chapter995

Calliope and Silas headed to a cozy restaurant. After they settled into their seats, Silas did what he always did he ordered several dishes he knew she liked, without even glancing her way for confirmation. He had a knack for remembering every detail about her tastes, always making her feel seen and cared for.

Sometimes, Calliope marveled at how effortlessly thoughtful he was. He remembered even the tiniest of her preferences, recalling them with a precision that seemed almost impossible. As she watched him finish up with the waiter, she braced herself. She could sense there was something he wanted to say, and she was fairly certain it was about that woman-the one he could never forget. That thought always pricked at her. He was already so attentive to her as his partner; how much more would he do for the woman who truly owned his heart? Surely, he would treat his true love with even more care, more tenderness he would make

her world perfect.

But the truth was, Silas never belonged to her. He was never really hers, not even in the beginning. There had been wishful moments when she let herself believe otherwise, but deep down she always knew they were just fleeting fantasies. The man sitting across from her was never hers to keep.

"You said earlier you needed to tell me something." Calliope lifted her eyes, took a measured sip of tea, and gave him a gentle, practiced smile one that concealed the storm underneath. She did her best to appear composed, refusing to show any sign of turmoil. She wouldn't allow herself to fall apart in front of him; she'd already lost enough.

"Yes, I do have something to discuss, Silas replied, his voice taking on a seriousness she rarely heard. "I wanted to ask if you could help save someone for

me."

Calliope blinked in surprise. "What?"

She stared at him, momentarily speechless. She had expected him to sit across from her and say the things she feared most-that he wanted a divorce, that they weren't right for each other, that he still loved someone else. But instead, he was asking for her help-to save someone.

Her mind spun, racing through a hundred different thoughts, until confusion overtook everything.

"Is it too much?" Silas watched her, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "Would you at least consider it? Maybe take a look, before you decide?"

"It's not that....." Calliope found her voice again and asked softly, "Who is it? Who do you want me to treat, and what's the issue?"

"It's a friend of mine," he said quietly. "Someone very important to me. She was hurt some time ago. There's a toxic substance in her body most doctors won't touch the case, because the surgery is so risky. They say it needs someone with exceptional skill."

He looked at her, hope mingling with uncertainty. "I know how good you are, so I wanted to ask if you'd be willing to try. Of course, if you'd rather not, I understand I won't push you."

He wasn't pressuring her, not really, but the disappointment and sadness that clouded his expression made it almost unbearable to refuse.

Looking at him, she could hardly find it in herself to say no.

"I can take a look," Calliope said at last. "I need to see the patient in person before I can say anything definitive. There's no way to know until I assess the situation myself."

Silas's eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. Really? That's all I ask. If it turns out there's nothing to be done, then we'll accept that."

Calliope gave a small nod. "I'll try my best-but I can't promise you any miracles."

Silas had only given her the barest details. Without seeing the patient, there was no way to judge the case accurately. These things were

complicated, far beyond what ne

layperson could adequately

describe. If things were as serious as Silas implied, with other doctors turning it down because of the risks, then the odds of success were clearly very low. No matter how talented she was, she was still human-if this surgery was truly as dangerous as it sounded, she might not be able to do any better than anyone else.

"I'll do everything I can," Calliope said quietly, meeting his gaze. "So, is that all you

needed to talk to me about? Or is there something else?"