Chapter 2

The next morning, I walked into the hospital expecting to go straight to the legal department. Instead, I found a circus waiting for me.

Nathan had called an emergency department meeting—at 7 AM, before I'd even had coffee. Every surgeon, resident, and nurse in the department was packed into Conference Room A.

When I stepped through the door, every head turned.

Nathan stood at the front, his white coat crisp, his expression grave and theatrical. Beside him, Brianna sat in the front row, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

She was crying.

"Vivian." Nathan's voice boomed across the room. "Sit down."

I didn't sit. I leaned against the doorframe and crossed my arms.

Nathan cleared his throat and addressed the room. "I called this meeting because I believe in transparency. Last night, my wife discovered that Brianna and I are in a relationship. And her reaction was... violent."

My jaw dropped.

Brianna let out a perfectly timed sob. "She—she grabbed me by the hair and slammed me into the wall. I was so scared..."

She pulled down the collar of her scrubs to reveal a bruise on her collarbone. A bruise that was clearly days old—yellowed at the edges, not fresh.

I hadn't touched her. I hadn't even raised my voice.

"That's a lie," I said flatly.

The room shifted uncomfortably. A few residents exchanged glances.

Nathan held up his hand. "Vivian, I understand you're emotional. But assaulting a colleague is a serious offense. I've already filed a report with HR."

"You filed a—" I stopped myself. I looked around the room at the faces of my colleagues. Some looked sympathetic. Most looked like they'd already made up their minds.

Dr. Alan Marsh, the department head and Nathan's golf buddy, spoke up from the corner. "Vivian, given the circumstances, I think it's best if you take a leave of absence while we investigate."

"Investigate what?!" I stepped forward. "She's lying! I never touched her!"

Brianna flinched dramatically, shrinking behind Nathan as if I were about to attack her right there. Several nurses gasped.

Nathan wrapped a protective arm around her. "See? This is exactly what I'm talking about. She's unstable."

I scanned the room for a single ally. My eyes landed on Dr. Priya Nair, a resident I'd mentored for two years. She was staring at her shoes.

"Priya," I said. "You know me. You know I would never—"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Cross," Priya mumbled without looking up. "I... I don't want to get involved."

The betrayal hit like a scalpel between my ribs.

A senior nurse named Gloria raised her hand. "Actually, I saw Vivian in the OR until past midnight last night. She went straight to the locker room after surgery. There's no way she could have—"

"Gloria." Nathan cut her off, his voice sharp. "Are you sure you want to contradict a formal HR complaint? Because I'd hate for this to affect your position."

Gloria's mouth snapped shut.

The room was silent. Nathan had them all under his thumb—through fear, through politics, through the power that came with being married to the hospital director's nephew.

I realized something in that moment: this wasn't just about the affair. Nathan had been planning this. He wanted me out of the hospital entirely. And Brianna wasn't just his mistress—she was his weapon.

I straightened my spine and looked directly at Nathan. "Fine. I'll take the leave."

His eyebrows shot up. He clearly hadn't expected me to agree so easily.

"But let me be very clear." I let my gaze sweep the room one final time. "Every single one of you will remember this day. And when the truth comes out—because it always does—I want you to remember that you sat here and said nothing."

I turned and walked out.

Behind me, I heard Brianna's sobs transform into a breathy giggle, quickly smothered.

As I passed the nurses' station, my phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

"Dr. Ashford, this is Director Raymond Liu from Pinnacle Medical Center. We know who you are. We've known for some time. When you're ready, we'd like to offer you something your current hospital never could: the respect you deserve. Call me."

I stared at the message, my heart pounding.

Then I kept walking—straight out of St. Albans' front doors, without looking back.