Ryan, exhausted after a long surgery, collapsed onto the sofa in the staff room and immediately fell asleep. The case was severe: a heart operation on a three-month-old baby. His fellow surgeons didn’t dare take it on. The unfortunate child’s parents spent the whole night in the corridor. When a nurse announced the surgery was successful, they rushed to the ward but were not allowed in.
The hero of the day, surgeon Ryan Levy, slept without even removing his glasses, completely drained. He was admired in the hospital. At 37, he had a successful career and hundreds of grateful patients. The interns adored him, and he had a beautiful wife. But for some reason, he didn’t seem happy. He spent most of his time at work, taking extra shifts and complex surgeries. He earned a modest salary, almost all of which went to his wife’s whims.
Pam, his wife, was a demanding woman with a strong personality. She worked as a makeup artist, owned her own salon, and invested all her earnings into her business. Therefore, Ryan had to cover all their other expenses. Grateful patients offered Ryan gifts, but he, a man of conscience, refused, believing he was just doing his job. This also upset his wife.
Ryan’s rest was short. He fell asleep at 4:00 a.m., and at 7:00 a.m., a phone call woke him up.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Pam,” he answered, still half asleep.
“Hi. Did you spend another night at work?” she asked, displeased.
“It was a difficult case. A three-month-old baby with a heart defect. I finished just over three hours ago.”
“How did it go?”
“Successfully.”
“You’re coming home now, right?”
“No. I’ve asked to invite the parents at 9:00 to discuss the surgery. I’m working until 6:00 today,” Ryan replied.
“You could have taken the day off,” her voice grew darker. “I’ll soon forget what you look like, dear.”
“Put yourself in their shoes,” the husband defended himself. “They also spent the whole night here. It’s their own flesh and blood.”
“I hope they properly thank you for saving their child’s life,” Pam said.
“Stop that. You know my principles,” Ryan said firmly.
“We have nothing at home! I walk to work because there’s no money for gas, and you have principles? Why work around the clock if they don’t pay for it?” Pam exclaimed and hung up.
At lunch, Ryan met with his colleague and friend, Tony, in the cafeteria. “Heard you did surgery on an infant last night,” Tony inquired.
“Yes, all night in the OR. So now I need a double portion of coffee.”
“You don’t take care of yourself. Didn’t go home?”
“And why would I? To again face Pam’s unhappy expression?” Ryan sighed.
“You should accept gratitude at least once. Maybe that would change her mood,” suggested Tony.
“Why is everyone on my case? I’m just doing my duty. I took an oath,” Ryan retorted. “I just want to live normally, eat good food, drive a decent car, have a happy wife.”
“And Pam, I think, won’t tolerate you much longer,” Tony continued.
“That doesn’t upset me. We got married as students. We didn’t even have money for pasta then, and we lived happily,” Ryan replied.
After work, Ryan walked home leisurely, knowing an offended wife awaited him. It was 8:00 p.m. when he entered his apartment. His wife was not there. He called her.
“I’m at Kate’s. Won’t be back soon,” Pam replied smugly. “Sit and think about how I feel waiting for you from yet another extra shift.” She hung up.
Ryan was even glad. He could rest peacefully. Pam came home early in the morning, just as Ryan was preparing for work. The atmosphere immediately turned tense.
“You know,” Pam began evenly, “I lied to you yesterday.”
“Really? And what was your lie?” Ryan asked curiously.
“I wasn’t at Kate’s. I spent the night with another man.”
Ryan looked at his wife disapprovingly, his jaw tensed, but he restrained himself. Inside, a storm of emotions raged. “So,” said Ryan, “and perhaps you have something else to tell me?”
“Of course, I do,” Pam immediately responded. “You’re a very good person, but as a husband, you’re inadequate. I can’t remember when you last paid attention to me. You don’t give compliments, you don’t give gifts, and you’re hardly ever home. But I want to live in love and peace.”
“So far, all your complaints are fair,” Ryan agreed.
“I’ll continue. On another lonely weekend, I was walking in the park. A man approached me, began to court me beautifully. You didn’t even notice that I bring home bouquets, that I have new jewelry.”
“I noticed the bouquets,” Ryan said. “Thought they were gifts from work. But you’re right about the diamonds. I didn’t pay attention.”
“This is what I’m talking about! You don’t look at me at all. In short, I fell in love with this man. It’s been going on for several months. He’s wealthy, has his own business, and devotes all his free time to me. So, sorry, but I’m leaving you,” Pam declared.
“Okay. Perhaps you deserve such a life. Of course, I couldn’t give you that,” Ryan responded.
“I need your consent for a divorce. I’m moving out today.”
“Unexpected, but I have nothing to say to you. You want a divorce, you’ll get it.”
It was hard for him, but he didn’t resist. Thus, Ryan was left completely alone, his life filled with nothing but his beloved work.
One day, the routine hospital life was disrupted by a scandal. A homeless woman with severe abdominal pain was admitted. She needed urgent surgery, but no doctor was willing to take on the case.
“Get her out of here!” shouted the nurse, Julia, at the paramedics. “Look at her, she reeks! We can’t admit such patients.”
Ryan heard the commotion. “Julia,” he addressed the nurse, “what’s all this?”
“Take a look,” the girl replied, pointing to the stretcher. “This simpleton brought in a homeless woman, and they demand we operate.”
“Why wasn’t I informed?” Ryan asked sternly. “Is the operating room ready?”
“What? You’re going to operate on her? No doctor agreed!”
“Quickly, prepare the patient and the operating room for surgery,” Mr. Levy ordered, calling his assistant. “We must help everyone, not just the chosen.”
A few hours later, Ryan emerged from the OR. The surgery was successful. The woman would live. When she regained consciousness, Ryan went to see her.
“Hello, my name is Mr. Levy. I’m your attending physician.”
“Good morning,” the patient replied. “My name is Morgan.”
“I need your documents to admit you to the hospital,” Ryan said.
“There might be a problem with that,” Morgan looked sad. “I’m not sure if my documents are intact, and the girl who might have them definitely won’t want to help me.”
“Give me her number. I’ll talk to her myself,” Ryan offered.
“I don’t know her number, Mr. Levy.”
He couldn’t keep a patient without documents, but he felt Morgan needed help. She looked unkempt, but her speech and manners indicated she was once a respectable woman.
Lunchtime came, and Ryan went down to the cafeteria, where Tony was waiting. “What’s with this homeless woman?” Tony inquired.
“Let’s not refer to patients that way,” Ryan chided. “There’s something about her. I think she was deceived or something.”
“You’ll have problems, you realize that,” Tony said.
Later, Ryan went back to the patient. “Tell me the address of this girl. I’ll go and get your documents.”
Morgan burst into tears. “I was married to a very good and well-off man. We met after his divorce. He had a daughter, Amber, from that marriage. She was 12 when we met. She disliked me immediately. We lived together for several years. Then Dennis, my partner, died of lung cancer. A month after the funeral, she kicked me out onto the street. She threatened me with a knife. I ran away in my house clothes, without documents or any belongings.”
“Didn’t you go back?”
“I tried, but Amber changed the locks. Every time I came home, she threatened me. Then a young man moved in with her. He beat me every time I tried to enter.”
“Didn’t you go to the police?”
“I did, but they wouldn’t even listen. I had no documents and looked unkempt.”
Mr. Levy pondered. Sending Morgan back to the street meant condemning her to certain death. He looked into her eyes and saw utter despair. “I’ll keep you in the hospital for another two days,” he said.
That day, Ryan was on duty with Nurse Diana. “What are we going to do with Morgan?” she asked.
“For two days,” Ryan replied.
“You saved her, gave her hope, but she knows that in two days she’ll be back on the street. Here, she’s fed, cared for. What’s it like to end up in a basement after that?”
Later that night, Diana burst out of Morgan’s ward screaming. “Call for help, Mr. Levy! There’s blood everywhere! She cut her veins!”
Ryan rushed to the ward. “Why are you dawdling? Never seen blood?” He checked Morgan’s pulse. “She’s alive. Bring bandages, alcohol, needle, and thread.”
They stopped the bleeding and stitched the wounds. All the while, Morgan was conscious, crying, “Why are you saving me?”
“You saved my life again,” Morgan said later, “but what’s the point?”
“Every life is important,” Ryan replied. “After a suicide attempt, I’m obligated to show you to a psychiatrist. Maybe it’s a way out.”
“No,” Morgan said. “You can’t imagine what awaits you there. I’m not mentally unstable.”
“Please forgive me,” she replied shamefully. “I promise I won’t cause you any more trouble.”
Ryan lay awake all night, analyzing what had happened. He couldn’t simply let Morgan go. He decided to let her stay with him. He lived alone and was hardly ever home. Having a woman around would help with the household.
On the day of her discharge, he said, “I’d like to offer you a solution. I live alone. My wife left me. I could use some help around the house.”
“Are you inviting me to your place?” Morgan clarified.
“Yes. I genuinely feel sorry for you. I trust you and really want to help.”
“Of course, I can’t refuse. I have nowhere to go. I’m immensely grateful.”
That’s how they lived. Ryan spent his days at the hospital, and Morgan took care of the household. She quickly recuperated, cleaned the apartment, shopped for groceries, and laundered his clothes. None of his friends knew, not even Tony.
One day, his ex-wife called. “Hi, dear,” Ryan greeted sarcastically.
“We need to talk,” Pam replied. They met at a cafe.
“I know this Morgan,” Pam finally said. “She was a regular visitor to my salon. Almost every day for hair and makeup, leaving considerable sums, tipping the girls so much they sometimes forgot about their salaries.”
“You’re saying Morgan was a very wealthy lady?” Ryan asked.
“Very much so. She was a role model for me. At 55, she looked fantastic. Only branded bags, glasses. Seeing her yesterday in the state she’s in now, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
“She had a tragedy in life,” Ryan shared. “Her husband dealt with jewelry, and she was into charity.”
Ryan arrived home and decided to ask Morgan about her past. “No, we lived very well,” she said. “Only Amber was a problem. But Dennis wasn’t my husband; we just cohabited. He was a kind man. He had a dream of moving to a country house, to have his own terrace, garden, and pool.”
“Why didn’t you move?”
“We didn’t have time. He bought a house that was falling apart, but the plot was nice, with a forest right behind it. When Dennis died, Amber immediately put the house up for sale at a ridiculously low price.”
A thought struck Morgan. Her eyes lit with excitement. She frantically started searching for the listing on Ryan’s phone. “Here! Look at this beauty!”
Ryan became genuinely interested. “The price is attractive, and the house is within the city limits.”
“You know,” he said, “I have some savings. If I buy the house, I’ll have no safety cushion left.”
“I’m not insisting,” Morgan apologized.
“But you’ve piqued my interest,” Ryan said. He consulted his friend Tony, who, to his surprise, supported the idea.
The viewing was scheduled for Saturday. At the house, Amber, a young, beautiful girl, greeted him politely. While she showed him around, he noticed her unusual walk and that she often held her back.
“Sorry for the indiscreet question,” Ryan said politely, “but have you visited a surgeon recently?”
“No, though I should. Lately, I often have back pain.”
“That’s why I asked. I’m a surgeon, and I can confidently say you have a herniated disc. I’ll need an examination to confirm.”
“Oh, is it serious?” Amber was frightened.
“If it’s not too advanced, medication might help. But it looks like you’ll need surgery. Come by tomorrow, we’ll check your back.”
“All right. I’ll need to give you a discount then,” Amber smiled.
The diagnosis was confirmed, and she needed surgery. Ryan operated the next day. A nurse, Diana, noted, “You have a wonderful doctor. Ryan Levy is a remarkable specialist.”
Afterward, Ryan invited Amber to his office. “Congratulations, today we’re setting you free,” he joked.
“You are a very good person, Ryan. I’m glad we met. You can count on a good discount, and this is for you, too,” Amber said, offering a package.
“Keep this. I don’t accept gifts for my work,” Ryan said.
“If you really want to show gratitude,” he said, seeing an opportunity, “you can do a good deed. I know a woman whose life you negatively impacted.”
Amber’s cheeks flushed with shame.
“Return her documents, if they’re intact.”
“Of course. I don’t know why she didn’t come herself,” Amber lied.
On the day of the document signing, Ryan went alone. The deal went smoothly, and Morgan’s documents were retrieved. Ryan returned home, and Morgan, seeing her late husband’s house, was moved to tears. Ryan presented her with the documents. Morgan hugged him, grateful.
“How can I thank you?”
“Find the barbecue equipment in the shed. Amber said they should be there.”
Ryan, exploring the house, found kitchenware but no clothes, and a mysterious hook in the bedroom ceiling. Pulling it, a ladder dropped down, revealing a secret attic. He climbed up, finding a spacious but unremarkable attic, except for a chest near the far wall. Unable to open it, they noticed a combination lock.
“Let’s try some dates,” Ryan suggested. They tried Dennis’s birthday, Amber’s, Morgan’s, but nothing worked. Later, enjoying a barbecue, Morgan said, teary-eyed, “Dennis dreamed of watching falling stars here.”
Ryan had a sudden realization. “If Dennis was such a romantic and loved you so much…” He rushed into the house and returned with the chest. “Tell me the date you met him.”
Morgan named the date. The lock clicked open. Ryan lifted the lid, his eyes widening.
“Did you ever tell me what Dennis did?” he asked.
“He was a jeweler,” Morgan replied.
“Then congratulations. It seems this is your inheritance,” Ryan said, turning the chest. Morgan gasped. It was filled with diamonds, rings, necklaces, and other jewels.
“Wow,” Morgan exclaimed. “I knew he was saving for retirement, but I thought Amber had already emptied his safe.”
“As you can see, your Dennis was very thoughtful,” Ryan replied.
“This gold is yours by right,” Morgan responded. “You convinced me to buy the house. This is my gratitude.”
“Stop it. I have principles too,” Ryan said.
Morgan got a job at a beauty salon. Every weekend, she and Ryan visited their house. One day, Ryan realized he was increasingly reluctant to return to his apartment. “Morgan,” he said one evening, “why don’t we demolish this wreck and build a huge house here? We have the money.”
Ryan started the construction. One day, a young woman, Wendy, came to Morgan for a hairdo. A large boil marred her beautiful face. “I’m invited to a wedding. Can you do a hairstyle to hide this?”
“Girl, this is not just a pimple. The inflammation is spreading. Let me give you the number of a good surgeon,” Morgan said.
Two days later, Wendy came for a consultation. Ryan examined her and decided the boil needed to be cut out. “Don’t worry, it will take no more than 30 minutes,” he reassured her.
After the successful operation, Ryan met Tony in the corridor. “She’s pretty,” Tony noted. “No ring on her finger. You should ask her out.”
In the evening, Morgan subtly tried to find out if Ryan was attracted to her acquaintance. Ryan himself started talking about the girl. “Wendy came from you today.”
“And how is she?”
“Fine. And overall, as a person?” Morgan asked.
“Pretty, interesting,” Ryan replied, a bit shyly.
“She’s single,” Morgan teased. “An adult man, and still hesitating.”
Ryan sent an SMS, asking how Wendy felt. They texted all evening. The next day, he had a date. It went well. Wendy revealed she was a reporter involved in charity. They quickly found common ground.
Their relationship blossomed. A few months later, Ryan told her about his wealth. His only concern was that he spent too much time at work. Wendy decided to do a report on him. The work won a television award. When she went on stage to receive the trophy, Ryan joined her and proposed. The hall applauded.
One day, Amber came to Morgan for a dye job. “I came to talk,” she said, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry. Forgive me.” Morgan comforted her, embracing the girl. “I miss Dad,” Amber said. “He probably wanted us to reconcile.” She straightened up. “I’m having a baby.” They talked for another half hour.
Construction of the house was nearing completion. Wendy suggested Ryan invest in a business. She convinced Tony to present Ryan with the idea of opening a private clinic. In a month and a half, the house was completed. Ryan, Wendy, and Morgan moved in. Soon, Wendy became pregnant, and Morgan played the role of a nanny. Tony and Ryan opened their private clinic, and their affairs flourished.
During a family dinner, Ryan spoke up. “I’ve never been so happy. I’m surrounded by friends, a beloved woman, soon I’ll be a father. All thanks to one person. Morgan, you saved me. If that patient hadn’t come to me, I probably would have ended up a drunkard. It’s me who should be thanking you.”
Morgan couldn’t hold back her tears at such kind words. Everyone was happy, forgetting the sad events of their past. Ahead were new victories and discoveries.