Chapter 33

Summer in Pearl Peak City was as hot as ever.

During the peak of summer. they'd chill a sweet watermelon in the freezer and pull it out when the heat got unbearable. The whole family would gather around and enjoy it together. making it the best part of the day.

Linda, as usual. carried a freshly chilled watermelon, smiling as she headed to her family's clinic.

Linda's family had been running a clinic in Pearl Peak City for years.Her father-in-law, a well-known medicine practitioner, had once drawn in crowds. But as the city developed and after his passing, the clinic, which refused to move, started to feel out of place. The once-bustling clinic now saw few visitors.

Most days, Linda's husband. Wade, would be lounging on a rocking chair in his office, listening to the music, and waiting for Linda to bring him watermelon.

Today, Wade was acting really strange. He was shaking his head and mumbling to himself, looking completely puzzled.

Linda was taken aback by his odd behavior. She quickly set down her basket and rushed over, "What's wrong with you? Are you Weeling sick? Why are acting so weird? Where does it hurt? Listen.don't be shy about it. We're both doctors here; if something's wrong.we need to deal with it. How about I book you an appointment with

a specialist at Pearl Peak City Hospital for a fulI check-up today?"

She stared at Wade, her eyes filled with concern.

Wade was still lost in thought, and Linda's sudden interruption startled him. Rubbing his temples, he said. "It's nothing, just don't freak out. I just feel... how do I put it? It's a bit of a shame..."

"A shame about what? Did you forget where you hid your stash of cash?" Linda joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Thinking about the stash that had been discovered made Wade a bit angry. "I'm trying to talk about something serious here! I had this weird encounter today. A young woman came in wanting to buy abortion pills. She was crying and said she'd been to several pharmacies. but they all wanted a hospital note before selling her anything, so she came to us. She told me she'd take whatever I could give her, not caring about the risks to her health. When I refused, she.

Wade spoke quickly, his breath a bit uneven.

"What did she say?"

Linda's curiosity was piqued, her eyes wide with interest.

"She insisted that I prescribe her the medication, practically grinding her teeth in frustration. I just felt something was off; it seemed like she wanted to give it to her love rival or something. I couldn't take that risk-what if something went wrong? I could end up causing a tragedy!" Wade said, pounding his chest in anxiety.

Linda nodded in agreement. "Exactly, we need to be careful. We're doctors, and if something happens, it could ruin our clinic's reputation. But it's not that unusual; maybe she was just being honest and didn't mean any harm."

Linda didn't quite grasp Wade's underlying worry; she thought it wasn't as serious as he made it seem.

"What I'm trying to say isn't about that. When she asked for the pills,I didn't think much of it at first. I just wanted to do a check-up to see what medication would be appropriate, to minimize any harm to her body," Wade explained patiently. He had always been cautious and responsible in his practice.

"That makes sense; if we can help her have a safe abortion, that's a good thing. She must be going through a tough time, being from out of town, right?" Linda said with sympathy.

Wade interrupted her empathy. "Her accent sounded a bit like it's from Pearl Peak City, but definitely not from the city center. But that's not the point!"

He was feeling a bit frustrated now.

"Alright, so what's so strange about it?" Linda asked as she sliced into a watermelon, the red juice dripping onto the old table.

"What's strange is this: when I suggested a check-up, she initially refused. I explained that without an examination, I couldn't accurately determine the right dosage for the medication. She kept insisting on a large dose, even double the amount. She seemed a bit

out of control, and I was ready to kick her out. But then, maybe because she saw I was serious, she finally agreed." Wade recalled, his expression full of confusion.

"When she agreed to the check-up, that's when I was shocked. This woman-she didn't even have a uterus! How could she be pregnant?"Wade's voice dropped, knowing it was a sensitive topic, even when speaking to Linda.

"What?" Linda gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"What are you saying, Wade? Are you losing it? Is she really a woman? Could she be a transgender person dressed as a woman to buy the pills?" Linda struggled to believe it, desperately searching for an explanation.

"She is a woman! I've been a doctor for over fifty years; there's no way I could be wrong!" Wade felt defensive, his confidencein his medical skills shining through. "No way! You can doubt my character,but you can't question my medical judgment..." The more he talked,the more aggrieved he felt.