Page 51 of My Heart's Doctor

“Sit down,” he repeated, ignoring my comment.

I huffed and sat back down in the chair I had been in because there was no point in contradicting him, this man was insufferable. I noticed he raised an eyebrow when he heard my huff, but he didn’t say anything.

“Why did you think our relationship was going to be monogamous?”

“Because I’ve never been in an open relationship,” I stated, “and I never would be.”

“Why?”

“I already told you, because I don’t like sharing my partner, who in your case would just be the man I have sex with, though that doesn’t change what I think.”

Again he fell silent, though he didn’t take his eyes off mine.

“I never said we would be in an open relationship, you came to that conclusion all by yourself.”

“I came to it after seeing you with a woman, I think that’s more of a fact than an assumption.”

“But you didn’t call me and I thought you weren’t going to,” he defended himself, though his defense was terrible.

“William, only four days had passed since you’d been in my bed, four measly days and you were already with someone else. I’m sure you weren’t planning to be faithful to me, because it’s obvious that fidelity isn’t your thing. I’m not going to risk it with you because I know I’ll end up losing.”

“Losing? And what would you lose?” he asked, annoyed and even sarcastic.

“My dignity, because I’d be accepting things I don’t like,” I stated with conviction.

“From my point of view, you’d only be winning because I’m going to give you a lot of pleasure,” he said seductively and tried to come closer.

“No, William. I’m not going to change my way of thinking nor do I intend to convince you that what I think is right. I’m not judging you, everyone is how they are, and I’m not going to change. I went through many storms to find peace, and I don’t want to put myself back in the eye of the hurricane,” I said, emphasizing it by shaking my head.

“Are you saying you consider me a hurricane in your life?” he asked, incredulous.

“Something like that.”

“And if I told you I wasn’t on a date? Would you believe me?” he asked.

For a few seconds I stared at him with narrowed eyes. Did he really think I was that stupid?

“No,” I finally said, because I didn’t trust him and I was sure that woman was one of his many lovers.

“You wouldn’t believe me,” he affirmed, looking at me with... disappointment?

“I don’t find you a trustworthy man,” I stated, and he shook his head.

“Is that your final word?” he asked, annoyed and standing up.

“Yes.”

I stood up too, though I felt a tightness in my chest and a lump in my throat that made it difficult to breathe normally. Why the hell did I feel this way?

“May I ask that you allow me to see Aurora again? Only if she wants to, of course.”

“I think it’s better if you don’t see each other anymore,” he stated in a low, deep, and somber tone.

“I understand,” I said, though the discomfort in my chest intensified. “Goodbye, William. I wish you the best.”

“Dr. Dulcet.” That was his cold farewell. He looked at me, turned toward the door, and left my apartment.

When the door closed, I had to sit down because my legs could no longer support me. I felt an uneasiness growing inside me at an alarming rate, transforming into a vast and absoluteemptiness, a distress that became more unbearable with each passing second.