The Devil Who Claimed Me

Mila had just finished her last consultation of the afternoon when a nurse entered and informed, "Dr. Vega. You have a scheduled surgery at six in the evening."

"Oh, yes," Mila remembered. But she still thanked her. "Thank you, Julie, for reminding me."

She checked the time. She still had two hours. "I’ll rest for a while. Don’t let anyone in, please."

"Sure." Julie left, closing the door softly.

Mila leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, intending to take a nap.

Her phone vibrated. She opened her eyes and glanced at the screen. The moment she saw the caller ID, her expression tightened.

"Ethan?" She straightened herself. "What does he want now? Wasn’t last night enough?"

Irritated, she wanted to scold him and tell him never to contact her again.

The moment she answered the call, she heard him say, "We need to meet. In person."

"There is no need," she replied sternly. "We have nothing to talk about. Don’t call me again."

She was about to hang up when his voice sharpened.

"Wait. I won’t ask you to meet after this."

Mila frowned, pressing the phone back to her ear again.

"I have something that belongs to you," his tone softened. "I want to return it. Please...Let’s meet."

Mila raced her mind. She couldn’t remember what she had left at his place. "What is it?"

"You will see when you come."

She didn’t like the answer. She wanted to reject him. Instead, she agreed.

"Okay, fine." But she had a condition. "I won’t go anywhere you choose. If you want to meet, come to the café next to the City General."

After a brief pause, his reply came. "Alright. I’ll be there shortly."

The call ended.

For a moment, Mila lingered there, wondering if it was his trap to make her transfer the shares. Part of her cautioned her not to go. But she was curious as to what he was going to do.

"I need to see him."

She would end it properly.

Several minutes later...

They met at the café.

Mila didn’t sit immediately. She extended her hand toward him. "Give it to me." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ethan glanced at her hand, then up at her face. "You are in such a hurry to leave me."

"Give my thing, and I’ll leave."

Ethan wasn’t ready to leave yet. He leaned back in his chair. "Sit down first, and have some coffee. Let’s chat as we used to."

Mila chuckled humorlessly. "Nothing is like before. There is no ’us’ anymore. I don’t want to talk to you. Just give me my thing."

Ethan grew restless, facing her indifference. He was accustomed to the version of Mila, who was easy-going, obedient, and patient. But the woman in front of him was defiant, unyielding, and determined to say no to everything he said.

His patience was snapping. But he forced himself to stay calm. Instead of answering her, he raised his hand and called a waiter.

"Two coffees."

The drinks arrived in no time.

Mila exhaled in frustration. She, however, had no choice but to sit down across from him.

’Fine,’ she muttered to herself. ’Let him talk.’

She silently sipped the coffee.

Ethan watched her for a while before asking, "Why did you suddenly break up with me? I was waiting for the day we’d get married. I was preparing for our wedding."

She glanced at him over the rim of the cup, unimpressed.

"Do you not love me anymore?" he continued asking. "How can you forget so many years of love?" His voice tightened the next moment. "Was it because of the man at your house? How could you throw away everything we had for a stranger?"

The audacity almost made her laugh. She slammed the cup down, coffee spilling over the edge. "You don’t get to ask me that," she said tightly. "Do you really think you deserve an explanation?"

Ethan also grew annoyed. "As your boyfriend for five years, I have every right to know," he stated sternly. "Did I make a mistake? Are you upset about something I don’t know?"

"You want to know why?" Mila’s voice sharpened. The way he acted as if he were the victim irritated her deeply.

She had waited enough for him. For five years, she had convinced herself he was just busy, lowered her expectations so she wouldn’t seem demanding.

How many times had she dressed up for him, only to have the plans canceled because he had work? On her birthdays, she had blown out candles alone. She had told herself countless times that love required patience.

She had been patient, only to learn that he had been cheating on her. She now understood why he had been absent. It was because he had been busy pleasing Bianca.

How could he have time for her?

Her eyes stung, but she refused to cry. She wouldn’t cry for him.

"I was tired of being abandoned," she said in an icy tone. "Tell me. Were you there on my birthdays? Did you accompany me to my mother’s grave on her death anniversaries? When I was sick and waiting for you to come, you said you were busy. You were never there when I needed you."

Even though she had convinced herself he no longer mattered to her, it hurt. It was not because she still loved him. It was because she had given him years she would never get back, because she believed him. That pain was what lingered.

It wasn’t just heartbreak. It was humiliation.

She had longed for his affection while he gave his concern, time, and emotions to another woman. She pressed her lips into a thin line, suppressing the urge to cry.

"You were always busy," Mila continued grimly. "Always had an excuse. You never had time for me."

Ethan stiffened. He remembered rushing to Bianca for minor issues, buying her gifts, taking her out, and making her laugh. But he had not realized he had ignored Mila again and again. He had never been there for her when she wanted his presence. He didn’t even remember her birthday because he had been too busy pampering Bianca, fulfilling her wishes.

Was he wrong?

The woman he loved was obviously Bianca, and making her happy was his duty. But why was there this dull ache in his heart when he realized he had completely ignored Mila when she had actually waited for him?

"But when Bianca had a stomachache, you panicked. You rushed her away immediately. You didn’t even remember you promised to take me to dinner that night."

Ethan’s face paled instantly. ’Did she know?’ he wondered restlessly.