappear from their world for good.

With that in mind, I got into the front passenger seat right on time the next day. Zachary had a faint smile on his face as he leaned over to buckle my seatbelt for me.

"I knew you'd relent, Claire," he said.

As he straightened up again, he kissed me on the cheek and stroked my head affectionately.

Through the rearview mirror, I caught a vindictive flicker in Louise's eyes, but I didn't think much of it. Alas, I didn't expect her to start causing trouble the moment we arrived at the bridal boutique.