---- The sight still stung, but less than it used to. As I stepped inside, he looked up briefly. "Apologize to my wife," he said. ''And let's be done with this. After that, you can come back home." This man, who once promised to marry me, was now telling me to call another woman his wife. I almost laughed. "Dennis, step outside," I said. "I want to speak with her alone." He didn't want to at first. "T won't do anything to her," I added. "You can relax." After he left, I looked at Scarlett, who was lying in the hospital bed. "Let me take a look at you," I said gently. ---- She looked unsure, hesitant. "I'm a doctor," I told her. "I'm not here to hurt you." On the way over, a friend had called me and told me her name was Scarlett Portman. She'd started out as Dennis's assistant. They'd been close for a while. This year, she had a child with him. That's when he decided to marry her. Otherwise, he never would have. I thought she was a little pitiful. "It's nothing serious," I said after checking her. " Just a cold from the weather." Then I added, "Last time I saw you, you were wearing a dress. It's snowing heavily in Veldere now. You should take care of yourself. Don't sacrifice warmth for appearance." I took out the supplements I'd bought. "You've just given birth. Your body's still ---- recovering. I chose these carefully. They'll help."