Chapter 1

I stumbled across a short video posted by one of Michael's trainees. She was holding his hand, trailing after him step by step. "Dr. Turner, wherever you go, I go. The best mentor is right here in front of me."

Michael even left a comment under it: [Hold on tight. If you get lost, you'll end up crying and looking for me again.]

He never commented on anything—he wouldn't even like my posts. He always said he didn't have the time.

But now he suddenly had both the time and the mood to flirt online.

I put my phone down and went ahead to cancel the wedding.

A man with no sense of boundaries just wasn't worth losing sleep over.

*****

Emily's face kept flashing across my screen as I went through every video she'd posted over the past six months. Every single one of them was about her and Michael.

From her timid beginnings to now shadowing him everywhere, the way she changed at each stage had the whole internet talking.

[Emily, just bag him already. He looks kissable as hell.]

[Even from the back, you can tell he's handsome—gives off that untouchable vibe.]

[Emily, good men don't stay on the market. Grab him while you can.]

And Emily actually replied: [I'll do my best.]

I couldn't help rolling my eyes. Just then, Michael texted me: [Jess, I've got a surgery tonight. Can't make dinner.]

Normally, I would've just let it slide, but on a whim, I suddenly wanted to see for myself. So I shot back a quick "Okay."

Once I was ready, I drove over to the hospital.

When I arrived, I spotted Michael coming out of the outpatient building with Emily trailing behind him.

She was bouncing as she grabbed his hand and pressed herself close to him. "Dr. Turner, let's get dinner together. I'm so nervous about the surgery tonight."

"What are you nervous about? I'll be right there. Don't you trust me?" Michael teased.

His smile made my chest tighten. Even though I had prepared myself, seeing it for real still stung.

Then he looked up and met my gaze. His smile froze. "Jess?"

I forced a small smile and held out the lunch box from the passenger seat. "Just passing by. Thought I'd bring you dinner."

Michael smiled, about to say something, but Emily jumped in first. "Dr. Turner, who's this? Is she your sister?"

Her whole clueless act was just so cringe.

I couldn't be bothered to play along with her little act, but Michael frowned and cut in, saying, "She's my fiancée. Watch what you're saying."

She stuck out her tongue. "Sorry, sis, I really couldn't tell."

I smiled thinly. "Then you really need your eyes checked. You're what—at least twenty-five to be in residency, right? I'm younger than you. I don't deserve to be your 'sister.'

"Bad eyesight is fine, just don't mix things up on the operating table. That's how accidents happen. Isn't that right, Michael?"

Michael cleared his throat. Emily's eyes welled up as she ducked her head and muttered, "I'm sorry. I was just joking. I'll leave you two to talk."

She hurried off, and Michael stared after her, clearly anxious. "Jessica, that was too much. She likes to joke around. You didn't need to bite her head off."

I let out a disbelieving laugh. "Michael, even jokes have a line. If I walked out hand-in-hand with another man, how would you feel?"

He froze, then quickly tried to explain. "It was nothing, Jess. Don't take it to heart. We're about to get married. She's just a student."

I scoffed inwardly and didn't bother answering. I rolled up the window and drove off.

In the rearview mirror, I could still see Michael standing there, face dark as thunder—but that was no longer my problem.

*****

When I got home, Emily had already posted a new short video.

On screen was a fancy lunchbox, with the caption: [Some girls just love to start girl drama out of nowhere. Seriously, what are they even thinking? Thank goodness I had Dr. Turner to comfort me.]

I scoffed. Michael had really crossed the line this time.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from the hotel: [Ms. Rivers, your wedding menu's all set. Please take a look and let us know if you'd like any changes.]

I skimmed through it, tapped the screen a few times, hesitated, and finally replied: [I'll check it out.]

Come to think of it, from the moment we decided to get married, I had handled every single detail—big or small—on my own.

Michael always said, "Jess, I'm too busy. I trust you with this.

"Jess, whatever you decide is fine."