When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 25: Liam’s trauma

Liam’s POV.

Just as my eyes flickered open, I heard Dr. Lee’s stern voice.

"Finally, you’re awake."

I glanced around to take in my surroundings. It was a VIP room in a hospital. Then my gaze settled on his emotionless face, watching him as he nagged me like he always did.

"Liam, do you hate your life so much?" He began. "For how long do you want to continue enduring this pain? I told you, let’s go for a checkup, but your stubbornness won’t let you. Why are you so scared of going for a test?"

I looked over his shoulder at Micheal, who was staring at me with worry in his eyes. I sighed softly, sitting up to rest my back on the wall.

They attempted to help me, but I raised my hand to stop them.

Dr. Lee’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes narrowed slightly, awaiting my response. Micheal, however, took a step forward. Ignoring my order, he assisted me to sit up and pulled the covers to my chest.

"Boss, you should go for a test to know what’s wrong with you." Micheal took Lee’s side.

I met their gazes before turning away.

The headache had subsided, but I could still feel a lingering tingle in my brain. How could I tell them that I was scared of what I’d find out? The fear of losing control, of losing myself, was suffocating.

My mind wandered back to my parents. They were a happy couple, raising me with so much life and adoration until my mom fell sick and was diagnosed.

I remembered the day she received the diagnosis. Before that, she was vibrant, still full of hope and life. But after...she became a shell of herself. And the once happy atmosphere that accompanied my happy family plummeted.

The laughter ceased, the smiles faded, and an unsettling silence crept in. It was as if the diagnosis had sucked the life out of our home, leaving behind a hollow echo.

My dad, once strong and resilient, crumbled under the weight of her illness. His eyes lost their sparkle, and his heart became heavy with grief.

I was lost, too, struggling to make sense of the chaos that had engulfed our lives. The memories of our joyful times then seemed like a distant dream.

And when she passed away, the silence became deafening. My dad’s despair knew no bounds. Little by little, I watched him disintegrate piece by piece until he also followed, leaving me to be raised by my grandfather.

You could say I was traumatized. The thought of facing a similar fate was crippling. What if they found something incurable? What if I ended up like my mom?

I glanced at Lee, his expectant gaze was awaiting my response, and Micheal’s worried expression mirrored his concern.

How could I admit this fear to them? They would think me weak.

In my world, open weakness is not an option. You don’t know when someone stabs you in the back.

"I’m fine with the pain relief. Just give it to me." I said.

"No, boss!"

"That’s not happening, Liam," Dr. Lee said firmly. "You’ve been enduring this illness for so many years, and it grew worse two years ago."

"This is no longer a simple case of migraines, Liam," he continued, his expression serious. "What if it’s a brain tumor?"

I felt a chill run down my spine. A brain tumor? The possibility had lingered in the back of my mind, but hearing it aloud made it unbearable.

"There’s a high probability that it’s something more severe," Dr. Lee explained, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to run some tests, Liam. We can’t keep ignoring the severity of your symptoms."

Micheal’s grip on my shoulder tightened, offering silent support. I knew I had to face this head-on.

"What are my options?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Lee leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "I’ll speak to my neurosurgeon friend. I’m sure he knows what to do."

That was where the fear crept in again. I quickly shook my head; getting others involved in my situation was not ideal.

"No," my voice was firm, brooking no argument. But Lee wasn’t someone who wouldn’t argue if there was a need.

Lee understood my troubles and sighed. "I’m a gynecologist, Liam. My knowledge on brain study is not enough to diagnose or treat your condition."

He paused, studying me intently. "You need a specialist. Someone who can provide the expertise you require."

Micheal spoke up, his voice calm and reassuring. "Boss, trust Dr. Lee."

But I was hesitant. Losing control of my own health and relying on strangers...it terrified me.

What if my enemies paid them off to get rid of me? I could put my life in Lee’s hand, but certainly not a stranger’s.

"I shall have them sign a non-disclosure agreement. With that, none of them would dare do anything." Micheal persuaded me.

"If you’re not strong enough, how would you protect your wife?" That was the last straw.

Something inside me shifted. Jessica’s face flashed in my mind. Thinking of Kristen hugging her, my heart twisted with a mix of emotions.

"Fine," I relented. "Arrange the appointment."

Micheal’s expression transformed from concern to relief. "I’ll set it up immediately."

Dr. Lee nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "I’ll prepare the necessary documents and referrals."

As they began making arrangements, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. For Jessica, I would face my fears.

I shifted my gaze to the drawer and caught sight of my phone on the top. Grabbing it to see if I’d missed out on anything for the couple hours I’d been unconscious, I strolled through the business news, and suddenly, stumbled upon trending photos of Jessica and Kristen hugging and kissing.

My head spun as I scrolled through the images. The captions screamed betrayal: "CEO Kristen and his girlfriend’s steamy romance in the mall!"

I felt a fishy taste at the back of my throat, my stomach churning with nausea. As I tried to stand, my legs wobbled beneath me and I swayed.

Micheal rushed to my side, grasping my arm. "Boss!" his panicked voice rang in my ears.

But I shook him off, desperate for fresh air. My chest was tight and I felt suffocation building rapidly in my heart. I stumbled towards the window, flinging it open.

The cool breeze hit me like a slap in the face, but it didn’t clear the fog.

Jessica’s face, smiling at Kristen, haunted me. I gripped the windowsill, my knuckles white.

"How could she do this to me?" The questions swirled in my mind like a vortex. But I couldn’t bring myself to hate or get angry at her.

I clenched my fist as my eyes blazed with fury. It was Kristen. He manipulated her to do that. I was very certain of it.

Suddenly, I turned on my heels and walked towards the entrance. I could hear Lee and Micheal calling out to me, but I ignored them and stormed out of the VIP.

Not long after, Micheal ran after me with a bottle I was very familiar with. "Find out where Jessica is." I mumbled ordered as he opened the back door for me.

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