Obsession With My EX-wife

Chapter 4: Give Him a Hard Time

In the restaurant – Catherine ordered the zesty pork loin, a peppered lamb chop, a poach beef with hot chili, and many other grilled spicy foods. She intentionally ordered these because she knew Leonard hated spicy foods most.

From her previous experience with him, she expected that once the food was placed in front of him, he would taunt her and say something along the lines of, "This is gross. Why do you eat this garbage?" And she thought it was very likely that he would walk out on her. However, this time, she detected no impatience in his expression.

The barbecued food was served, and Catherine enjoyed everything she'd ordered, but Leonard didn't touch any of it.

She looked up from her plate and asked him if he was going to eat. Her rationale was that, if he refused her hospitality, she could feign outrage and have an excuse to tell him to f**k off for good.

Much to her surprise and disappointment, though, Leonard smiled and began to eat.  

It was difficult for Leonard to swallow it since he never ate spicy food. He frowned as he chewed. Leonard did not like the food at all, but he was determined not to let his ex-wife get the better of him. I can tolerate this – he told himself – Since I can save a company from falling apart, I should be able to eat a plate of spicy meat! As he ate, though, he began to feel the acid building up in his stomach, and he had to slow down and take smaller bites.

When Catherine saw this, she asked him why he was eating so slowly, "If the food is too spicy, would you like some water?"

"Yes," Leonard replied, "Thank you." He was surprised by her act of kindness, but when Catherine ordered the water for him, she also ordered the restaurant's specialty – Tai Chili Jumbo Shrimp, and his eyes went wide from surprise. 

Leonard was allergic to shellfish, which Catherine knew it well!

Of course, Leonard also knew that this was just another one of Catherine's tactics to get him to leave, so when the shrimp was served, he forced himself to eat two or three of them. After the meal, he insisted on driving Catherine home.

Catherine frowned and said, "I am sorry, Mr. Campbell, but my roommate would get the wrong idea if I were seen getting out of your car." And before Leonard could say anything, she hopped into a taxi and left. 

Leonard's car was parked close by, though, and he was able to catch up to the taxi and tail it to its destination. Once Catherine was home safely, Leonard parked in the driveway and gave Jim a call.

***

Catherine stood at her window, seeing Leonard was still sitting in his car and talking on the phone. Mrs. Brown, her landlady, came up from behind her. She looked out the window and asked, "Is he your boyfriend, Cathy?" 

"Hi, Mrs. Brown," Catherine said and shook her head, "No, he is not my boyfriend."

Mrs. Brown frowned and said, "Don't deny it, my child. I know what is love. I see it in your eyes. I know that feeling..."

"Mrs. Brown!" Catherine said in embarrassment, but she didn't say anything else. After her father's company had fallen apart, Catherine had been left with his debt. Furthermore, since she had lost her mother at a very young age, she had no place to live at that time. 

To save money, Catherine rented a room with Mrs. and Mr. Brown. The building had no elevator, and she had to climb to the fifth floor every day, but her room was cheap, and the couple was very nice to her. Thus, Catherine would never be angry with Mrs. Brown no matter what Mrs. Brown said.

But what Mrs. Brown said worried her, was she really still has feelings for that man?

When Catherine was in the shower, Mrs. Brown's words came back to her, along with the past between Leonard and her. And suddenly, Catherine cried silently. 

After all that Leonard had hurt her, deep down in her heart, she was still wanted him so much, and she could not figure out why.

Leonard's seemingly careful behavior at dinner had left Catherine rattled. She touched her belly and thought about the baby that she'd aborted, and she began to cry harder.

Leonard had conspired with his mistress, Vivian, to end the life that had been growing inside of her. He was a jerk, and he had loved his mistress more than he'd loved his wife.

***

At a private clinic, Doctor Joyce White, who was Leonard's good friend, put away the stethoscope. He sighed of relief and said, "You are lucky. I administered the anaphylactic in time. But what's wrong with you? You know you are allergic to seafood! Do you have a death wish?"

Leonard sighed and said, "Take it easy. I feel better now." Leonard recalled his dinner date with Catherine. If he had refused to eat the shrimp, she would have driven her away. In his opinion, it had been worth the risk.

Joyce was enraged by his friend's cocky indifference. He looked Leonard in the eyes and shouted, "Don't you know that eat allergic food could cause you brain damage?!?!?"

***

The next morning – When Catherine arrived at the hospital, she was called to the Dean's office. She assumed that she'd received another complaint and was about to lose her job.

As she entered his office, she was prepared to apologize for whatever she'd done or been accused of doing, but before she could say a word, the Dean patted her on the shoulder.

He smiled and said, "Dr. Winston, congratulations! Mr. Campbell, the President of Campbell Group, wants you to be his doctor!"

Catherine was so surprised that her jaw nearly hit the floor. After Leonard had married her, he'd refused to be seen in public with her together because he hated her so much. Thus, her colleagues didn't even know that they had been a couple before.

Now that Catherine was eager to get rid of him, how could it possible that she accepted him as her patient?!