Chapter 1: The Slap That Changed Everything
“Hello. I brought a cake to surprise Ben.””
Sarah smiled as she approached the hospital reception desk, carefully holding a paper bag in her right hand. Inside was a beautifully decorated cake, still tucked safely inside its box.
She had spent nearly an hour choosing it.
Ben had been working long hours lately. Their conversations had become shorter, his phone calls less frequent, and his messages strangely predictable.
But today, she wanted to do something simple.
She wanted to see his face light up.
The receptionist looked up with a polite smile.
“Who are you here to see?””
“Ben. My husband works here,” Sarah replied cheerfully.
“Could you tell me where I can find him?””
Before the receptionist could answer, a woman in a medical uniform turned around.
She had been standing near the corridor, holding a clipboard. The moment she heard Ben's name, her expression changed.
Her eyes moved from Sarah's smiling face to the paper bag in her hand.
Then she marched toward her.
“YOU!””
Sarah blinked.
“Excuse me?””
The woman didn't answer.
Her right hand suddenly swung across Sarah's face.
SMACK!
Sarah's head snapped to the right. Her body staggered sideways, and her left hand shot out to catch the edge of the reception counter.
The paper bag swung violently in her right hand, but she held on.
For a moment, the entire reception area went silent.
Sarah slowly regained her balance.
Only then did she lift her left hand to her burning cheek.
“What... what did you just do?””
The nurse stepped closer, pointing directly at Sarah's face.
“How can you smile like that?”” she demanded.
“How can you walk in here looking so happy when he's suffering like this?””
Sarah stared at her.
“Who are you talking about?””
“Don't pretend you don't know!””
Sarah's fingers trembled against her cheek.
“I'm here to see my husband. What are you talking about?””
The nurse gave a bitter laugh.
“Your husband? You suddenly remember that you have a husband?””
Sarah looked toward the corridor, hoping someone would explain what was happening.
“Please, just tell me where Ben is.””
The nurse pointed at the paper bag.
“And you brought cake? Really? He's going through something terrible, and you think bringing cake makes everything better?””
Sarah looked down at the bag.
The corners had become slightly wrinkled where her right hand gripped the handles.
She swallowed hard.
“I don't understand. Ben told me—”
“Stop lying!”” the nurse interrupted.
“Don't stand here pretending you're an innocent wife!””
“I'm not lying!””
“You should have been beside him!””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“Beside him for what? What happened to my husband?””
The nurse opened her mouth, but Sarah finally raised her voice.
“Then TELL ME! What is happening to Ben?””
Several people turned toward them.
A man in a white coat emerged from the corridor.
“What's going on here?””
It was Dr. Arnold.
He immediately noticed Sarah's red cheek and the nurse standing aggressively in front of her.
He stepped between them, raising one open hand to create distance.
“That's enough,” he said firmly.
The nurse stepped back.
Dr. Arnold turned toward Sarah.
“Sarah? Did you come to see Ben?””
Sarah nodded.
Her left hand remained against her cheek while her right hand held the paper bag.
“Yes. I brought him something.””
Dr. Arnold glanced at the bag.
Then he looked at her face.
Something changed in his expression.
The sternness disappeared. His eyes softened, and he seemed to struggle with what he was about to say.
“Sarah,” he asked quietly, “has Ben still not told you anything?””
Sarah froze.
The words seemed to echo inside her head.
She stared at the doctor.
“What do you mean?””
Dr. Arnold lowered his eyes.
The nurse, who had been pointing angrily at Sarah just seconds earlier, slowly lowered her hand.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Sarah took a small step forward.
“Doctor, please. What hasn't my husband told me?””
Arnold looked toward the corridor.
Then he looked back at Sarah.
“Perhaps you should come with me.””
Sarah's heart began pounding.
“Is Ben all right?””
The doctor didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned toward the nurse.
“Did you tell her?””
The nurse looked away.
“No,” she whispered.
Sarah's lips parted.
“Tell me what?””
Dr. Arnold took a slow breath.
And then he said something that made Sarah's knees feel weak.
“Before you see your husband, there's something you need to understand.””
Sarah tightened her grip on the cake bag.
“What is it?””
Arnold glanced toward the closed doors at the end of the corridor.
“Ben has been asking everyone to keep something from you.””
Sarah stood motionless.
May you like
And suddenly, the cake in her hand felt heavier than it had ever been.
What had Ben been hiding from his own wife?
