I'm Done Being Understanding, Dr. Scumbag

My husband, Nathan Sidney, is the top doctor in the municipal hospital. However, he refuses to treat my stepsister, Jessica Jepson. He tells me that it's because Jessica's mother, Janice Ferguson, is Dad's mistress, which makes Jessica a mistress' daughter. They don't deserve to be treated by him because they're the ones responsible for tearing my family apart. During a family get-together, we play the "Have You or Haven't You" game. When it's my turn, I confidently say, "I've been treated by Nathan. You haven't." Jessica smiles and pulls out a medical report from her pocket. "Sorry, Cassie. You've lost." Nathan's signature is penned on the report. As I clutch the medical report, I ask hoarsely, "When did this happen?" "Last Wednesday," Nathan replies. "She cut her hand. I can't just ignore her when she's bleeding right in front of me." He smiles and ruffles my hair, saying, "I'm a doctor. I can't ignore a patient. You're so kind, Cassandra. You understand why I had to treat her, right?" In the past, when Jessica secretly tried on my wedding dress, Nathan said that she just liked feeling pretty. When she pawned off the gold bracelet Mom left me, he said she was just greedy, while wiring me money as compensation. I was hospitalized for two weeks after accidentally drinking white wine instead of water because the doctors were trying to protect the pregnancy. When I tell Nathan that Jessica's the one who mixed up the drinks, he says, "She's just a little stupid. You're so kind, Cassandra. You understand that she just made an honest mistake, right?" Today, Nathan has not only broken his promise, but he's also trying to emotionally blackmail me. I simply smile and softly say, "I don't want to understand. I'm done being understanding, Nathan Sidney." Chapter 1 Cassandra's POV The air in the private room suddenly turned cold. The smile disappeared from my husband, Nathan Sidney's face in an instant. "What are you talking about, Cassandra?" he asked. I took a deep breath. "I said that I won't be understanding toward you anymore." A long moment passed before my stepsister, Jessica Jepson, broke the silence. "Why are you mad, Cassie? Nate's a doctor. It's perfectly normal for him to treat a patient." "We're having a family get-together today," Dad chimed in. "Why are you saying such nasty things? It's not easy for Nathan to get time off to spend time with us. Why are you throwing a tantrum right now?" My stepmother, Janice Ferguson, pulled Jessica into her arms. She smiled and said, "Pregnant women usually have short tempers. I hope you weren't startled by her, Jessie. But she's really something else. She thinks that she's the boss just because she's pregnant." Nathan kept his head down and peeled an orange for Jessica, pretending that he couldn't hear their words. I rose to my feet and prepared to leave, but my waist was stinging painfully due to the pressure from my heavy stomach. Noticing how I was frowning in pain, Nathan pulled me to his side. He shot a gentle smile at me and asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable again? I'll ask the waiter to bring a cushion for you." "No need," I said stubbornly. "I want to go home." Jessica approached me and locked arms with me. "It's not easy for us to have a get-together, Cassie. Don't be so stubborn. Besides, no driver will dare to pick up a pregnant woman. How are you going to get home if Nate doesn't drive you? Don't tell me that you're planning to waddle home like a penguin?" Everyone in the room burst into boisterous laughter upon hearing her words. I felt as if I had been doused with a bucket of freezing water as I stood rooted to the spot. My voice was shaking when I said, "They're ridiculing me, Nathan. Didn't you hear them?" Nathan's gaze immediately turned cold. We had been together for years, so I could tell that he had reached the end of his patience. "You've crossed the line, Cassandra!" Dad snapped, raising his voice. "How dare you speak to your husband like that? Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because you're pregnant." Dad proudly boasted to anyone who would listen to him that Nathan was his perfect son-in-law. "My son-in-law's handsome and has a respectable job. In fact, my daughter's a full-time housewife now. She's having the time of her life!" Ever since I got married, Dad never once took my side whenever Nathan and I had an argument. Jessica blinked and threw her phone in front of me. "Nate's a doctor, Cassie. Treating patients is his job! He's been treating me ever since I was diagnosed with chronic pneumonia three years ago. Why would you get angry over something like this?" There was a special folder in her phone's photo album that was titled, "My Cold and Aloof Doctor". There were countless photos of medical records in the folder, spanning across three years. My eyes stung as I stared at the screen. Tears welled up in my eyes. Jessica was briefly stunned. She pursed her lips before she turned to Nathan and asked, "Don't tell me that Cassie's actually mad, Nate?" Nathan frowned and flicked her forehead. "The only thing that you're good at is adding oil to the flame." Although he was supposed to be berating her, he was smiling and didn't look angry at all. "Don't worry. Cassie's a very kind and understanding person. She won't take your words to heart." My stomach started throbbing slightly upon hearing his words. My back was completely drenched in sweat. Noticing how pale I was, Nathan escorted me to the car. After helping me into the backseat, he stood next to the window and shot a befuddled look at me. "Why are you mad?" he asked. "We were having such a good time at the get-together. Did you have to spoil the mood for everyone?" I stared into his eyes and said, "You swore to never treat Jessica and Janice. I didn't know that you were so untrustworthy, Dr. Sidney." Nathan was briefly stunned by my words. A small smile stretched across his lips when he said, "That was years ago. I already forgot about it. Besides, it's just a vow. Didn't I once say we'd have to get around on my beat-up scooter for the rest of our lives? Isn't this Audi much more comfortable?" His flippant words were like heavy rocks that crushed my heart. "Did you really forget?" I asked, not willing to give up just yet. Nathan seemed reluctant to meet my eyes. A long time passed before he finally hummed in response. "So what if I treated Jessica? The two of you have been family for a long time. It's time for you to let go of the past." Chapter 2 Cassandra's POV I couldn't help but think back to seven years ago when Nathan and I were living in a tiny room in a rundown neighborhood. Janice had kicked me out of the house. Meanwhile, Nathan was so poor that he couldn't even afford to buy a proper set of clothes for himself. I worked three jobs so he could attend university, and I never complained once, no matter how much hardship I had to endure. I was the first person that Nathan thanked during his graduation speech. He said that he would never be able to thank me enough even if he spent the rest of his life repaying my kindness. Later, Nathan was promoted to a senior attending physician. When he found out that Janice was originally Dad's mistress and had bullied me relentlessly when I was a child, he held up three fingers and made a vow. "I'll never treat Janice or Jessica even if I have to starve to death on the sidewalk." I stared at his glimmering eyes as I hid in his embrace. "Okay. I believe you," I said with a smile. Nathan's eyes still sparkled like before, but he had forgotten all about the vow that he made. "What are you looking at, honey?" he asked, pinching my cheek. "Let's just forget about what happened today. I'll take you to the hospital for a prenatal check-up tomorrow." Before I could get a word in, Janice's voice resounded from behind us. "Jessica's drunk, Nathan! Dad and I have a flight to catch tonight so we won't be able to take care of her. Why don't you take her to your place so you can look after her?" Nathan immediately agreed. He then scooped Jessica into his arms in a bridal carry right before my eyes. Jessica was already in a daze. She wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck and giggled. She sounded incredibly smug when she said, "I've conquered the cold and aloof doctor today…" "What drama have you been watching?" Nathan asked, looking at her helplessly. He ignored my pale face and carried Jessica to the passenger seat, asking, "What have you been eating lately? You feel heavier than before." Jessica shot him a disgruntled look. "You're not supposed to comment on a lady's weight, Nate." "Fine. I shouldn't have said that." The small interior of the car was filled with the sounds of their playful teasing. Their delighted voices grated on my nerves. I reached out and tugged on Nathan's shirt. "You said that you'd never let her set foot in our home." "Jessica's drunk," he retorted in a low voice as if he was warning me not to spoil the mood. "Where else can she go? You're her sister. Don't be so mean." I wanted to say that there were plenty of upscale hotels around us. But the words were stuck in my throat, and I couldn't say a single word. Nathan had forgotten again. When we first bought the house, I told him that I had to sleep in the attic because I was forced to give up my room to Jessica when I was a child. It was why I refused to allow her and Janice into our home. Nathan had hugged me with a heartbroken expression. He had then taken the initiative to upgrade the front door lock to a fingerprint sensor. Jessica pressed her hand to the fingerprint sensor when we reached the house. The door unlocked itself with a soft beep. "I can open the door now since you logged my fingerprints last time," she mumbled as she stumbled unsteadily across the threshold and slumped onto the stool next to the door. My lips quivered as my stomach churned uncomfortably again. It turned out that Jessica had been into my home behind my back. She had even stored her biometric data on the lock, which meant that she could come and go as she pleased. Nathan looked a little guilty when we made eye contact. "I'll explain later, honey." He then padded toward the kitchen to prepare some soup. He even knew that Jessica didn't like the taste of medicine and had specially prepared some eggs and tomatoes beforehand. Jessica was completely dazed at that point. Nathan had to kneel by her bedside and feed her the soup, one spoonful at a time. He bustled about for a long time before finally entering the bedroom to turn in for the night. When he noticed that I was still awake, he held my hand and asked, "Why are you getting jealous over your own sister, honey? It's late. You should get some rest, especially since you're pregnant." I swatted his hand away and turned my back on him, burrowing deeper into the blankets. Nathan sighed. "Jessica and Janice dropped by during your last prenatal check-up. They were carrying a lot of bags with them. I couldn't just leave them standing at the door. You're being too stubborn. You're not even giving me a chance to make you feel better. I'll let you cool off by yourself tonight." He then turned around and eventually fell asleep. I no longer had any desire to question him about why he would forget the vows that he made, knowing that he would simply answer that he had forgotten all about them. I pulled out my phone and scheduled an abortion. I also contacted a law firm and asked them to prepare divorce papers for me. Nathan had no idea that this was no longer about whether he could make me feel better. Chapter 3 Cassandra's POV The next morning, I saw Nathan and Jessica hugging each other as they slept on the couch when I opened the bedroom door. Jessica was sound asleep as she burrowed into Nathan's embrace while Nathan had his arms wrapped around her. They were pressed close together. I picked up the vase on the coffee table and smashed it against the floor. The deafening sound of exploding porcelain jolted them both awake. Jessica was still sprawled on the couch in a daze, while Nathan had hastily scrambled to his feet. He nonchalantly said, "I assumed that you didn't want to see me because you were in a bad mood yesterday. That's why I moved to the couch. "Jessica couldn't get used to sleeping on a bed that isn't hers. That's why she also slept on the couch. Somehow, we just… Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. Nothing happened between us." Even Nathan knew how flimsy his excuses were. Jessica hastily put her clothes on before approaching me, wanting to lock arms with me. I turned around and dodged her touch, shooting a cold glance at her. "Don't touch me." Jessica's eyes immediately reddened. "You don't like that I stink of alcohol, Cassie? I just drank too much last night. Please be a little more understanding." As I walked past her and headed toward the door, I said, "I already said that I'm done being understanding." Nathan hurriedly grabbed me. "How much longer are you going to cause a fuss? Do you have to say such nasty things?" He raised his voice before continuing, "I already told you that nothing happened. What more do you want?" His tone was so self-righteous that he nearly managed to fool even himself. "Let go of me," I hissed. "I'm going to the hospital." Nathan's lips twitched. "Coincidentally, I need to go to work too, honey. I'll take you to your prenatal check-up." He was completely oblivious to the fact that my prenatal check-up wasn't scheduled for that day. I didn't say a single word during the car ride. Instead, I looked at the flight tickets that were available. When Nathan noticed what I was doing, he said, "I've been wanting to go on a vacation too. Where do you want to go? Let me know." "Nowhere. I'm just looking," I said lightly, locking my phone. Truth be told, I had already booked a plane ticket to Mom's place. She once told me that she would always be my pillar of support no matter how far apart we were. … Nathan led me to the obstetrics department before turning around to head to his own workstation. I went downstairs to the gynecology department. The doctor frowned when he looked at my medical record. "You're quite far along. Why do you suddenly want to get an abortion?" "I accidentally drank some white wine some time ago," I replied. "I'm worried that the baby might come out deformed." It was a perfectly reasonable excuse. The doctor gave me a once-over before preparing a full-body check-up for me. "Let's check whether the fetus has any deformities first. You can't have a regular abortion if it isn't." I had no other choice but to comply. However, when I returned to the consultation room, Nathan was waiting inside. The air around him was incredibly intimidating as he stepped forward and grasped my hand. "Trying to get an abortion behind my back? Don't tell me that the next thing you're going to do is divorce me?" The amount of force that he was exerting made my bones ache. "Let me go!" I hissed through gritted teeth, glaring at him. "It's my right to decide whether I want to keep the child or get rid of it!" Nathan's temper exploded upon hearing my words. "Your right? What do you take me for, Cassandra Jepson? Didn't you swear to protect our child?" My mouth fell open. A long time passed before I finally said, "You also once swore to never treat Jessica. So, you're allowed to forget your vows, but I'm not given the same privilege?" Nathan couldn't stand it when anyone used his own logic against him. "You're still hung up over that?" he demanded, looking confused. "You only hate Jessie because her mother was your father's mistress, right? She was still a child at the time. She didn't understand what was going on. You shouldn't take your frustrations out on her. "Besides, it's not like your mother is completely faultless even though your father was the one who cheated on her. You're just like her. You've never once stopped to reflect on your own behavior. You're as stubborn as a bull!" The blood in my veins turned to ice. Chapter 4 Cassandra's POV When Mom found out about Dad's infidelity, she still stayed with the family, doing chores and taking care of us. She took Nathan's hand when I told her that we were dating, reminding him to take good care of me. Nathan was the one who pulled me into his arms and swore, "Don't worry, Mrs. Jepson. I'm not like other men." However, at that moment, he was saying that Mom deserved to be cheated on—that I was being too stubborn. I closed my eyes, unable to hold back my tears anymore. Only then did I understand that all men were the same. "I'm going to take you back right now and tell Dad just how stubborn you are!" Nathan exclaimed, forcefully dragging me back to Dad's house. The first thing I saw when the door swung open was Jessica's tear-streaked face. "I'm sorry, Cassie," she blubbered. "It's all my fault." Nathan walked over to her and wiped her tears. "It's okay. We can sweep everything under the rug once you apologize. Cassandra's just being stubborn." Dad didn't even bother lifting his head as he sat on the couch. "You've grown a spine now. How dare you try to get an abortion? What are you planning to do next? Turn this entire family upside down?" Janice held Jessica protectively. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at me and demanded, "Will you only be satisfied once you've cornered us into a dead end, Cassandra?" Nathan turned to look at me and coldly said, "She has already apologized. Be a little more understanding." He was trying to emotionally blackmail me again, forcing me to give in. "I already said that I was done being understanding," I retorted with a smile. "Let's get a divorce, Nathan. Whether I give birth to the child will have nothing to do with you anymore." It was as if my heart had turned into a pool of still water. There wouldn't be any more ripples no matter how painfully my heart ached. Silence descended upon the room the moment the words left my lips. "Don't even think about it," Nathan gritted out while glaring at me. "I'll never agree to getting a divorce. Keep dreaming!" Jessica was briefly stunned by my words. She then bolted to her room to pack her belongings. "It's all my fault! I shouldn't even exist in the first place! Cassie won't ask for a divorce anymore once I'm gone!" Nathan immediately abandoned me and barged into Jessica's room. "Don't act rashly, Jessie!" It didn't take long for Jessica to drag two huge suitcases out of her room. "I'm nothing but a burden. Cassie won't be mad anymore once I'm gone!" Nathan stepped forward to stop her. As they struggled, one of her suitcases tumbled down the staircase. It rammed right into me when I couldn't move out of the way in time, sending me rolling down the stairs. "Cassandra!" My consciousness was slowly fading even as I heard Nathan shouting my name. The only thing I could feel was the blood flowing from between my legs. … I was lying on a hospital bed when I opened my eyes again. The doctor informed me that the baby was gone. Nathan stood next to my bed and calmly said, "You got what you want. Are you happy now? Jessie had the scare of her life, and she fainted when she saw the blood. She has also been hospitalized to be monitored. I'm warning you. Don't give Jessie a hard time. What happened today was an accident." A bitter smile stretched across my lips as I looked up and stared at the ceiling. "I understand." "I'm going to take a break and take Jessie on a vacation. I hope that you'll have reflected on your actions by the time we're back. You can also forget about getting a divorce. You're nothing without me." I received a call from my lawyer seconds after Nathan left the room. "Are you sure that you want to give up on the house and only ask for half of the assets, Ms. Jepson?" "Yes," I answered tiredly, closing my eyes. "Please get it done as soon as possible."