Chapter 7. Delusional Ex

"Doctor Lauren! You can't just take a day off and go to Bangkok like that! You have patients!" One of the nurses ran to chase Lauren, who was now walking faster to her car.

"I can, and I will."

"You can't; you have three inpatients who need your care."

"No, if I'm late, I'll lose Rayleigh! And I don't want that!" She screams in front of the nurse's face.

"Doctor Lauren, if I may, Doctor Rayleigh was never yours to begin with." The nurse's look was so serious: "Now, please, go back inside the hospital and do your routine today; your patients are waiting, at least until Dr. Adam comes and replaces you. Please."

"Fine." She walks back to the hospital and says, "And Rayleigh was mine; she's always mine."

"Whatever you say, doctor."

Lauren's heart sank when she saw the news from Dean Thomas about Rayleigh's newfound romance. The sight of the stunning Asian woman in Rayleigh's embrace pierced her heart. She had once foolishly let Rayleigh slip through her fingers, thinking the doctor's brother was a better match.

She knows it was the most terrible thing she has ever done in her life. Rayleigh's brother was nothing more than a despicable cad, only wanting to sleep with Lauren to spite his more accomplished sister. It had been a grave mistake, one that had cost Lauren the woman she truly loved.

Rayleigh's work, which included seminars, surgeries, and endless demands on her time, had always consumed her, but Lauren had cherished the moments they managed to spend together. But as Rayleigh's career skyrocketed, those precious hours grew fewer and fewer over the years.

And now, it seemed, Rayleigh had found solace in the arms of another. That gorgeous, honey-skinned woman with the seductive eyes and plump lips—the very sight of them together made Lauren's blood boil. She hated the way Rayleigh seemed to lavish attention on this new partner, something she had always craved for herself.

And now, it seemed, Rayleigh had found solace in the arms of another. That gorgeous, honey-skinned woman with the seductive eyes and plump lips—the very sight of them together made Lauren's blood boil. She hated the way Rayleigh seemed to lavish attention on this new partner, something she had always craved for herself. The woman is holding Rayleigh's hand while smiling beautifully—the precious hand of Dr. Rayleigh MacKenzie. She hated it whenever someone had her hands. "Shit, she doesn't hate it when that bitch holds it," Lauren muttered while doing her routine.

The moment she saw the post, she wanted to go to Bangkok, Thailand, as soon as possible. She keeps her distance closer to Rayleigh because the latter is so gorgeous that she can have all the women in the world wrapped around her fingers. Lauren doesn't like that; she wants Rayleigh all by herself. She's okay with Rayleigh's casual hookups because Rayleigh will never get serious about them. She has always been focused on her job and her patients, but this time is different. This woman, Rayleigh, is serious enough to post her on her social media with a very eye-catching caption: My baby girl ❤️.

"No sh*t, Sherlock! I'm the one for her!" She sends another message to Dean, asking him to watch Rayleigh until the day she returns to New York.

"You need to focus on doing your routine today; you've been distracted most of the time." The nurse warns her.

"I can't help it; the woman of my life is on the edge of being stolen from me."

"Oh, the beauty on her social media?" The senior nurse smiles a bit; she's always fond of Rayleigh; the latter is always polite; she's good at what she's doing; she's a genius; she always says please whenever she needs help; all her patients love her; and she never screws them over for a mistake she made. Most doctors often blame the nurses or technicians for their incompetency, not Rayleigh. "I saw; she's gorgeous."

"You need to shut up, or I won't continue."

"Tell you what, Jane texted me; doctor Adam is here. We don't need you anymore. You can go to Thailand if you want. Doctor Lauren." She smiles; she hated Lauren from the first day the doctor set foot in the hospital.

Lauren is a good doctor—great, even—but she treats her patients like subjects. She knows she's good at what she's doing; people are looking for her, and she's excellent at handling patients; however, she never treated them warmly. She also treated nurses and technicians at the hospital like they were below them; it was always Rayleigh who put her in place.

"Argh! These stupid nurses!"

-

The second day was quite frustrating for Rayleigh since all the professors started to gang on her despite every fact presented. They can't accept a young doctor making a breakthrough before them.

"That was amazing, Ray; we can make a new treatment!"

"Urgh, they have to make me like a fool inside." Rayleigh makes a frustrated sound; she then walks to the lobby.

"Wanna grab a drink?"

"Ah, no, I have a date."

Dean's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Rayleigh's revelation. "Date? You have a girlfriend?" he asked, the shock evident in his voice, though there was also an undercurrent of happiness for his friend.

Rayleigh couldn't help the wide smile that spread across her face. "Yeah, she said yes yesterday," she replied, her eyes practically shining with delight. "I've got a girlfriend. Wow, Rayleigh MacKenzie has a girlfriend. That sounds pretty great, doesn't it?"

Dean chuckled, detecting the unmistakable tone of someone utterly smitten. "You sound whipped, that's for sure," he teased. But then his expression grew more serious. "Wait, I thought Lauren was your girlfriend?"

Rayleigh's smile faltered slightly at the mention of her ex. "She was my girlfriend," she corrected. "We broke up years ago—maybe eight years ago, I think." Rayleigh glanced up as her car pulled up, the driver waiting patiently. "Anyway, my ride's here. I've got to run. I'm going to spend every possible moment with my new girlfriend."

"But we were supposed to hang out more while I'm in Bangkok," Dean protested, clearly disappointed.

Rayleigh shook her head. "Nothing can be done, I'm afraid. I'm all about Isabelle now." She flashed Dean a playful wink. "You'll just have to tell Lauren to back off and find herself someone new. I'm taken. Stop bothering me and stop telling you what to do to watch me!"

With that, Rayleigh hurried towards the waiting car, her heart practically dancing with joy. After so many years of focusing solely on her career, she had finally found someone who made her feel alive in a way she hadn't experienced forever. And she had no intention of letting this beautiful woman slip through her fingers.

Dean scratches his head, looking guilty as charged. Rayleigh knows he's been telling Lauren about her: "Damn, that's going to hurt, Ray."

"It's on her, not me; I didn't give her any mixed signals." I have said no since eight years ago, and it remains forever." Rayleigh took her time to explain and climb into the sedan. Close her door and open the window so she can still speak with Dean.

"Harsh."

"The truth, bye." She closed the window and asked the driver to take her to Isabelle's apartment.

"Damn, she's cold, but wow, she's beautiful. No wonder Lauren keeps on holding onto her; she's harsh too." He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number he was familiar with. Within three rings, the person answered his call, "You should stop aiming at her, Laur; she told me she has a girlfriend and she'll spend her days in Bangkok with her. Don't ask me to ask her for a drink or whatever; she's not into you, Laur."

"No! She can't! I'm the only one for her, and she can only fit with me! We're good together!"

"Damn, Laur, you should see the lady she's dating; they're perfect together," Dean answered, remembering how it was yesterday. He still remembers the Asian beauty with tanned olive skin, a beautiful pair of dark brown eyes, perfect curves, and seductive smiles; he wouldn't mind dropping on his knees for a lady like that. "Damn, Laur, she's beautiful."

"Fuck you, Dean Thomas."