THE DOCTOR'S LOVE TRAP

105. Gratitude

How long does it take to forgive others? Or...... Instead of expecting others to say sorry, would it be better to choose to forget it and assume it never existed in your life at all?

For, to wait for an apology from a person who never admits his mistakes is something that is in vain.

That was how Edgar had experienced, the years he had waited for Erika to say sorry and regret, but it never got him. Wh why? The woman never felt guilty.

The wait was futile, until he aged - Edgar preferred to forget Erika and considered her to never exist.

One day that he avoided arriving, at Elrich's wedding, Edgar had to go back to meet his ex-wife.

If at that time Erika wanted to greet him, maybe Edgar would try to forgive him even if the word was never spoken Erika in front of him.

Erika is still Erika. Women who never feel guilty let alone sorry. Until to just do a reprimand whatever Erika did.

Today, with greatness of heart, Edgar wanted to meet Erika. Actually, he does not know if Erika is being treated in the hospital. But his arrival to the city today, apparently greeted with the news.

Edgar felt, at the age of not young anymore, it was not appropriate that he continued to keep old wounds that would drain his mind. He wanted to let go of those shackles, in other words he wanted to make peace with the circumstances.

Edgar felt he was running out of time. He wanted to live a quieter life in old age without being overshadowed by a bleak past.

That's why he's here now. Meet Erika and hope that all their problems in the past can be discussed properly with a cool head.

"What are you here for?" Erika stared cynically at Edgar who had just entered her ward of care with Elrich.

"You want to make fun of me, huh?"

Edgar was silent, Elrich who also heard that just shook his head inexhaustibly. Why is Erika still the same as a dozen years ago. Not feeling guilty, just act as if they have fault with him.

"I came here to see you" Edgar said, sounding very calm.

"For what? You wanna laugh to see me sick? Or do you just wish I was in such a terrible and terrible condition?"

"God.." muttered Elrich. He looked at the father, as if asking through the eyes whether his father still wanted to continue the conversation with Erika even though Erika's speech was very unpleasant like this.

"El, let me have a one-on-one conversation with Mama Erika."

"But, Dad?" El disagrees, he remembers Wildan's message some time ago. They were both afraid that Erika would hurt Edgar with all her cunning attitude. Edgar has also just recovered.

"It's okay" said Edgar. The old man convinced El through his gaze. He was sure Erika would not dare to recklessly because at this time Erika was also lying weakly on the patient's bed.

"All right," said El. He knew his father needed privacy. But El will wait for his father in front of Erika's room.

After Elrich's out. Edgar walked slowly towards ran jang where Erika was treated.

"I don't want to ask you because I already know. I hope you recover quickly." Edgar's voice sounded very quietly beside Erika who was lying down.

The middle-aged woman immediately turned her eyes away. He looked in the opposite direction to Edgar's position.

"Today, my arrival here is to make peace with you. Regardless of any heartache or grudges you may still crave for me. I just want to live quietly without remembering the past again."

Erika snorted softly, but still did not want to look at her interlocutor.

"You think I can forget the pain of my heart for your actions to kick me out and Erland out first?" Erika finally spoke up.

"I won't be able to forget it, Edgar!" erika continued by emphasizing her words.

Edgar smiled slightly. He breathed slowly. "Well, if you can't forget that. Now, let me ask you a question. If you were me, what would you do to see your partner cheating on you with a trusted confidant?" Edgar took a deep breath. "Do I have to forgive you? Yeah, and in fact I'm here to tell you that this is all done," he later said.

"Of course I'll forgive you right away if that happens! I'm not going to kick you out like you did to me" Erika.

"You can say that because you were in the wrong position at the time."

Erika clenched her hand. He even used a blanket that covered part of his body. Edgar's words have a point, if he was in Edgar's position maybe he would also be very angry, only he answered so to defend his own mistakes.

"To be honest, I forgave you when you betrayed me. However, I could not control my emotions when I knew that Erland was not my flesh and blood. You've been in a relationship with Wilmar behind my back, Erika!"

Erika could not answer anymore. Edgar's words are one hundred percent true. This is why he does not want to discuss the past with Edgar, because he will always lose and be cornered because he is the one who is in the position of guilt.

"I hope you never mess with my life again. Nope. Don't ruin my family's life again. Both Elena, Elrich and their families. I hope you understand what I mean, Erika. We are getting old, it is not the time for us to be childish anymore. We should be ashamed at the age we still live." Edgar emphasized his every word.

Erika endured the pain of Edgar's words. Actually, he was hurt by his own actions. So, all of Edgar's words right now felt so slapped him indirectly. Edgar skinned all his past mistakes.

Erika also chose silence.

"All right, I hope you understand. I pray you'll heal quickly."

"Why?" Suddenly Erika voiced again with a voice that sounded discordant. "Why do you have to pray for me to be healed? Wouldn't it be if I died that you would be satisfied?" abugn.

Edgar smiled faintly. "Yes, that's true. But I still hope you can change for the better before you really die."

Once again, Edgar's words took Erika by storm.

"I'm done. I'm sorry." Edgar walked away.

"Why can't you consider Erland your son, even though Elrich's status is the same. El is the result of your affair, right?"

Erika's Speech and Question successfully stopped Edgar's steps.

"Naina can accept your son Elrich. Why can't you just accept Erland, like Naina did with Elrich?"

".... You should learn from your mistakes Edgar! You also cheated on Naina until you had another child outside of your marriage. But, why can't you accept Erland just because she's not your flesh and blood? Why don't you learn from Naina who can accept your son?"

"So, is this what makes you vengeful?" Edgar chuckled slightly at the end of his sentence because of Erika's expression. What Erika doesn't know is about Emily. Erika thinks Edgar has cheated on Naina and Elrich is the child of the affair.

Erika is jealous of Elrich for thinking Elrich and Wildan's status is the same.

Erika ignored Edgar's words. But, the look on his face meant that that was the main point and the reason for his revenge.

"What you need to know is, Elrich was my real son in a legitimate marriage. Emily was my first wife and I married her long before I married Naina."

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