His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex-Wife Chapter 217: A Scare That Wasn't

"It's probably nothing, let's just get it checked," Iris said, keeping her tone steady as she guided Zoe into Riverfront Hospital, already knowing exactly which doctor she wanted.

She signed Zoe up under Brandon's clinic without making a big deal out of it.

Zoe's hand stayed locked around Iris's the whole time, her nerves getting the better of her. "Iris, be honest with me, what if this is something serious? What if I actually caught something?"

"You didn't," Iris replied calmly, not feeding into the panic. "Stop spiraling."

Right then, the overhead speaker called out, "Zoe Ellison, Exam Room One."

Zoe stiffened, stood up slowly, then glanced at her slip before turning back to Iris with a horrified look. "Wait, why is the doctor a guy?"

Iris gave her a flat look. "Because he's a doctor. That's it. Go."

Zoe hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but she knew arguing wouldn't change anything. With a deep breath, she forced herself to walk in.

Inside the room sat a young male doctor and a female intern.

"Zoe?" the intern asked.

Zoe nodded and sat down, but the moment her eyes landed on the doctor, her chest tightened for no good reason. He wore a mask, but everything else about him, his posture, his sharp, focused eyes, made it obvious he was young, confident, and very aware of everything in front of him.

For a split second, she felt exposed, like he could see right through her.

Get a grip. He's just a doctor.

"What seems to be the issue?" Brandon asked, his voice calm and smooth, the kind that naturally steadied people.

Zoe swallowed, glancing at the intern before lowering her voice. "It's... irritation. Down there. It's gotten worse, there's discharge, and it hurts."

The intern's expression sharpened with interest, while Brandon paused briefly before continuing to type.

"Have you been sexually active recently?" he asked.

"No."

"Shared personal items with anyone?"

"No."

"Alright," he said, still composed. "Go behind the curtain, remove your clothing from the waist down, and lie back."

Zoe glanced at the intern again. "You're doing the exam, right?"

The intern nodded. "I'll start."

That was enough to get Zoe moving.

Behind the curtain, she changed and lay back, forcing herself to relax even though everything about the situation made her tense. Even with a female doctor, it still felt awkward in a way she couldn't ignore.

The intern put on gloves and began examining her with a swab, her expression turning uncertain after a moment.

"This doesn't really look like an STD," she said, hesitating. "I might need Dr. Whitmore to take a look."

Zoe's face burned instantly. "Wait, what?"

"If you're uncomfortable, I can get another female doctor," the intern offered.

Zoe hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut, clearly struggling with the idea of waiting indefinitely. "No, it's fine. Just... do it."

She covered her face with her hands, trying to mentally check out. I'm just a patient. This is normal. It's fine.

She heard footsteps approach, then felt a steady hand at her leg, followed by a brief pressure at the sore spot.

Zoe inhaled sharply, her body tensing. "Yeah, that hurts..."

"When was your last period?" Brandon asked, his tone steady and clinical.

"Yesterday. It just ended," she said, still refusing to open her eyes.

"That explains it," he said. "It's a ruptured follicle that got irritated. With the friction and moisture during your period, the inflammation got worse and turned into a localized infection. I've already drained it. Use the medication for a few days and it'll clear up."

Relief washed over her, but doubt lingered. "Are you sure I don't need tests? Just to be safe?"

"If you want, we can run a standard check," he replied, removing his gloves.

"Yeah, let's do that."

Zoe lowered her hands just in time to see the intern preparing a speculum, and her entire body tensed again.

"Relax," the intern said gently.

Brandon turned back, his brow tightening slightly. "She hasn't been sexually active. Don't use that. Use a swab."

Zoe exhaled so hard it almost felt dramatic.

By the time the exam was over, everything came back clear except for the minor infection.

When she walked back out with her report and medication, her mood had completely flipped. "Let's go. I'm fine."

Iris stood and took the report, scanning it. "Folliculitis?"

"Yeah, basically a stupid infection. I panicked for nothing."

Iris checked the time. "It's five-thirty. He should be done soon. Let's wait and thank him."

Zoe froze mid-step. "Why would we do that? I'm trying to forget this ever happened."

Before she could escape, Iris spotted Brandon stepping out.

"Dr. Whitmore," Iris called, already pulling Zoe along.

Zoe instantly stiffened. "I'll wait outside," she muttered under her breath, then rushed off toward the elevators without looking back.

Brandon's gaze followed her retreat for a moment before he turned to Iris. "Didn't expect to see you here."