Husband Back 3

Posted by adminh, ? Views, Released on March 8, 2025

Chapter 3

Mandy’s mind was racing. ‘How could someone look so identical to another person? Could it be that ‘Tobias’s not dead? Is this really him? No, wait… What’s his name again? Nelson? Not Tobias?‘

Nelson could feel Mandy’s intense gaze. He was used to women looking at him, but her bold, unapologetic stare was something new,

It annoyed him a bit, but he kept his tone polite. “Hey, I’m Nelson Lancaster. My dad invited you here to check on my health,” he said, trying to keep things casual.

Mandy’s thoughts snapped back to reality. She had never heard of Nelson, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t her late husband. Her late husband’s name was Tobias, not Nelson.

The realization hit her like a wave of relief. She’d been so startled when she first saw him–cold sweat had even trickled down her back. But now she knew he wasn’t the man she’d lost.

What Mandy didn’t know was that this Nelson was actually Tobias, her supposedly dead husband, who had been gone for three long years.

“Hi, Mr. Lancaster. I’m Mandy Jones, Professor Hansen’s student,” she said, pulling herself together and introducing herself with a calm smile as she took a seat.

Tobias glanced at Barry, who was lounging on the couch. “This is Barry Lopez, a friend of mine,” he explained.

Mandy nodded at Barry, offering a polite greeting.

Barry didn’t say anything, just gave her a long, skeptical look, as if he was trying to figure out if she was for real.

Mandy settled into the soft sofa, and Tobias leaned forward, his eyes meeting hers. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, his tone polite but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

“No, thanks,” Mandy replied with a warm smile. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to feel your pulse right away.”

“Go ahead,” Tobias said, extending his right hand.

Mandy’s fingers gently pressed against his wrist. She was focused, her touch light but precise, and for a moment, the room was filled with a quiet intensity.

Tobias stared ahead, trying to keep his mind blank, but her gentle touch and the faint scent of her perfume lingered in his senses. It was a familiar fragrance, one that tugged at the edges of his memory, though he couldn’t quite place it.

After a minute, Mandy’s fingers moved away, and she looked up at him. “May I check your leg?” she asked softly, her eyes gentle but probing.

Tobias nodded, and Mandy began to carefully examine his leg, pressing and flexing gently. She was impressed by the strength she felt beneath her fingers–his muscles were firm, clearly well–maintained despite the years.

“How long has this been going on?” she asked, her voice steady.

“Three years,” Tobias answered, his voice low and even.

Mandy’s brow furrowed slightly in surprise. She had assumed it was a more recent issue, but three years was a long time to keep his muscles in such good shape. It spoke volumes about his dedication to his recovery.

Tobias didn’t know her surprise. He looked at her, trying to ease her possible worries. “Dr. Jones, you don’t need to sugarcoat it. Just tell me what you think,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

1/4

13:23 Sat, 8 Mar

Chapter 3

Mandy took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. “Alright, I’ll be honest. You’ve already been told about your condition, right? The nerve damage in your spine–it’s serious. It’s called ‘partial paralysis, and it’s incredibly challenging to treat. But-”

Before she could finish, Barry cut her off, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You can’t fix it because you’re not qualified. That doesn’t mean someone else can’t find the cure.”

“Sir, let me finish,” Mandy said, trying to keep her frustration in check. But Barry wasn’t interested in listening.

Instead, he turned to Tobias, his expression mocking. “Nelson, your dad went through all the trouble of getting Beau to see you, and he sends this young doctor to give you some half–baked advice. It’s clear he doesn’t take your situation seriously.”

Mandy felt her anger rise, but she forced herself to stay calm. “First of all, I’m not just any young doctor. I’m a fully qualified emergency physician at Westbay Hospital. Here’s my badge. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to check it out.”

Barry glanced at her badge, his expression dismissive. “Even if you work there, what does that prove?”

Mandy’s eyes narrowed. “Are you implying I got the job through connections?”

“Only you know the truth,” Barry said with a shrug.

Mandy’s anger simmered, but she knew arguing with him was pointless. She turned to Tobias. “Mr. Lancaster, I wasn’t finished-”

Before she could say more, Tobias’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and said to Yaxley Zachary, his assistant, “Take Dr. Jones back.”

Tobias wheeled himself away quickly, looking like he had somewhere important to be.

Mandy wanted to stop him, but Barry stepped in front of her. He looked at her with a sneer. “Still here? Do you need me to call security to escort you out?”

Mandy laughed, though it was more out of frustration than amusement. If it weren’t for her mentor’s request, she wouldn’t be here at all. But since Barry was so eager to provoke her, she could “kindly” give him a piece of advice.

She sneered, “You look like you’re burning the candle at both ends–pushing yourself too hard and not taking care of yourself. It’s written all over you. Cut back on your crazy nights and the excessive activities, or you might not live to regret it.”

Barry stood there, stunned into silence. Mandy walked past him, her head held high, leaving him to ponder her words.

******

Barry slipped into the side room and found Tobias there, cigarette smoke swirling around him like a cloak of shadows. Tobias’s face was etched with tension, and Barry could tell something was gnawing at him.

“Still no luck with that widow?” Barry asked, stepping closer. He knew that phone call had shaken Tobias up.

Tobias just grunted, his eyes distant.

Three years ago, Tobias had been on a mission that went south in a heartbeat. He’d been ambushed, injured, and drugged, left to die in the middle of nowhere.

In his delirium, he’d stumbled upon a woman who’d saved him. He couldn’t remember much about her–her face was a blur, her voice a distant whisper. The only thing that stuck with him was her quiet words: “I’m a widow.”

After that, he’d nearly lost his life. It had taken three long years of recovery overseas to heal. When he finally returned home, he’d thrown everything he had into finding her.

2/4

73%

Chapter 3

He’d sent people to the remote area where it had all happened, but it was like chasing ghosts. The place was desolate, with barely any clues to follow. Three years had passed, and finding her seemed as impossible as finding a needle in a haystack.

Tobias took another drag on his cigarette, the frustration gnawing at him.

Tobias was halfway through his thoughts when his phone buzzed. His father, Richard, was on the line, and he sounded more annoyed than usual.

He said, “Can you believe Beau? He said he’d send his student, and I expected someone experienced. But instead, he sent some kid fresh out of college. It’s like he’s trying to prove a point–or make one about me.”

Richard paused for a beat and then softened his tone. “Look, Tobias, don’t let it get to you. I’ll find someone better. I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you back on your feet.”

Tobias sighed inwardly. He knew his dad meant well, but hope felt like a distant luxury. Still, he didn’t want to crush Richard’s enthusiasm. “Alright,” he said quietly, more to keep the peace than anything else.

“Listen,” Richard continued, his voice more earnest now, “you’ve still got that mission to finish, and we can’t let anyone know you’re still alive. But your wife–she’s been waiting for you for three years. You should at least see her secretly, don’t you think?”

Tobias’s face tightened. He’d only found out about the arranged marriage when he’d returned. Richard had gone ahead and staged this wedding without even asking him. The whole thing reeked of ulterior motives of the Jones family.

Tobias couldn’t bring himself to care about a woman he’d never really met, especially when his heart was already tangled with someone else.

“Tobias, are you even listening?” Richard’s voice pulled him back.

“Yeah, Dad,” Tobias replied, forcing a note of patience into his voice. “I heard you. Fine, I’ll go see her.”

Richard’s relief was clear. “Good. Three years ago, when she joined our family, I bought you guys a place in Serentara Villa. But she found it lonely and too far from work, so she moved into the company dorm. I’ll make sure she’s back there by 8 tonight.”

Tobias was quiet for a moment, the weight of the situation settling in.

Richard understood Tobias’s frustration–it was hard to accept that after being away for three years, he suddenly had a wife. But whether he liked it or not, it was done.

Richard had always believed that since Tobias was alive, he should honor his commitment to Mandy, who had waited for him so patiently. That was why he’d been pushing for them to meet.

But Tobias had been dodging it, using his mission as an excuse. Richard knew it was more about not wanting to meet her than anything else..

Now that Tobias had finally relented, Richard wasted no time in making arrangements, mostly to avoid any chance of Tobias backing out.

As soon as Mandy slipped out of the villa, Yaxley was right there, waiting to drive her away. And the moment she got into the car, her mind was already tangled with thoughts about Tobias’s condition.

Her thoughts were cut short by the sudden buzz of her phone. She glanced at the screen and saw “Richard” flashing. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought, ‘I rarely spoke to the Lambert family. What could be so important that Richard’s calling

me now?‘

“Hey, Richard,” she answered, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of nerves.

3/4

13:23 Sat, 8 Mar 09.

Chapter 3

“Penny,” Richard’s voice was firm but not unkind. “I need you back at Serentara Villa by 8 tonight.”

“Tonight?” Mandy’s surprise was clear. “Is everything okay? Why do I need to come back?”

73%

There was a pause on the other end. Richard seemed to be thinking about how much to say. “There’s something you need to know,” he finally said. “You’ll understand when you get here.”

Mandy’s mind was racing with questions, but she knew better than to push. She took a deep breath and replied, “Alright. I’ll

be there.”

The clock struck 7 PM when Mandy finally wrapped up her work. She hopped on the subway, got off near the villa, and then chose a bike for the last leg of her journey.

Ever since Richard’s call, she’d been racking her brain trying to figure out why he wanted her at Serentara Villa. She thought, ‘It has to be important, but why there? Has he found something? But his cheerful tone didn’t seem to hint at anything

serious.’

She couldn’t come up with any answers, so she figured she’d just have to wait and see.

As she turned right at the intersection closest to the villa, a car horn blared behind her. She instinctively moved to the side of the road and watched as a sleek, black luxury car sped past. It looked expensive–definitely the kind of car anyone’d want to avoid denting.

Tobias was buried in work and didn’t notice Mandy until Yaxley spoke up, “Hey, Tobias, isn’t that Dr. Jones?”

Tobias glanced out the window just in time to see the car pass a woman on a bicycle. Serentara Villa was up ahead. ‘Is she heading to the villa too?‘ he wondered.

The car pulled into the driveway of Serentara Villa and stopped in front of his house. The villa was dark and quiet. Tobias checked his watch–it was five minutes to eight.

He lit a cigarette and took a few slow drags, the smoke swirling around him, casting an enigmatic glow on his sharp, handsome features. When he finished the cigarette, he looked at his watch again. It was eight o’clock on the dot.

Just then, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps running straight toward him. He looked up and saw a woman sprinting toward him under the dim streetlights.