“That’s great,” Steve chuckled softly. He had only opened his clinic in Slovenia three years ago, not to follow in Ranita’s footsteps, but because he felt she was too lonely here on her own. Having a friend around was a good thing.
“Ranita… there’s something I think I should tell you…” Steve looked hesitant and worried.
“What is it? Has something happened?” Ranita asked with concern.
Steve looked at her seriously. If before he had only seen Ranita as a friend, after several years of being together, he had developed feelings for her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason… I just want to look at you closely.” Steve suddenly changed the topic. “Are you happy to see Brendon again this time?”
In the past few years here, Ranita had been very busy and there were many outstanding men around her, but she didn’t pay much attention to them. But Brendon was different for her.
“Dr. Pearson, didn’t you say you had something to discuss? Why did you bring up Brendon?” Ranita paused and smiled. “You’re not trying to talk about Brendon, are you? Let’s not talk about it. I’m doing fine with Ayaan, and I don’t want to change our current life, so…”
“Ranita, you know you’re not very good at lying, right?”
“Where did you get that from? I’m so professionally skilled that I can come up with nonsense on the spot.” Ranita retorted, “Alright… It’s not about being happy or unhappy, but rather a bit scared. I’m afraid that after he finds out about Ayaan’s existence, he’ll try to take him away from me.”
“Ranita, I shouldn’t interfere with your love life, but perhaps… you should give yourself a chance…” Steve paused and chuckled softly at her. “Some things are worth fighting for.”
It took Ranita a moment to react, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Dr. Pearson, you…”
“You like him, I know.” Steve sighed. “You have Ayaan between you, maybe you should give it a try. Ayaan doesn’t say it, but he actually wants a father.”
“I can consider it…”
“No, you can’t! If you could consider finding someone else, you would have done so long ago. You’re stubborn.” Steve didn’t expect to say it so easily, and he suddenly felt relieved.
“Think about this matter carefully. Brendon and Shannon aren’t married yet, and if you wait too long, you might miss your chance!”
“Of course, if you insist on not looking back, I’ll be happy too!” Steve paused and joked, “Ayaan’s put me at the top of the new dad list!”
Ranita laughed at the banter.
“Dr. Pearson, are you still trying to convince me?”
“I’m a doctor, I’ve seen too many life and death separations.” Steve sighed rarely. “Life is short, I just don’t want you to have regrets in the future.”
Ranita didn’t know what to say.
Her relationship with Brendon wasn’t something that could be easily explained.
Brendon said he did it for her, said he liked her. Did she not feel anything in her heart? That was definitely impossible. Her heart had been in chaos ever since those words.
“Thank you, Dr. Pearson.”
The two sat in silence, sipping their coffee. Suddenly, Steve spoke again, “By the way, did I forget to mention earlier? I joined the medical aid project in South Africa.”
“Huh?”
Ranita was surprised. Two years ago, Yasmin had joined an international medical aid project, and it took months to contact her. Ranita was worried sick.
“Yasmin ran into some trouble over there, so I have to go help.” Steve smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll probably be back in one or two months.”