THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 238: Unrequited Feelings Can Be Painful

"I have always taken you as a son and to some extent I can say that I understand you, even though young chaps like you think we, the older ones, don’t know anything; we have also passed through this stage once in our lives."

Steffan, who was sitting in Dr Sullivan’s office lifted his head and could see the concern in the older doctor’s eyes as he spoke with him.

He was yet to know the reason he was summoned into Dr Sullivan’s office the moment he resumed that morning. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Hearing what Dr Sullivan said, his eyes narrowed in confusion. "I do appreciate the way you have always watched out for me sir, but I sincerely don’t understand where you are going with this," Steffan said.

Dr Sullivan moved forward in his seat, adjusted his glasses and said, "You see, you are an outstanding doctor, one of the very best we have around here and over the few years you’ve been back, you have never given me any reason to doubt your ability or your commitment to your calling."

Hearing such a profound introduction Steffan knew something big was coming, so he listened patiently, waiting for Dr Sullivan to land.

"I have observed you closely these few days and I know I am not wrong to believe that something is not just right around you."

"What do you mean, Chief? I’ve been turning up for my duty as usual and have never missed any shift.

"That’s what I’m talking about, you only turned up but left the caring, meticulous but lively chap we all know you to be at home. What is going on?"

"I’m fine Chief." Steffan forced a smile on and tried to look cheerful.

"You know you can’t lie to me. The best you could do is tell me to mind my business, not that you’re fine," Dr Sullivan scoffed.

"It’s not like that, Chief," started Steffan.

"What is it like, then? I was only showing my concern but if you feel I don’t deserve to advise or assist you in anything you are experiencing, then so be it."

Steffan’s heart ached when he heard the passionate way the chief spoke, but he couldn’t say anything as much as he wished to.

This was way too personal to share with anyone. How can he tell others that he fell in love with his best friend’s wife and that his friend found out, which led to them falling out and several years of friendship ended in the blink of an eye.

"It’s somehow complicated," Steffan managed to say in the end.

Dr Sullivan nodded understandingly. "Matters of the heart, I presume?"

"I don’t want you to be under any burden to talk if you don’t wish to, but just know that keeping it bottled up won’t make it easier. Sometimes, talking to someone you trust can provide a clearer perspective."

Dr Sullivan’s gaze becumore piercing as he studied Steffan. "My little advice is that you shouldn’t torment yourself too hard for her. If she is yours she will come to you willingly but if not, you will never have her heart, no matter what you do."

Steffan’s head that was bent low in thought, snapped up and he stared at Dr Sulivan in shock.

"How did you know it was related to a woman?"

Dr Sullivan chuckled. "Like I said before, I have been there before. There is nothing that you are going through that we did not experience growing up."

"Moreover, the signs are all there. Loss of focus and interest in any other thing, emotional distress, low self esteem and social withdrawal. Are those not the way you feel right now?" Dr Sullivan asked with a knowing smile.

Now that the older doctor spelt it out so clearly, that’s exactly how he felt. Can he really help me? Can my secret be safe with him?

Steffan let out a weary sigh.

"I’ve... I’ve developed feelings for someone I shouldn’t and it’s all very complicated."

Dr Sullivan had a sympathetic look as he listened to Steffan. "Love has a knack for being complicated. But it’s what you do with those feelings that matters. What’s troubling you the most?"

Dr Steffan exhaled heavily. "It— it’s my best friend’s wife. I never meant for it to happen, but... I’ve fallen for her and he somehow found out about it."

Dr Sullivan furrowed his brows thoughtfully.

If he remembers correctly, his best friend was President Shawn Hudson and his wife was his goddess, Dr Janice.

This is beyond "complicated;" he was however surprised that Steffan was still here talking to him in one piece after President Hudson found out.

Then he recalled two weeks ago that he saw Dr Steffan with some dark patches on some parts of his face. Was that as a result of a fight that happened between them?

Well, I’ll be damned if President Hudson took this lying down. His love towards his wife was an obsession.

Somehow, he had a feeling that the reason Steffan was still walking freely on the soil of Baltimore was because of their agelong friendship. If it were to be someone else he couldn’t guarantee if they would still be alive. He was sure of that, even more than his next breath.

"That’s a tough situation, Steffan," he eventually said to the pitiful young doctor.

"Unrequited feelings can be painful. But remember, your feelings don’t define you. It’s what you do with them that matters."

Steffan was a good, kind hearted and outstanding man that deserved the best in love. He deserved someone who would love him unconditionally and wholeheartedly.

His goddess, he was sure, would never love Steffan the way he deserves.

Even if she had always denied and acted like she hated President Hudson and claimed that there was nothing between them, he could tell that she was very much into him the few times he had seen them together.

"Have you spoken to anyone about this?

"Yes— my best friend, but then, I didn’t know that the lady in question was his wife."