His Mother's Shadow

Exposed in Broad Daylight

"Besides, Elliot really does see me as his mom!"

The nerve she had to say something like that when the hickeys on her neck hadn't even faded yet.

However, I soon noticed that Diana's eyes were starting to look more and more like Elliot's. Even the lines on her face had deepened. Yet, she seemed oddly proud of it. I even caught her going around telling people that she was probably blessed into becoming more like Elliot by the day.

I let out a short, mocking laugh. "Why didn't you explain it like that to the director last night then?"

Elliot's expression soured further, his face stiffening.

"I see? So, you did explain, but the director didn't buy it." I pressed on, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Diana opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off coldly. "If you're so desperate to be his mom, don't end up regretting it the day you actually become her."

The show was yet to begin.

Diana had originally been Elliot's trainee. She only had a vocational school background and didn't even possess a proper certification. Yet, she was drawing a salary at the hospital. Frankly, the other doctors had long been fed up with her presence.

The two had only quieted down ever since Elliot had been harshly reprimanded—or so everyone thought.

…

The very next day, Elliot showed up with her at a public medical seminar again.

I was three minutes late because of a surgery. The moment I walked in, Diana covered her mouth, barely hiding her glee. "Aren't we demonstrating CPR? Since Amber's late, why don't we have her do it?"

She hooked her arm around mine with fake familiarity and pushed me toward the old security guard.

Then, she said, "The instructor was just worrying about finding a volunteer. You can demonstrate with him! The director's here too. Surely, you wouldn't refuse something as simple as basic first aid, right?"

The moment she got close, I noticed that her skin looked far more aged than before. She was only in her 30s, but her hands already resembled those of someone in their 60s.

It wasn't that I refused to do it. There were plenty of male doctors around my age who could have volunteered. Yet, she had deliberately pushed forward a half-disabled, unkempt old guard. Anyone could see she was doing it on purpose.

I turned to Elliot. "Are you sure?"

Elliot looked away, completely detached. "Just get on with it. Stop dragging your feet. You're being ridiculous. You're a doctor. Gender and age mean nothing in the face of an emergency."

I didn't argue further.

Instead, I bent down and performed the CPR procedure professionally. When I finished, the room broke into applause.

As I returned to my seat, Elliot shot me a strange look. His face twisted in scorn. "He reeked of old people. I can't believe you managed to kiss him. Doesn't that disgust you?"

Diana burst into laughter. "Oh, please, Amber's used to taking care of those elderly patients who can't even look after themselves. This is nothing for her."

I remained impassive to their barbs. Then, I promptly raised my hand and addressed the instructor.

"Aside from first aid, I think it's also important to educate people about mental health—for example, adult attachment disorder.

"My husband happens to suffer from it, and it's always my sister-in-law, Diana, who treats him. Why not have them demonstrate it for us?"

I deliberately stressed the words "husband" and "sister-in-law." The doctors who were close to me immediately caught on.

"I've never seen a case like that before. You're right. We should broaden our horizons."

"I'll record it for science!"

Elliot and Diana's expressions shifted between grim and angry.

Diana bit her lip. "Amber! That's a specialized treatment method between Elliot and me. It might not work for others. And besides… There are so many people watching!"

I smiled innocently. "It's just treatment, is it not? Why are you worried people are watching? Diana, I know you're shy, but it's fine. I've recorded your treatment process."

The on-call room was a shared space.

Thus, every room had surveillance cameras to prevent instances of theft. Whatever Elliot and Diana had done the night before had been captured on 4K.

I wasted no time playing the footage on the big screen.

Diana's breathy moans echoed through the conference room. Her clothes were barely hanging on her frame.

She was clinging to Elliot with flushed cheeks, while Elliot panted, "Diana… you're the only one who's willing to play along. You're nothing like Amber. She's so stiff and boring, fucking her is like fucking a block of wood."