Chapter 2
When I got to the hospital, my mom was sitting up in bed, wearing her reading glasses and writing something. The moment she saw me, she quickly closed her notebook.
"Is Jonathan busy?" she asked.
My throat tightened.
"Yeah, he's got work stuff," I said.
She nodded, like she was relieved for me.
"It's good that he's busy. A busy man means he's capable," she said.
I lowered my head to pour her some water.
My tears almost fell into the cup.
She still thought Jonathan was my rock.
But my so-called rock?
He just threw me under the bus right at someone else's grave.
The next morning, a notification popped up in the company group chat: [10 AM, executive meeting. Mr. Ford will announce an important appointment.]
I'd just finished my mom's pre-op assessment and got to the meeting room four minutes late.
As soon as I pushed the door open, everyone turned to look at me.
Jonathan was sitting at the head of the table.
Emily was sitting to his right, dressed in a black suit, her eyes still red, like she was still mourning her husband.
But the pearl brooch pinned to her chest was the sample the partner sent me last month when I closed the deal for Ford Medical.
Jonathan's voice was calm.
"Starting today, Emily will be the executive director of Ford Medical Group."
"She'll be in charge of the planning, approvals, procurement, and bringing in specialists for all three new hospitals."
Applause broke out in the meeting room.
I stood at the door, my fingertips growing cold.
Those three hospitals were all my life's work.
They were the projects I'd spent two years fighting for. I'd done chasing approvals, visiting experts one by one, and pulling in investment after investment just to make them happen.
One of them, a cancer center.
It was the only hope for my mom's treatment.
And now, with just a few words, he handed it all over to Emily.
Emily looked up at me, her voice gentle. "Late to the meeting, Manager Sterling?"
I didn't say a word.
She smiled.
"Yesterday, a few key approval documents in the project database didn't get sent to me."
"If the person in charge can't even handle a basic handover, it's hard for me to feel comfortable letting her stay involved."
"And this is my very first meeting, and Manager Sterling is already late. How is the team supposed to see me as a leader?"
She looked at Jonathan.
"Jonathan, do you mind if I set a rule?"
Jonathan's gaze swept over my face.
"It's up to you," he said.
Emily smirked.
"Let's start with Manager Sterling," Emily said.
"Suspend her."
The room went dead silent.
I looked at Jonathan.
He knew how many sleepless nights I'd poured into this project.
He knew my mom was desperately waiting for a specialist to see her.
But he just brushed it off, speaking with that cold indifference.
"Do as Ms. White says," Jonathan said. I nodded.
"Okay," I said.
I turned and walked out.
Before the suspension email even hit my inbox, I'd already sent my resignation to HR.
Jonathan called me right away. "Come to my office."
When I pushed the door open, he was bent over some documents.
When he saw me come in, he capped his pen.
"Emily just got back. She needs to establish her authority," he said.
"Today's suspension is just for show, to set an example for the team."
I set my employee badge on the desk.
"No need to put on a show. I'm resigning," I said.
Jonathan finally looked up.
"Olivia, are you done with your drama?" he said.
I gave a small, bitter laugh.
"I'm not making a scene," I said.
"My mom's about to have surgery. I don't have time for your office games."
His brows knitted together.
"I'll get a doctor for her," he said.
"No need," I replied.
"Mr. Ford, Ford Medical belongs to Emily now. I can't even afford to go there anymore." His face darkened.
"Olivia, don't take that tone with me," he said.
I looked at him, suddenly feeling exhausted.
All these years, anytime I felt hurt, he'd just call me immature.
Wanting a wedding? That was me being childish.
Asking him to have dinner with my mom? Apparently, that just meant I didn't know my place.