Luckily, Xander was behaving himself—at least for now.


    In the gastroenterologist''s office, the doctor examined Yvonne, asking her what symptoms she''d been having. She walked him through everything she''d


    experiencedtely.


    "Everything you eates back up? Even water?" the doctor pressed, looking increasingly concerned.


    Yvonne nodded. "Yes. Even water."


    The doctor''s face grew grave. "That''s pretty serious. You''ll need an upper endoscopy so we can see what''s happening inside your stomach.”


    Yvonne went rigid. “An endoscopy?" Her heart dropped into her shoes.


    No, anything but that...


    “Isn''t there some other way? Can''t we skip the endoscopy?" The very word triggered a whole-body shiver. In a split second, she was right back in middle school -lying in a hospital bed, dreading that awful procedure all over again.


    Anyone who''d ever had one would understand: it was more than enough to scar her for life. She wanted nothing to do with it.


    The doctor fixed her with a firm, clinical stare. "With symptoms like yours, we really need to check for any issues or changes in your stomach. It''s necessary."


    Yvonne felt her insides twist. Did she even have a choice? But how could she bear the thought of going through that horror again?


    She fell silent, lips drawn in a tight line. The doctor shifted his attention to Xander, waiting for backup.


    Xander nced from the paperwork to Yvonne''s strained face-then set his jaw. "Go ahead. Book the test."


    "What? Wait—” Yvonne protested, her sense of betrayal ring. Hadn''t he just promised to respect her wishes at the hospital? She''d knowning here was a trap!


    Xander looked helpless. “It''s not like that....... It''s just that your situation''s gotten really serious."


    Yvonne refused to look at him, turning her head away, her whole posture radiating frustration and wounded pride.


    He tried again, gently. "You can''t even keep down water, Yvonne. Please. Let''s just be careful about this, okay?"


    He knew all too well he''d messed up before. But now, her symptoms seemed to be getting worse by the day. This time, he wasn''t about to let it slide.


    Yvonne still wouldn''t speak. With a sigh, Xander shot the doctor a look, motioning for him to hurry and write up the paperwork.


    The doctor filled out the forms and handed them to Xander. "You can pay the fee just down the hall; the procedure is on the second floor."


    "Thank you, Doctor," Xander replied, taking the papers.


    Then he reached out and guided Yvonne by the hand. “Come on, let''s get this done."


    At the word "done," Yvonne''s legs turned to jelly. Xander practically had to escort her to the second-floor exam suite.


    "Wait here for a sec. I''ll have


    someone settle the payment," he


    said, pausing outside the exam


    room and pulling out his phone. The


    _hospital staff at


    his side hadn''t


    followed them the whole way, So


    Xander quickly made a call.


    Within a couple minutes, his assistant showed up, took the forms, and headed off to deal with the payment.


    But by the time Xander looked back-barely three minutester-the waiting room was empty. Yvonne had vanished.


    Xander stared, stunned.


    This girl...


    He sighed, rubbing his temples as a headache set in. He quickly dialed Yvonne''s number, relief flooding through him when she actually picked up.


    "No!" she dered, all righteous indignation and stubbornness.


    He could practically see her pout. "Come on, Yvonne. You need this test. What if it''s something serious? The sooner we know, the sooner we can get you treated and back to normal. Please, just trust me and go through with it, okay?"


    “I''ve already left!” she snapped.


    Xander''s mouth twitched in exasperation.


    Left? More like fled. Someone, please tell him how the fearless, nothing-scares-me


    Yvonne could bolt at the mere mention of an endoscopy?


    He drew in a deep breath. "Yvonne..."


    "I told you, I''m not doing it! That thing is torture—if you want it done so badly, you


    can go do it yourself!" she huffed.


    Xander was at a loss for words.


    Her outburst jogged his


    memory-she was hospitalized for a


    few days back in middle school for


    stomach problems. That must ve been when she had her first


    ver


    endoscopy. No wonder it lefther so traumatized.


    He softened his tone. "Things aren''t like they were back then. Now they can use anesthesia. You won''t feel a thing this time-I promise."


    "I still won''t do it! If you''re so keen, you go in there and get it done!" she shot back.


    "My stomach''s not the one with issues, Yvonne! Why are you—” He didn''t even get to finish before the line went dead.


    All he could do was stare at his phone, speechless.