The Secret Heir

Tiana POV

“Whatever you do in the operating room, make sure you do your best. I don't care how you want to do it, but all I care about is you making the surgery a success.”

That was all I could hear when I was entering the operating room. Luckily, that helped shape my thoughts as I carried on the operation successfully.

Who knows who the next patient will be? I hope it would be some rude, rich fools that think only for themselves. I thought within myself,

“Doctor Tiana, you are to be summoned in the office,” one of the nurses said to me immediately.

I came out from the operating room, and I nodded my head in approval. I washed my hands, removed my surgical cloth, and headed directly to the office; I got there hoping that the chief doctor, who gave credit to my work, instead took all the credit.

I tried to lash out at him, but I bit my tongue because I was afraid to lose the job I've loved all my life; as I was bickering with my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice.

“You must be Doctor Tiana? A familiar voice asked, which made me turn in his direction.

It was him, my heart screamed. His hair fit perfectly on his face, his muscles and abs fit perfectly into his leather suit, and I must say he had done so well for himself.

My tongue was tied as I remembered things I had tried to forget, and I hope today will not be the worst that it has ever been.

I tilt my head as I try to avoid eye contact. With him, afraid he would recognize me.

“Did you see a ghost? The man asked, fixing his eyes on me.

I gave him a professional smile, a smile that was far from being real.

“Sorry, that was unprofessional of me. Yes, yes, I am Doctor Tiana. How may I be of help? I asked boldly while I was shaken within.

The young man got up, adjusted his suit, pointed at me, and said to the chief doctor,

“You know what to do.” He left, leaving me shocked, and my leg wobbled. The moment he left, I released the breath I did not know I was holding, and I almost lost my balance; I was glad there was a table to support me from falling.

Today would have been the worst day of my life if the things I had worked hard for were destroyed all of a sudden because of my carelessness.

This young man was the last man I needed to meet, not now and not in the future; he was the sole reason I left this country years back.

After my first surgery, he was the first man I had to encounter. As if that was not enough, the chief doctor glared at me as if I had taken an important thing from him.

“I don't know what you did to the young man; you are made their family doctor.” He said angrily, throwing the patient file at me,

“What are you talking about? Are you not the best doctor? Why did they need me as their family doctor? I asked all at once as I glanced through the file.

“The young man that left would be in the best position to reply to you.” He said, glaring at me,

“I am sorry to disappoint you; I reject this offer. I cannot be their family doctor.” I blurted out without thinking,

“No one cares about you; you are doing your job, and that's final.” He concluded and left. I stamped my feet on the floor till it hurt.

I am not accepting that offer; unless he points a gun at my head, I sure know I won't accept this offer. I checked my time, and it was time to get my baby from school.

Just as I was about to leave the hospital, the chief doctor called out to me. “You are to start your work in the family house tomorrow, and do not mess things up for me,” he yelled with an angry voice.

I cared less about what he said because all that mattered to me was my kid, the only person I got comfort from.

I drove to the school with my black leather SUV car, parked at the parking spot, and headed into the school. My son rushed to me, giving me a hug and with a smile on his face that could melt every hardened heart.

“Mom, I saw Dad today.” He giggled. I was taken aback by his sudden outburst, so I squatted before him, ruffling his hair.

“Tell me, did someone bully you to make you accept him as your dad?” I asked angrily as I tightened my fist.

“No, Mom, we met in the bathroom; he was kind of cool. Besides, we act exactly the same,” he said innocently.

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind as I thought of the possibility of my son meeting his real father, which I knew would never be possible.

“I see you must be talking about Charles, and here he is,” I said excitedly, sighting Charles from afar.

My son ran to him with his tiny legs, hugging Charles, who picked him up and carried him on his body.

“I thought you were busy today.” “You know you should not have come beside me; people see me as Ethan’s father,” Charles whispered into my ears proudly.

I turned to him, giving him a small smile, while the encounter I had earlier kept playing in my head.

“You and I know the reality of what is happening, so stop playing dumb every single time,” I let out in between my teeth.

“You can say all you want, but I am not giving up on us; I would keep my hope high,” he declared as he held my hands. Suddenly, Ethan suggested we go to a playground where other children and their families are.

“I am sorry, but I had work to do.” I declined, but Charles nudged me on my shoulder, which made me surrender.

The smile on Ethan's face that had disappeared appeared fully on his face, and I could see the reason Ethan ever got to speak about Charles as his dad.

Ethan screamed in his loud voice, “Daddy, we met again,” as he hurriedly came down from Charles’s body. Charles and I turned in the direction of Ethan’s voice;

Immediately I saw the person he was calling “Dad,” and my drink spilled all over my body.

Tiana's pov

“This man again,” I let out as I hurriedly packed my things.

“What man are you talking about, and who is Ethan calling Daddy? Charles asked in a confused state,

“I would explain later, but you need to hurry up so we can leave,” I said in between my breath, and he obliged.

We hurried to my car. I was able to catch some breath, while Charles kept looking at him to give him an explanation.

I was not ready, and even if I were, it would be now for all I care. I need to get out of here before he sees me.

Suddenly, Charles gets down from the car without saying a word; I was somehow relieved that he did not press further.

“Mom, did you know the man I called Dad earlier? Ethan asked innocently,

I smiled at him, ruffled his hair, and drove back home. We entered the house, took our shower, and I prepared dinner for us.

As we were about to eat, the doorbell rang, and I went to get it.

“Charles, you are here on time,” I said