Kneeling for a Second Chance (Sebastian and Valeria) novel Chapter 5

"I'm going upstairs," Sebastian added, getting to his feet.

Martha watched Sebastian's retreating figure and pressed a hand to her chest.

Nicholas sighed. "He's just like you. He's almost 30 now. Other men his age are already married with children, and yet all he ever thinks about is the hospital."

"So what if he's like me? Sleep in the study tonight. I'm going upstairs too." She shot him a glare.

Just as she reached the stairs, Sebastian appeared again. He was already changed into his work clothes and heading back down. "Mom, the hospital just called me in for an emergency surgery. I need to go."

He was already gone by the time Martha could react.

In the dining room, Nicholas slammed the table. "Just look at your son. All he thinks about is the hospital. He's only been home for an hour, but he's already gone without a word. What kind of lady would be willing to marry him?"

"What are you yelling at me for?" Martha dug at her ear in annoyance. "It doesn't concern you if you say he's my son. Sebastian is just being a responsible doctor."

…

When Sebastian returned from the hospital, it was already 11:30 pm.

A cream-colored Golden Retriever trotted over lazily and rubbed against him. He reached down to pat the dog on the head.

Pouring himself a glass of water, he headed into the study.

That morning, he had left without closing the windows. The wind had scattered books and papers across the desk. He bent down and picked them up one by one.

They were mostly medical records he had been reviewing recently. There were so many potential causes for massive abdominal swelling.

Reading the case files made his eyes ache with exhaustion. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, but it didn't help.

Glancing at his phone, he saw an unread message from Luke that had been sent earlier that morning. "I asked Taylor. She was in the neighboring class and used to be the closest to Jane. Even she says she hasn't been able to contact Jane."

Sebastian stared at that line of text. Not even her best friend could contact her?

He opened their old Telegram group chat. Out of 48 members, most had their names as nicknames, but six or seven accounts didn't.

He hadn't used this app in years.

Jane had long since blocked him on other social media.

Now, staring at those six or seven anonymous IDs, he added each of them.

Within minutes, three replied.

After some polite small talk, he realized none of them were Jane.

…

By the next day, the other three accounts had also replied, but not a single one was hers.

Finally, there was one anonymous account left.

The account wasn't private, but it also had no useful information. The avatar was an outdated, tacky-looking cartoon girl, and yet Sebastian was certain it was Jane.

…

That night at dinner, he glanced at his phone again.

There was still no response.

He tried adding her again, but three verification questions popped up. "Why are you adding me? Who are you? Who am I?"

His replies were short and to the point. "I'm Sebastian Grant."

"Jane Carlson."

A colleague nearby commented, "Dr. Grant, you've been so distracted by your phone today. Are you waiting for your girlfriend to text you?"

Plenty of female doctors at the hospital admired him. This instantly drew a few curious gazes that were hungry for gossip.

After all, Sebastian had famously rejected the dean's daughter when he first joined. That news had spread like wildfire through the hospital.

One after another, nurses and doctors had tried to approach him with confessions or breakfast deliveries. However, he had the same behavior—cold and reserved, rejecting every advance with detached politeness.

He didn't bother answering his colleague's teasing remark, and the doctor awkwardly chuckled before letting the matter drop.

…

A week later, Valeria opened her Telegram on a whim and nearly dropped her phone in shock when she saw Sebastian's request.

Staring at the request, she forced herself to act as though nothing had happened.

However, that same week, Sebastian kept opening the app during his break time.

Every day, he would click into her profile, staring at it. His request remained unanswered. It was as if she hadn't logged in for years.

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