The Doctor's Cure

Six years later, I ran into Carter again. "Sundaes are buyonegetone.

Want to split the deal?" He lowered his phone and gave a flat look at the banner advertising the couples' promotion. "Oh," I said. "Are we getting back together then?" Carter's eyes crinkled in a smile. "Sure.

But let's keep it quiet. I've got a sugar baby now, and she gets jealous easily." My chest tightened. He turned around. "Right, get the ice cream to go.

She loves it." Chapter 1 I was still processing his words. The cashier smiled and bagged the two sundaes. "You two make a lovely couple.

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness." Carter's face was a blank mask. He grabbed his bag and walked away. His RollsRoyce was parked right by the curb. It was sweltering out.

I crouched by the door of a fruit stand to soak up their AC. I slowly licked my ice cream.

Right before he left, he gave me a halfsmile. "Need a ride, girlfriend?" I looked at his passenger seat. Pink cushions. Cute stuffed animals.

They screamed territory. "No," I said slowly. "I live close—" He sped off before I could finish. "Hey, don't block the door." "Ah, sorry." My legs were aching. I stood up too fast.

My hand slipped, and the sundae splattered across the pavement. What a waste. I had traded a boyfriend for that. I let out a slow breath and turned to walk home.

My rented apartment was simple and clean. I quietly took down an old school photo from the wall.

In the picture, the boy's eyes were crinkled in a bright smile as he held the girl's hand like a treasure. In contrast, the girl was completely expressionless. She looked so cold.

I stared at the photo for a few more seconds, then tossed it in the trash. Wow, my smile really was that ugly.

No wonder he dumped me back then. "Meow." The stray calico cat I took in rubbed against my leg. I opened a can of food for her.

It was a buyonegetthree deal from the supermarket yesterday. I was so used to being poor that missing out on any discount physically hurt.

I actually regretted not taking Carter's breakup money. Just then, an unknown number called my phone. I answered. It was Carter.

His voice was completely flat. "We got back together. Why haven't you added me back on iMessage? Don't you know calling is a hassle?" "Oh," I said quietly.

Before I could say anything else, a girl's soft whine came through the speaker. "Mr. Carter, I'm hungry…" He hung up immediately. The dial tone buzzed against my ear.

Honestly, getting back together was just a joke. I wanted to tell him to just forget it. But after hearing her voice, I could not bring myself to call back.

I typed in his iMessage number. Account deleted. I checked his phone number. Also deleted. I slowly lay back on my bed, clutching my phone.

Carter must have forgotten that he was the one who deleted me six years ago. I eventually used the number he just called from to send a friend request. He accepted it instantly.

He did not send a single word. I quietly snooped through the six years he had been gone. His Instagram feed was silent and monotonous. Until last year.

A girl in a red dress appeared. She was vibrant and full of life, just like he used to be. From that day on, Carter posted a lot more.

His smile was not as wild as before, but it was filled with a quiet happiness. My thumb hovered over the screen. Halfway through scrolling, the page went black.

He must have remembered who I was. He blocked me. I slowly finished my last bite of instant ramen. Chapter 2 I tossed my phone aside and pulled the blanket over my head.

I stayed awake all night. For the next few days, it was like neither of us remembered the incident. I prepped my lessons and went to work.

Feeding my stray cat became the highlight of my simple routine. Carter was busy with his company. He flew overseas for business negotiations. I would occasionally see him on TV.

The news called him a rising tech mogul. They talked about his solitary rise to power and the number of companies he had swallowed up.

Riley would sometimes come over with groceries. We sat on the couch to eat watermelon and watch the news. His success made plenty of wealthy heiresses eager to make a move.

They threw out their strategic marriage offers. "Mr. Carter, you have rejected every strategic marriage. Why is that?" a bold reporter asked on screen. Carter narrowed his eyes.

He looked calm and distant. A faint hint of tenderness flashed in his gaze. "I have a girlfriend." Everyone assumed it was the girl living in his mansion.

Riley poked my arm. "Didn't you just say you guys got back together?" she asked, her voice dropping. "Is he going to marry you? He chased you so hard back then.

The whole school knew about it." I stared at his polite, cold face on the screen. I shook my head and knocked lightly on her forehead. "Idiot.

Nobody becomes a girlfriend just to split a deal on ice cream." Carter did not care about me at all. "I know. But he is Carter.

He loved you more than anyone else in the world!" She counted on her fingers. "You two skipped class together. You played claw machines.

You had your first kiss. "All it took was one look from you.

That arrogant straightA student would come running over like a puppy dog." Those memories felt so distant now. "Be honest with me.

Did you really not cheat on him before you dumped him?" I let out a hum. My head shook in a truthful denial. Riley went quiet for a moment. She changed the subject. "It is fine.

Do not be sad. We do not need a man like him anyway." I looked up at her. "I am already fine," I said slowly. She choked on her words.

She tied on her apron and headed to the kitchen to cook. "Tch. I should have known you are heartless. Come help me." I thought things would go back to normal. Until one night.

Carter sent me an iMessage. Him: [Let's get dinner tomorrow night.] Him: [I will wait downstairs.] My hair was still wet from the shower when I saw the texts.

It had been six years since we broke up. Maybe I was just getting older and lazier. This small apartment was the same one we used to share. My mind went blank for a second.

Then I remembered I needed to decline. Me: [I can't. I have plans tomorrow.] His reply was short. Him: [I will wait for three minutes.] Cold. Distant. Impatient. The truth hit me.

He was no longer the Carter who listened to my every word. But I really did not want to go to this dinner. I thought for a moment and typed a reply. Me: [Ah, I am really sorry.

I did not mean it like that. The ice cream was just on sale, and it was so hot out…] Me: [You were the only person I knew on the street.

It would be weird to ask a stranger to split the deal. At least we used to date…] Me: [Let's just drop the getting back together thing.

It is better for everyone.] The more I typed, the messier it got. I deleted all those drafts. I only sent one sentence. Me: [I was joking about getting back together that day.

Sorry.] I held my phone and waited for a while. He did not reply. A sigh escaped my lips. All that lingering resentment from six years ago could just fade away.

I did not take it to heart. He probably could not be bothered with me anymore. He likely added me to his blocked contacts. But I came home from work the next afternoon.

Carter was standing right at my door. Chapter 3 He leaned lazily against his car. A crowd of girls had already gathered to stare. "That is Carter!

He really is that handsome." "Yeah, the state valedictorian from eight years ago!" Carter stared blankly at the sycamore trees inside the campus. I quietly walked around him.

He called my name. "Audrey." "Long time no see. So you have been teaching at Rivertown High all this time." Rivertown High was our alma mater.

A teasing glint flashed in his eyes. "What, too many memories? Could not bear to leave?" "Ah," I said, a bit dumbfounded. "Yeah, I could not bear to leave.

They offered me double the salary." Carter's face darkened. "Heh. You love money just as much as you used to." My face remained a blank mask.

He pulled his door open and got in. "Get in." I spoke slowly. "I am really not going—" Carter rolled down the window. "The seafood boil is half off today." My confidence vanished.

I lowered my voice. "Can we get it to go?" He let out a dry laugh. "Whatever." I happily slid into the backseat. He was driving a different car today. A Porsche Cayenne.

It looked rarely driven. The passenger seat lacked all those pink decorations. Carter drove in silence. I leaned against the window. Neither of us spoke.

I honestly did not understand why he was here. I clearly told him getting back together was a joke. He was not the type to cling to an ex. He caught my eye in the rearview mirror.

He pulled out a cigarette in annoyance. My eyes shifted. I opened my mouth to speak. He held the cigarette box and accidentally bumped a button on the dashboard.

A sweet, whiny girl's voice filled the car. "Dear Mr. Carter, are you in a bad mood again? Please do not smoke. "I will sing you a song.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are…" I froze. He went stiff too. He instinctively put the cigarette back. A smile broke across his eyes.

The sheer warmth in his gaze was terrifying. I sat in the back, unable to stay still in my seat. We arrived shortly after. It was a boardwalk seafood shack.

Carter went inside to order. I leaned against the railing to catch the ocean breeze. A drunk, heavyset man stumbled over. He threw an arm over my shoulder. "Hey there, gorgeous.

Where is your boyfriend?" I quietly pushed his hand away and stepped back. The man did not give up. He lunged at me again.

In the struggle, I locked eyes with Carter a few feet away. He just stood there. Watching. A group of college guys nearby finally could not watch anymore.

They stepped in and shoved the drunk away. Only then did Carter stroll over. The drunk must have recognized him. All the color drained from his face. "Mr. Carter.

She is your woman… I just…" Carter smiled. He patted the man's shoulder. "You messing with her has nothing to do with me." I stared at him. He shrugged.

His eyes were ice cold. "What? I agreed to get back together. "I never said I was going to treat you well." He dropped his hand. Carter picked up the seafood and the beers.

He turned and walked away. He leaned back in a wicker chair at a table. I stood by the table.

I refused to sit. "Eat some first," he said. "It will not all fit in the togo bag." A sense of unease finally crept in. "Mr.

Carter," I asked quietly. "Did you read my message?" He looked at me in silence. His tone was dismissive. "What message?

I do not have the time to stare at your chat box all day." I still did not move. He lost his patience. "Are you going to eat or not?" I looked down at the table.

Every single dish was a favorite of mine. I was starving. Chapter 4 I reached for a skewer and took a bite. The spice hit me instantly, bringing tears to my eyes.

I coughed. "Not good?" He looked me up and down without holding back. "Oh, I forgot. This is my favorite flavor. "I used to always eat bland broth for you.

Why don't you just deal with it this time?" I kept quiet. I dipped the meat into my water glass to rinse it off. It was still incredibly spicy.

Aside from that, the meat was fresh and tender. He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment. He raised his hand for a waiter. "Bring another round of everything on the table.

No spice." He paused. "And a strawberry mousse." I pulled out a wet wipe. "No need," I said slowly. "I want to go home." Carter raised an eyebrow. "What, feeling wronged already?" Not really.

My stomach just burned from the spice. The burning sensation slowly seeped into my chest. It felt incredibly uncomfortable. I just wanted to go home immediately.

I did not even want to pack up the leftovers. He stood up and pushed the plates aside. "Let's go then. I will drop you off," he said lazily. I opened my mouth.

He seemed to guess my refusal. He added another sentence. "This is Ocean City. It is over ten miles away. "You have a terrible sense of direction.

Do you want to walk until dawn?" Carter grabbed my hand naturally. I squirmed uncomfortably. Just like before, he gripped tighter. I could not break free, so I gave up.

We reached the door. I pulled out my phone. I wanted to snap a picture of this hidden gem to share with Riley. Carter had been staring off into space. He suddenly lunged.

He smacked the phone right out of my hand. "Do not take pictures!" His voice was loud. It instantly drew the attention of the people nearby. Heads snapped in our direction.

He spoke coldly. "If she sees those photos, I have plenty of ways to ruin you." I froze. It took me a second to process his words. My phone lay smashed on the ground.

The screen was a web of cracks. I bent down to pick it up and wiped the dust off. It was a shame. It was a brand new phone.

I spoke slowly. "I was not trying to take a picture with you. I definitely was not going to post it online.

I just thought the food here was good. "I wanted to come back with a friend next time." A flash of guilt crossed Carter's eyes, quickly replaced by his usual coldness.

He pressed his lips together. "I will buy you a new phone." "That model is old anyway. It is from last year