Chapter 13: The Day He Finally Regretted It

A month later, I received an unexpected invitation.

It was from the hospital.

The disciplinary committee had scheduled a final hearing regarding the unauthorized release of my stored blood.

I almost declined.

I had already moved on.

But then I realized something.

Moving on didn't mean pretending it had never happened.

So I went.

***

The hearing room was quiet when I entered.

Callum was already there.

He looked completely different from the man I remembered.

His suit was wrinkled.

His eyes were tired.

And there was no arrogance left in his expression.

He stood when he saw me.

I didn't stop.

I simply took my seat across the table.

The committee began reviewing the evidence.

The unauthorized blood release.

The altered records.

The failure to obtain my consent.

Every detail was read aloud.

I listened without saying a word.

Then the chairman turned toward Callum.

"Dr. Merrick, do you have anything to add?"

Callum remained silent for several seconds.

Then he stood.

"Yes."

His voice was rough.

"I made the decision to release Maren's blood."

The room went completely still.

"I knew she had a rare blood type."

"I knew she had been storing that blood for years."

"And I knew she was pregnant."

My fingers curled slightly beneath the table.

"I convinced myself that saving Poppy justified everything," he continued.

"But I was wrong."

He looked directly at me.

"There was no emergency that gave me the right to make that choice for her."

***

The committee asked whether he had known another donor might be available.

Callum nodded.

"Yes."

A murmur spread through the room.

"Then why did you use Ms. Ellis's blood?"

Callum's face tightened.

"Because I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Of losing Poppy."

He lowered his head.

"And because I believed Maren would forgive me eventually."

I looked at him.

That sentence hurt more than I expected.

Not because I loved him.

But because it proved how little he had understood me.

He hadn't believed my forgiveness was something he needed to earn.

He had believed it was something he was entitled to receive.

***

After the hearing, I walked outside alone.

The afternoon air was cool against my face.

I took a deep breath.

For some reason, I expected to feel relieved.

Instead, I felt empty.

"Maren."

I stopped.

Callum was standing several feet behind me.

I didn't turn around immediately.

"What do you want?"

"Five minutes."

I finally looked at him.

"You already had seven years."

His face fell.

"I know."

"You had seven years of my trust."

"I know."

"Seven years of me putting you first."

"I know."

"And you still thought I would forgive anything you did."

Callum's eyes reddened.

"I was wrong."

I nodded.

"Yes, you were."

***

He took a careful step closer.

"Maren, I don't expect you to come back."

"Good."

"I don't expect you to forgive me."

"Good."

"But I need you to know that I regret it."

I studied him.

There was no anger in his face anymore.

Just regret.

Real regret.

But regret couldn't return what I had lost.

"I believe you," I said.

He looked surprised.

"You do?"

"Yes."

I took a breath.

"But believing that you regret it doesn't mean I want you back."

His eyes lowered.

"I understand."

***

A car pulled up beside me.

It was Adrian.

He rolled down the window.

"Everything okay?"

I nodded.

"Yeah."

Callum looked toward him.

For a second, something flashed across his face.

Jealousy.

Then he swallowed it down.

He looked back at me.

"He's good to you?"

"Yes."

Callum gave a faint smile.

"Then I'm glad."

I opened the passenger door.

Before getting inside, I looked at Callum one last time.

"Take care of yourself."

"You too."

The door closed.

As Adrian drove away, I watched Callum disappear in the rearview mirror.

I expected sadness.

There was none.

***

That evening, I received another message from Callum.

"Thank you for believing that I regret it."

A second message appeared.

"I'll spend the rest of my life making sure I never become that person again."

I stared at the screen for a moment.

Then I deleted the messages.

Not because I was angry.

Because I didn't need them.

His regret belonged to him.

My future belonged to me.

***

The next morning, I stood in front of the laboratory windows.

Sunlight spilled across the floor.

Our research had entered its most important phase.

Dr. Hale walked over with a folder.

"The board approved the next trial."

I smiled.

"That's wonderful."

"There's more."

He handed me another document.

"They want you to present the project at an international conference."

I stared at the invitation.

For a moment, I couldn't believe it.

A year ago, I had been planning a wedding.

Now I was preparing to stand on an international stage.

My life had taken a direction I never expected.

And somehow, it was better than the future I had once begged someone else to give me.

I closed the folder.

"Let's do it."

Dr. Hale smiled.

"I knew you'd say that."

I looked out at the bright morning sky.

For the first time, I didn't wonder what Callum was doing.

I wondered what I would accomplish next.

And that was how I knew I was finally free.