Maya sat in the reception area, waiting to see the gynecologist. She had initially resisted Evelyn's suggestion to visit a doctor, but Evelyn's gentle insistence and concern finally persuaded her. Soon, a nurse appeared and escorted Maya down a hallway. "Dr. Garwood will see you now," the nurse said with a warm smile, opening the door to the office.

Maya stepped inside. Her eyes widened in surprise when the doctor, who was flipping through a file, looked up. Liam, who had also looked up at the sound of the door, froze when he saw Maya, looking as surprised as she was. "Maya?" he asked, blinking in astonishment. Maya's surprise quickly transformed into a radiant smile. "Liam! What what are you doing here?" she laughed softly.

Liam shook off his surprise and managed a small smile. "Please, sit down," he said, motioning toward the chair across from him. He glanced at the nurse and gestured for her to leave; she exited with a polite nod. Once they were alone, he turned back to Maya, still looking slightly bewildered. "So, what brings you to my office?"

Settling into the chair, Maya smiled softly. "I've been having terrible cramps lately, and Evelyn wouldn't let me hear the end of it until I agreed to get checked out."

Liam leaned back, a hint of relief crossing his face. "Evelyn insisted, huh?" he said with a soft chuckle.

"Yeah. Is she aware that you're in Ludus?" Maya asked. Liam hesitated, glancing at his hands before looking back at her.

"No, she doesn't, and I'd rather it remain so. Can I trust you not to say anything to her?" he asked, looking at her with beseeching eyes.

Maya frowned, her expression turning serious. "Is everything okay?" Her voice held a note of genuine concern. She knew how close he was to Evelyn and couldn't understand why he was keeping such a secret from her. She had found it strange that he had left without lunch as planned the last time, and hadn't even said goodbye.

Liam sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. "It's complicated," he admitted. "But maybe we can talk about that after your check-up. Are you free for lunch afterward?" Maya's face brightened. "Yes, I am," she agreed, a trace of warmth in her smile. "I don't really have any friends here, so it would be great to spend some time with someone I know besides Evelyn and Sam."

Liam got up and walked around his desk, putting on a pair of gloves and gesturing to an examination bed behind a curtain. "Let's get this checked. Just relax, and we'll explain everything as we go. The cramps might not mean anything."

Although she felt a bit self-conscious, Maya focused on the ceiling, trying to remain calm as Liam began the examination. His movements were calm and professional. After a few quiet moments, Liam's face grew serious, his eyes fixed on the monitor. His silence made Maya's heart beat faster, and a knot of worry formed in her stomach. After some time, he looked over the scan results while Maya sat back down.

"What is it?" she asked after a while, her voice barely a whisper.

Finally, Liam took a deep breath and turned to her, his gaze soft and sympathetic. "Maya… you have an ovarian cyst," he said gently. The words seemed to echo in the small room. Maya's face drained of color; her hands fell to her abdomen.

"Ovarian cyst?" she repeated.

"An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms on the ovary. Don't worry; most are non-cancerous and resolve on their own," he said.

"So, it's not serious?" she asked hopefully.

Liam hesitated. "It's too early to tell. We'll schedule follow-up ultrasounds to monitor its size and growth. If symptoms persist or worsen, we'll discuss treatment options. In the meantime, keep track of your symptoms and report any changes." Maya forced a small smile, but her hands were trembling.

"Treatment options," she repeated, the weight of it sinking in.

"Maya, I know it sounds frightening, but trust me, you'll be fine. I'll be here to guide you through every part of it," he said.

"Thank you, Liam. I… I just didn't expect this," she said with a forced smile. "Please, don't tell Evelyn about this." Liam's brow furrowed. "Why would you want to keep this from Evelyn?"

"She has enough on her plate. She's dealing with a lot. I don't want to add to her worries."

He watched her carefully, seeing the worry in her eyes, and nodded slowly, giving her a warm smile. "I understand. I'll keep this between us. You also have to promise not to tell her you saw me." She nodded.

"I guess we can't have lunch now. I'm sure you need some time to yourself," he said.

"Yeah. Maybe another time. Thank you, Liam." She stood, ready to leave, relief mixed with a heaviness she couldn't shake.

As she turned to leave, Liam's voice stopped her. "Maya… let's keep in touch, alright? If you need someone to talk to or want to hang out, you can call me," he said, holding out his card. She turned, looking back at him with gratitude. "Sure. I'd like that," she said, taking the card.