Husband Back 7

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

Chapter 7

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Westbay was a big city, but running into someone like this over dinner felt like more than just a coincidence. Mandy decided to play it cool. She pushed the door open and walked in with a smile. “Mr. Lancaster, small world, isn’t it?”

Barry had already heard about Richard’s call. As soon as he spotted Mandy, he hurried over with a sheepish smile. “Dr. Jones, I really need to apologize for yesterday. I was way out of line. How about I make it up to you with a drink—or three?”

Mandy shook her head, her tone gentle but firm. “Barry, I get it. You were stressed. There’s no need for this. Mr. Lancaster already apologized, and that was enough.”

“Still, I feel like I need to do something,” Barry insisted, his eyes sincere. He gently took her arm and guided her inside, leading her to a seat.

Before Mandy arrived, Barry and Tobias had been enjoying some bourbon, using small glasses that held a good two ounces each. Mandy expected he’d use the same glasses.

Instead, to her surprise, Barry grabbed three hefty wine glasses, uncorked a fresh bottle of bourbon, and poured it evenly among them.

Mandy’s eyes widened in alarm as she thought, ‘He’s going to drink a whole bottle?‘ She kept looking at Tobias, hoping he’d say something, but he just kept eating, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Barry raised the first glass, almost full of vodka, and said, “Here’s to making it right.”

Mandy couldn’t stay put. She jumped up and grabbed his arm. “Wait, stop. I don’t blame you. You were just worried about your friend. It’s completely understandable.”

“Dr. Jones, I appreciate that, but I need to show you I’m sincere,” Barry said, tipping his head back and swallowing the bourbon in one gulp, as if it were just water.

Mandy had seen her fair share of drunk patients in the ER. She was genuinely worried that Barry might push himself too far. She glanced at Tobias again, hoping he’d say something.

But Tobias just shrugged and said, “It’s just a bottle of bourbon. He’ll be fine.”

Mandy watched anxiously as Barry finished the bottle. To her surprise, he didn’t seem drunk at all–just a little flushed and light–headed.

He sat down next to her, his eyes a little glassy from the alcohol. “Dr. Jones, if you can help my friend get back on his feet, I’ll do anything for you. Anything,” he said, his voice earnest.

As soon as he finished speaking, Barry clapped a hand over his mouth and rushed to the bathroom. The sounds of retching echoed through the room. Mandy’s heart went out to him. She instinctively started toward the bathroom, wanting to make sure he was okay.

Mandy was about to slip away when Tobias’s hand closed around her wrist. “He’ll be fine,” he said, his voice steady. “Just drank too fast.”

Mandy’s eyes flicked to his, suspicion in her gaze. “Are you sure?” she asked, her tone skeptical.

Tobias nodded, his expression reassuring. “Yeah, I’m sure,” he said, his confidence clear.

Mandy paused, considering. They were friends, so he must know if Barry was okay. But she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling. “You guys need to be careful,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “This kind of drinking is going to catch up with you.”

Tobias just gave a lazy smile, like he was brushing off her concern.

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Chapter 7

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But Mandy wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “Don’t act like I’m not talking to you, she snapped. “Why all the drinks? You’re supposed to be taking it easy. Don’t you remember you’re still not back to a hundred percent?”

Tobias’s smile faded, and he just stared at her, his eyes intense and unreadable. It was the kind of look that made her feel like he was trying to figure her out. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, feeling a little uneasy. She ran a hand over her face, then checked her phone to make sure there was nothing on her face. But everything looked fine.

Tobias was always sharp, especially after his time in the special forces. He could tell in an instant that Mandy hadn’t heard the whole conversation between him and Barry–or maybe she hadn’t heard any of it.

And that was fine with him. The fewer people who knew about his wife’s betrayal, the better.

Just then, Barry stumbled out of the bathroom, his words slurring. “Hey, I think… your wife cheating and having a kid isn’t worth getting upset over. After all, you don’t even like her, right? Maybe this is a good chance to just… end things”

He grinned at Mandy. “Dr. Jones, what do you think?”

Mandy’s mind raced. She’d overheard Barry mention someone cheating and having a kid, but she hadn’t paid much attention. She had no idea it was Nelson’s wife. And not only had she cheated, but she’d had a child with someone else. This was huge.

Suddenly, Mandy understood why Nelson had been drinking alone. If her partner had done something like that, she’d definitely need a drink too.

As she thought this, she glanced at Tobias again. His face was cold and unyielding, like chiseled stone.

Taking a deep breath, Mandy pressed her phone to her ear, pretending to take a call. “I’ll be right there,” she said urgently. “Just a couple of minutes.”

She ended the call and turned to Tobias. “Mr. Lancaster, my friend’s waiting for me. You guys take your time. I need to go.” With that, she hurried out of the room, her heart pounding.

As Mandy slipped out of the private room, Fiona was just coming out of the restroom, looking puzzled. “Mandy, what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Mandy quickly shut the door behind her and grabbed Fiona’s arm, pulling her away.

Fiona stumbled along, bewildered. “Whoa, slow down. What’s the big rush?” she asked, trying to keep up.

Once they were safely out of earshot, Mandy let out a breath. “I can’t believe we ran into him here,” she muttered. “Of all places, Westbay is just too small sometimes.”

Fiona’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you talking about?” she asked, still confused.

Mandy glanced back nervously. “Nelson,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Fiona’s

eyes

lit up.

“You mean that guy

over there is Nelson? The one everyone’s been talking about?”

Mandy nodded.

Fiona rubbed her hands together excitedly. “He’s got the looks and the charm. I might just have to make a move.”

Mandy shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “No chance, Fiona. He’s taken.”

Fiona’s excitement faded. “He has a girlfriend?”

“Not exactly. He has a wife,” Mandy said softly.

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Fiona’s shoulders slumped, and she sighed dramatically. “See, it’s not that I want to be single. It’s just that fate isn’t giving me a chance at love,” she said, her tone tinged with frustration.

“Actually, there might still be a chance,” Mandy chuckled and said, her voice trailing off thoughtfully.

Fiona’s eyes widened in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Mandy shook her head. “It’s complicated. You’ll know,” she said, her professional instincts kicking in. She didn’t elaborate further.

Fiona didn’t press the issue. Instead, she touched her chin thoughtfully.

Mandy asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Fiona put an arm around Mandy and looked at her with a sly grin. “Hey, that guy has been paralyzed for three years. Do you think he can still… you know, perform?”

Mandy’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Fiona! That’s inappropriate,” she scolded, though she couldn’t hide her amusement. “And I don’t know. I’m his doctor, not his wife.”