Love Under Scalpel: My Ex, My Doctor

Camila didn't notice how badly her hands were trembling until she left the hospital, climbed into her car, and tried to start it.

She had dug her nails so hard into her palms that several crescent marks broke the skin. For seven years, she had done everything she could to bury Andreas and forget the three years they had shared.

She once believed that leaving those memories alone would eventually make the pain disappear.

Seeing him again today proved how wrong she had been. One unexpected encounter had brought everything rushing back and reminded her that she had never truly moved on.

Camila gave a bitter smile.

She could still taste blood from where she had bitten her lip while trying to keep herself together.

It didn't matter whether she still had feelings for him. Things between them had ended badly years ago, and there was nothing left for either of them to go back to.

Her phone suddenly rang inside her bag. The familiar ringtone snapped her out of her thoughts, and she quickly answered the call.

Zoey Lawson spoke from the other end in a soft voice that carried a little hesitation. "Camila, are you coming home soon? I miss you. Can you bring me some cake when you come back?"

Camila's chest tightened at once.

She knew her mother had probably put Zoey up to calling her.

She owed both Andreas and Zoey.

Shortly after her breakup with Andreas, she had learned that she was pregnant. At first, she intended to end the pregnancy, but her doctor explained that she had an unusual condition. If she went through with the procedure, there was a chance she would never be able to have another child.

She eventually gave up her freedom so she could keep the baby. However, her parents took the child from her almost immediately after she was born.

Her mother saw her premarital childbirth as a disgrace and had Zoey legally registered as her own child with her father. Because of that, Zoey had grown up believing she was her older sister.

Camila felt her eyes sting, but she kept her voice soft. "Of course. I know a place that makes really good cakes. I'll bring one home, and I'll be there in about half an hour."

Once the call ended, Camila pushed the memories aside as best she could and headed for the bakery.

"No chocolate or hazelnuts. Please use real dairy cream, and make sure there aren't any strawberries." She gave the order without having to think about it.

The older baker behind the counter looked up at her. "That's funny. A few years ago, a chubby girl used to come in here and order her cakes exactly like that. She told me her boyfriend was allergic to all those things."

Camila's fingers slowly curled against her palm. Whatever trace of a smile she had left became strained.

She had been that chubby girl.

Later, when she had Zoey tested for allergies, the results turned out to be exactly the same as the list of things Andreas couldn't eat back then.

It didn't take long for the bakery to finish her order, and she left with a box containing four slices of cake.

Camila carried the box to her car, cleared her head as much as she could, and drove home.

The moment Camila walked through the door, Zoey hurried over with a bright smile. However, her excitement quickly gave way to hesitation as she stopped and held onto the hem of her dress.

The little girl was much too thin for someone her age. She had Andreas's nose and mouth. Only her eyes clearly came from her.

Lost in her thought, Camila didn't move. Then she crouched down, pulled Zoey into a hug, and gave her the cake. Before she had the chance to say anything, her mother's cold voice came from the living room.

"You give her everything she asks for. What, does she think she's actually a Lawson now?" Donna Lawson sneered.

Zoey immediately shrank back, and her small body began to tremble.

Anger rose inside Camila, but she kept herself under control. "Mom, everything Zoey eats and uses comes out of my pocket. What I choose to buy for her is none of your business."

Donna looked her up and down, her face twisting with disgust. "If you think you're so capable, then quit asking Mia for help. Just because you helped the family expand overseas doesn't mean we can't do without you. Get the surgery done and marry Jase instead of Mia. If you don't, you'll be sorry."

Camila lowered her gaze, Maybe this was what she deserved after the way she had hurt Andreas. Perhaps a peaceful life had never been in the cards for her.

Soon after Zoey was born, doctors found that she had a rare blood disorder. Until they could find a suitable bone marrow donor, she needed expensive treatment just to stay alive. Then six months ago, they learned that Mia Lawson, her adopted sister, was a perfect bone marrow match for Zoey.

She couldn't see any way out of the situation. She was forced to agree to marry Jase Reid in Mia's place. Since he was obsessed with marrying a virgin, she had to undergo hymen surgery.

Zoey seemed used to the tension by now. She quietly pulled back and stood there without moving.

Seeing her like that hurt Camila deeply. She swallowed her anger because she didn't want to argue in front of the child. Then she gave the little girl a reassuring smile and gently stroked her hair. "It's okay, Zoey. Take your cake to your room and eat it there, all right?"

Zoey nodded, took the cake box, and quickly headed to her room.

As soon as her daughter was gone, Camila stopped holding back. She walked straight toward Donna with anger written across her face.