The Surgeon's Quiet Exit from Betrayal

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My mission to the disaster zone was canceled at the last minute.

I arrived home early, expecting a quiet night.

Instead, I was greeted by the suffocating scent of expensive men's cologne.

From the bedroom, I could hear the unmistakable sounds of my wife's heavy breathing.

I glanced at the shoe rack near the door.

A pair of high-end, custom-made leather shoes sat there.

They belonged to Silas Vance, Seraphina's one and only.

I had watched them go to hotels together countless times.

But this was the first time she had brought him into our home.

Finally, even this last sanctuary was tainted.

In the past, I would have stormed in and demanded an explanation.

But this time, I was just drained.

I quietly gathered the clothes scattered across the floor.

Then, I sat on the sofa and waited in the silence.

It was time to end this pathetic excuse for a marriage.

With a final grunt from the man, the sounds of lust in the bedroom finally died down.

My aching heart felt a momentary sense of relief.

A few moments later, Seraphina's light laughter echoed through the hallway.

"Stop it, Silas. I'm hungry. I need to eat something first."

"Why don't I just keep filling you up instead?"

"You're terrible."

They stepped out of the room, laughing and teasing each other.

Silas was wearing nothing but a pair of briefs, flaunting his muscular chest.

Seraphina had only a sheer robe thrown over her shoulders.

She clung to Silas's waist, occasionally biting his shoulder playfully.

I sat motionless on the sofa, watching them.

The marks on their skin and the scent lingering from the bedroom made me feel sick.

I felt a wave of nausea hit my stomach.

Silas gave her a deep, lingering kiss.

"You're a greedy little thing. I guess I have to feed you every day or you'll starve."

Seraphina leaned into his chest, playfully hitting his muscles.

"You're the one who can't stay away. Gabriel just left, and you couldn't wait to run over here."

Silas smirked and tapped the tip of her nose.

"The feeling is mutual."

They walked toward the dining table.

Seraphina noticed the takeout I had brought home, and her head snapped toward the sofa.

Her eyes widened in shock.

She quickly grabbed a nearby throw blanket to cover herself.

Silas, however, showed no shame.

He kept his arm around her, looking at me with a look of pure provocation.

Seraphina pushed him away, whispering in his ear.

"Go back inside and get dressed, babe."

Silas looked annoyed, but she firmly ushered him back into the bedroom.

"Listen to me. I'll handle him. Don't worry."

She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, her eyes full of tenderness.

Silas finally retreated and shut the door.

When Seraphina turned back to me, the flush on her face was gone.

Her expression was cold and distant.

She sat down and opened the food I had bought, eating as if nothing had happened.

"I thought you were heading to the disaster zone tonight. Why are you back?"

I replied flatly, "The hospital had enough staff. They told me to stay back."

"I see. Want some?"

Watching her calm demeanor, I felt the last of my warmth vanish.

The fact that she could act so casual with another man in our house was staggering.

I couldn't help myself. "Was the outside world not enough? You had to bring him here?"

She finally stopped eating and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Are you done?"

I nodded.

"You're the one who insisted on going to the front lines and leaving me alone. That's why I called Silas. If you were home, I wouldn't have let him in."

I shook my head at her logic.

I had hesitated about going, but she was the one who had mocked me.

"Are you even a man?" she had asked. "Your country needs you, and you want to stay home for a woman? No wonder you've been a basic surgeon for years. You have no ambition."

And now, everything was my fault.

In her eyes, even my breathing was probably a mistake.

Since I didn't respond, she continued, "Stop making a scene. I'll have the room professionally cleaned. It won't happen again."

I didn't say a word.

I grabbed my suitcase and walked into the guest room.

The next day, I took a leave of absence from the hospital.

I spent the morning with a lawyer, drafting divorce papers.

Afterward, I met my best friend, Wade Reed, for a drink.

"Gabriel, are you really just going to give up like this?"

I downed my tea, the bitterness coating my tongue.

It matched my mood perfectly.

I had fought before. I had tried to save us.

But in the end, all my effort was for nothing.

When Seraphina returned to lead the Sterling Group after her recovery, I noticed her connection with Silas.

They were always together at clubs and events.

Even at her press conferences, Silas was the one by her side.

The tabloids called them the perfect match.

At first, Seraphina explained that Silas was the heir to the Vance fortune.

She claimed she needed his influence to secure her position as CEO.

That lie lasted until I saw them kissing passionately as they entered a hotel room.

I realized then that I was being played for a fool.

I waited for her outside that hotel, and we had a massive fight.

She just looked at me with disgust.

"If you were good enough for me, would I be with other men? Maybe you should look at yourself."

I took her words to heart.

I tried even harder, acting like a devoted servant.

I used all my savings to buy her gifts, just to see her smile.

But their affair didn't stop.

The more I argued, the more she grew tired of me.

"I let you live in a luxury penthouse. I gave you the best life money can buy. You can't have everything, Gabriel."

"Silas is my first love. He makes me feel young and happy again. Just enjoy the lifestyle I provide."

"I won't leave you for him, so stop overthinking it."

I had broken down in tears, my chest tight with pain.

"Seraphina, do you really think I've done all this for money? Don't I deserve even a little bit of your love?"

I spiraled into a deep depression and took a long leave from work.

I started drinking every day.

Seraphina didn't care. We only fought when she was home, so eventually, she stopped coming back.

For a month, I locked myself away.

The endless bottles of scotch eventually led to a severe stomach hemorrhage.

Wade was the one who found me.

He had called, and when I sounded wrong, he rushed over.

He found me curled on the floor, coughing up blood.

The long-term alcohol abuse had damaged my nerves.

My hands started to shake.

I realized I might never be able to hold a scalpel again.

The promotion I was supposed to get vanished.

I was stuck as a general surgeon, my career ruined.

I became a shell of a man, refusing to talk to anyone.

I hated going home because every corner of that house reminded me of the happiness we once had.

Wade forced me to see a psychiatrist.

I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression.

The tremors in my hands were a physical symptom of my mental breakdown.

Wade was heartbroken for me.

"You can't keep living like this," he said. "Either talk to Seraphina one last time or sign up for the disaster relief mission."

"Maybe seeing real tragedy will show you that this heartbreak is nothing compared to life and death."

I was torn between trying again or escaping to the disaster zone.

But after Seraphina's harsh words, I chose to leave.

Destiny, however, had other plans, and my departure was delayed.

I came home that evening to find her sitting on the sofa.

She looked a bit tipsy and was rubbing her stomach, frowning in pain.

I ignored her and headed toward the guest room.

"Gabriel," she called out. "My stomach hurts. Can you massage it for me?"

I replied coldly, "Take some medicine if you're sick."

Her tone softened immediately.

"Babe, you know medicine doesn't work for my stomach. You used to always make it feel better."

"It really hurts. Please, honey."

Hearing her call me "honey" in that soft voice made my heart waver.

She worked hard in the business world, which meant a lot of drinking.

Her chronic stomach issues always flared up after a night out.

In the past, I would have pulled her into my arms.

I would have rubbed my hands together until they were warm and massaged her gently.

I would stay like that until she fell asleep.

But this time, I didn't warm my hands.

I thought about how I had nursed her back to health, only for her to jump into Silas's bed.

The thought was like a needle to my heart.

I placed my ice-cold hands directly onto her skin.

I wanted her to feel how cold my heart had become.

She jumped and cried out. "Why are your hands so cold?"

I looked at her blankly. "Do you want the massage or not? If not, I'm going to bed."

She sat up and looked at me intensely.

"Gabriel, you weren't like this before."

I let out a bitter laugh. "People change, don't they? Like you. You used to love me passionately."

My words seemed to trigger a memory.

Her expression softened, and she reached out to take my hand.

"It's not that I don't love you. You've always had a place in my heart. But Silas is different. He's an obsession I can't let go of."

"Just wait for me. One day, I'll move past it. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

I shook my head in disappointment and went to my room.

"One day" felt like a lifetime away.

The next day was our wedding anniversary.

Usually, I was the one planning everythingDthe gifts, the dinner, the surprises.

This year, I felt nothing.

When I finished work, I walked out of the hospital feeling numb.

Suddenly, a luxury sports car pulled up in front of me.

Seraphina stepped out, looking radiant with a sweet smile on her face.

"Happy anniversary. I made a reservation at a great restaurant. I'm here to pick you up."

I stared at her, confused.

I didn't understand why she was trying so hard to please me now.

It would have been easier for her if I just left.

Then she could be with Silas openly.

For a split second, I wondered if I was wrong.

Maybe she did still love me.

Maybe she had just lost her way and was trying to save our marriage.

I had planned to give her the divorce papers tonight, but my heart softened once again.

I got into the car and we went to the restaurant.

She led me into a private, high-end dining room.

The table was covered in gourmet dishes and expensive wine.

Just as we sat down, the door swung open.

It was Silas, followed by a group of his wealthy friends.

"Oh! Look who's having a romantic date. Hope we're not interrupting. We were just coming here for dinner and saw you."

Seraphina laughed and pulled out the chair next to her.

"Since you're here, why don't you join us?"

My face darkened instantly.

Silas looked at me and pouted like a spoiled child.

"Baby, look at your husband's face. I think he hates me. I'm so sorry. Maybe I should just leave."

He didn't move an inch.

Instead, he leaned his head on Seraphina's shoulder.

Seraphina's voice turned incredibly gentle as she consoled him.

"No, it's not your fault. You don't need to apologize."

I felt a phantom pain.

I remembered when I had apologized for not being able to heal a scar on her foot quickly enough.

She had held me just like that, patting my back and telling me it wasn't my fault.

Back then, a single piece of chocolate could make her smile all day.

That woman was gone forever.

I couldn't stand to watch them anymore.

"He doesn't need to leave," I said coldly. "I'm the one leaving."

I stood up to go, but Silas spoke up behind me.

"Why leave as soon as I get here? Am I really that annoying? Or did I do something to offend you?"

I clenched my fists, trying to ignore him.

Then he added, "Or maybe you just don't like the style of the horns I've given you?"

That was it.

I turned around and landed a punch square on his face.

His lip split instantly, drawing blood.

Before I could react, Seraphina slapped me across the face.

She rushed to Silas's side, holding him as he fell to the floor.

She glared at me with pure hatred and ice in her eyes.

"That's enough! I won't let anyone hurt Silas. Apologize now!"

"For what?"

"For being a violent jerk! Apologize to him!"

I let out a dry, hysterical laugh.

"I'm the one being a jerk? Am I supposed to just sit here while another man brags about cuckolding me?"

"Because I love you, I'm supposed to just take this?"

"Seraphina, do you even have a soul? Do you have a heart?"

She left Silas's side and stomped over to me, slapping me again.

My cheek stung with heat.

"Gabriel, you've lost your mind! Why can't you just be happy with the life we have? Why do you have to make everything so ugly?"

"We had a deal. I'm not leaving you, but you don't get to control my life!"

Tears blurred my vision. I was done with her.

I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and shoved them at her.

"Let's get a divorce. That way, nobody will ever interfere with who you sleep with again."