Two weeks of his journey in Turkey had already passed. dwin had returned to America and was getting ready to resume his routine while via entrusted her to her uncle, aunt, and grandparents. via would only return to America after her obstetrician dered that her pregnancy was strong enough for long-distance travel.


    During the dozen hours of travel she had spent, she thought about the right way to handle Phoebe. It was impossible for her to change her attitude drastically. Phoebe wasn’t a foolish woman; of course, she would suspect even though dwin had reasons to be kinder to her.


    If only she could admit she was lonely because she missed via, then dwin made sure the woman woulde and be willing to kneel before her. But that idea wasn’t something dwin wanted to actualize.


    dwin returned to work, wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt that he had rolled up to half his sleeves and neatly pressed ck trousers. His hair, as usual, looked tidy with a touch of pomade. A smile remained on his face as he made his way from the parking area to his office. Jonas, the nurse who also served as his assistant, was already standing in his office with a clipboard and had turned on hisputer.


    “Your vacation seems enjoyable, Doc,” the man greeted as dwin put on hisb coat.


    dwin nodded. He wouldn’t mention that he had just spent a honeymoon-like vacation and received the gift of his wife’s pregnancy. Although Jonas was one of his confidants, they were in a public area now. dwin was still afraid someone might overhear.


    “How has the hospital been for these two weeks?” he asked casually.


    Jonas snorted. “Many patients have been asking for you. They don’t like having their doctors reced,” heined honestly. dwin just chuckled. “And, her,” Jonas added, nodding towards an object, “she seems to be really missing you, Doc,” he said mockingly, but dwin didn’t care at all.


    “Joe,” dwin looked up and gazed at his assistant. Jonas returned his gaze, though his face remained expressionless. “Do you know anyone who works in the police? Or if not, someone who works as a private detective?” dwin’s question made Jonas furrow his brow.


    “Why? Is there a problem?” he inquired.


    “Do you have it or not?” dwin didn’t want to borate.


    “Well, there’s this guy. He used to be my senior at the orphanage. He’s smart and physically strong. He’s an army veteran, used to be a presidential guard too. But due to an injury, he decided to retire early. I heard recently he was recruited by a private investigator’s office. But I don’t know if he can do what you’re asking for or not,” Jonas replied honestly. dwin just nodded in response.


    “Give me his contact. I’ll try to talk to him,” said dwin, met with a nod from Jonas. After that, they resumed their work until noon arrived.


    “Where have you been? You disappeared for two weeks without giving me any updates!” A loud voice came from a beautiful woman who was now ring angrily at dwin.


    dwin stared back at her with a nk expression. He still couldn’t bring himself to switch to friendly mode.


    “Should I inform you of all my schedules? What’s in it for me?” he asked tly.


    Jonas, feeling like he didn’t want to be involved in a marital drama, finally chose to leave the room.


    “Like it or not, whether you ept it or not, I am your wife, dwin. At the very least, I deserve to know where you’ve been for the past two weeks. I was embarrassed when a hospital asked me where you had gone while I had no idea at all. You just disappeared, and even your mother didn’t know where you went,” the woman replied in a high-pitched tone. Her emotions seemed uncontroble.


    “Don’t be proud just because you’re my wife, because I can embarrass you by saying that you’re just a nuisance of a woman,” dwin pointed his finger at Phoebe’s chest. “Your current position is nothing but a mistress whose presence I never wanted and never cared about,” dwin replied with a tight jaw. “So stop pretending like you’re a wife I desire, because that will never happen.


    “And stop acting like you’re hurt by me, because clearly, the pain is felt more by me and my wife. My legal wife.


    “Stop pretending to care and stop begging my mother as if I’m the one causing you suffering. When in fact, all the agony you im to feel is a result of your own actions,” dwin said. He took off hisb coat and walked out of the room.


    “dwin! I’m not done talking!” the woman shouted as dwin left her behind.


    dwin acted just as if he didn’t know via’s whereabouts. He didn’t want to arouse suspicion even though he wanted to announce to the world about the happiness he now shared with via.


    dwin spent his time busying himself at the hospital, the workshop, and the office. His routine was always the same. Acting in public as if he still missed the woman he loved, but in between, he spent his time contacting his wife through video calls.


    “How’s our baby doing today? Is she giving you trouble?” He was in his workshop’s break room, looking at the screen, seeing his wife who always looked beautiful to him.


    “We’re doing just fine, Daddy,” via answered in a childish manner. “The baby isn’t causing me any trouble at all,” she replied from the other side.


    “Darling, is it just me or are you indeed carrying a baby girl?”


    via frowned. “Why, is there something strange about me?”


    dwin shook his head. “No, there isn’t. But in my eyes, you look radiant. Very beautiful and… captivating.” dwin’s response clearly made his wife blush.


    “You’re such a smooth talker,” via replied shyly.


    “I’m telling the truth, Darling. Not just sweet talk. In my eyes, you look so radiant right now. Or is it because you’re far away from me that makes me feel so longing?”


    via chuckled. “Stop sweet-talking me, you’re making me embarrassed,” she said, covering part of her face with her free left hand.


    “I’m not sweet-talking you, on the contrary, right now I feel miserable and feel like a beggar.”


    “What do you mean by a beggar?”


    “A beggar for your love and affection,” he replied, chuckling, making via cover her face again out of embarrassment.


    “Oh, God,” via whined.


    “Yes, Darling. I know what you want to say. You want to say that you miss me too, right? I know, I feel the same way as you.”


    “For God’s sake, Doctor dwin!”


    “Yes, Darling. I know that you love me very, very, very much. You don’t need to express it, I know your feelings.” Once again, dwin made his wife blush. It always happened like this every time theymunicated.


    dwin felt reluctant to discuss anything else, even though it was important. For him, taking the time to indulge his wife’s feelings like this was far more valuable than discussing other people.


    “Don’t buy anything for the baby there yet, okay? Anyway, I don’t want to know, I want to go shopping for our baby’s needs together.” Hismand was met with a nod from his wife. After spending a considerable amount of time chatting, dwin decided to end the video call.


    ***All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    A knock diverted dwin’s attention. On the fifth day since his conversation with Jonas, now his assistant stood in front of his workshop door with a tall, medium-built man with long, wavy hair almost touching his shoulders.


    “This is the friend we talked about earlier, Doc,” Jonas informed him.


    dwin continued to scrutinize the man before politely inviting him in. They introduced themselves, and without much ado, dwin discussed his needs. The man, named Hendrick, simply nodded without saying much.


    “This is the data I have. I need your assistance with the rest,” dwin concluded the conversation.


    The man epted a piece of paper and a photo, ncing at them briefly before tucking them into the pocket of his leather jacket. After discussing the payment, the man bid farewell and left. Meanwhile, Jonas remained there, looking at dwin with a puzzled expression.


    “You seem odd, Doc. Did your sudden departure some time ago affect your mental state?” asked the man who was twelve years younger.


    “Are you mocking me?” dwin raised an eyebrow. Jonas shrugged.


    “You look different. When you hadn’t left yet, you almost seemed like a living mannequin. Only answering questions when asked. Although yes, it could be said that you still behaved professionally and friendly to those around you. But clearly, you weren’t yourself.


    “And now? You actually seem weirder than before. If I were a stranger, I might just think you’re a friendly guy. But considering I’ve been working with you for several months now. Honestly, I thought you were heading towards madness.” dwin looked at Jonas with one raised eyebrow but then smiled to himself. The young man turned out to be very perceptive.


    ***


    Sitting in his apartment with aptop on the table, dwin gazed at his wife’s sleepy face. They had been on a video call for quite some time, but dwin felt reluctant to turn off the video. Even though he knew it wasn’t good for their baby, but missing someone was indeed very difficult to ovee.


    Reluctantly, dwin shut down hisptop after repeatedly uttering words of longing, love, and how much he wished to be with his beloved. Yet dwin reassured himself to be patient. Gian and Joanna promised that they would personally apany via back to America once her obstetrician gave the green light.


    With a heavy heart, dwin made his way to his bedroom, patting the bed before lying down on it. “Darling, I hope this all ends soon. May our trialse to an end, and let’s conclude everything beautifully,” he silently monologued before closing his eyes and drifting into a blissful dream.