Chapter 4

I walked into the hospital carrying dinner for my dad, only to hear two ICU nurses whispering in the corner.

"Did you hear? Vincent Hale from CT Surgery is sleeping with that new nurse, Mia Bennett. She's already two months pregnant."

"No way! Isn't he married to Dr. Quinn from OB/GYN?"

"Elena is such a sweetheart. And her dad is the mentor who made his career possible..."

My grip on the thermos tightened.

In my past life, everyone only found out because I caused a massive scene in his department.

This time, I hadn't breathed a word. How did it spread so fast?

Then it hit me: When I called Mia's name, she had walked in from the waiting area. The waiting area was packed with OB/GYN nurses.

Right outside the ICU doors, a hand clamped down on my wrist.

The grip was so vicious it felt like my bones were going to snap.

Vincent, his eyes bloodshot, dragged me into the stairwell and slammed me against the wall.

"Was this you? Did you leak this?"

"I'm warning you. Mia is pregnant. If she gets stressed and something happens to the baby, I will destroy you."

I shoved him off me and sneered. "It wasn't me."

The stairwell door creaked open.

Mia stood there, pale as a ghost, clutching her stomach.

"Ellie, it's all my fault. I never should have fallen in love with him."

"I'll resign tomorrow. Please... please don't back me into a corner like this."

Vincent panicked. He rushed over, scooped her up, and pulled her into his chest, rubbing her back.

When he looked at me, his eyes were pure poison.

"Did you hear her? Are you happy now?"

"Elena, I'm giving you one last chance. Put out a statement."

"Say we separated months ago and kept it secret for your dad's sake. Clear Mia's name."

I looked at him holding her and almost laughed.

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't?" Vincent sneered. "Do you honestly think Alan Lowell is coming back?"

"I'm the only one who can save your dad. If I were you, I wouldn't gamble his life on a bluff."

I ignored him, shoved past them, and walked into the ICU.

Just as I finished feeding my dad, Dr. Warren walked up, looking incredibly stressed.

"Elena, the latest angiogram is back."

"Triple-vessel disease with severe calcification. I haven't done many cases this complex."

"Should we... maybe ask Vincent to come back?"

I gave him a reassuring smile. "No need, Dr. Warren. I've already secured Alan Lowell as the lead surgeon. I'll have him coordinate the surgical plan with you."

Dr. Warren's eyes lit up.

"Alan Lowell is coming back? Thank God! I'll prep the pre-op plans right now!"

But midnight came and went. Alan didn't show.

My heart crept up into my throat.

I texted him. No reply.

I called. Went straight to voicemail.

Suddenly, the ICU alarms shrieked like a banshee.

A nurse sprinted out into the hall. "Dr. Quinn! Your father is crashing!"

My knees buckled. I nearly hit the floor.

The code team fought for him in the resuscitation room for forty agonizing minutes.

Dr. Warren finally pushed the doors open. He was drenched in sweat, his face shield fogged over.

"Elena, we stabilized him for now. But he needs surgery immediately."

I opened my mouth to speak.

Footsteps echoed behind me.

Vincent stood there in his scrubs, twirling a surgical cap around his finger. The corner of his mouth was curled up in a triumphant smirk. Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.

"Made your choice, Elena?" he drawled.

"Your dad's life? Or your useless pride?"

I stared at his face.

My nails dug so hard into my palms they drew blood.

In my past life, he wore this exact same expression.

When I was on my knees begging him not to leave. When my dad died on the table. When he was picking out paint colors for the nursery with Mia.

Always this face.

Arrogant. Untouchable. Playing God.

"You clear Mia's name right now, and I'll scrub in."

"I guarantee your dad walks out of there alive."

There wasn't a shred of guilt in his eyes. Only absolute certainty that he held the life of the mentor who built him in the palm of his hand.

Like a hunter watching a wounded deer.

No need to rush. Just wait for it to bleed out.

I took a deep breath, about to speak—

"Who told you you're the only one who can operate on Dr. Quinn?"

The voice echoed down the hallway.

Low, deep, and perfectly steady.

Chapter 4

I walked into the hospital carrying dinner for my dad, only to hear two ICU nurses whispering in the corner.

"Did you hear? Vincent Hale from CT Surgery is sleeping with that new nurse, Mia Bennett. She's already two months pregnant."

"No way! Isn't he married to Dr. Quinn from OB/GYN?"

"Elena is such a sweetheart. And her dad is the mentor who made his career possible..."

My grip on the thermos tightened.

In my past life, everyone only found out because I caused a massive scene in his department.

This time, I hadn't breathed a word. How did it spread so fast?

Then it hit me: When I called Mia's name, she had walked in from the waiting area. The waiting area was packed with OB/GYN nurses.

Right outside the ICU doors, a hand clamped down on my wrist.

The grip was so vicious it felt like my bones were going to snap.

Vincent, his eyes bloodshot, dragged me into the stairwell and slammed me against the wall.

"Was this you? Did you leak this?"

"I'm warning you. Mia is pregnant. If she gets stressed and something happens to the baby, I will destroy you."

I shoved him off me and sneered. "It wasn't me."

The stairwell door creaked open.

Mia stood there, pale as a ghost, clutching her stomach.

"Ellie, it's all my fault. I never should have fallen in love with him."

"I'll resign tomorrow. Please... please don't back me into a corner like this."

Vincent panicked. He rushed over, scooped her up, and pulled her into his chest, rubbing her back.

When he looked at me, his eyes were pure poison.

"Did you hear her? Are you happy now?"

"Elena, I'm giving you one last chance. Put out a statement."

"Say we separated months ago and kept it secret for your dad's sake. Clear Mia's name."

I looked at him holding her and almost laughed.

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't?" Vincent sneered. "Do you honestly think Alan Lowell is coming back?"

"I'm the only one who can save your dad. If I were you, I wouldn't gamble his life on a bluff."

I ignored him, shoved past them, and walked into the ICU.

Just as I finished feeding my dad, Dr. Warren walked up, looking incredibly stressed.

"Elena, the latest angiogram is back."

"Triple-vessel disease with severe calcification. I haven't done many cases this complex."

"Should we... maybe ask Vincent to come back?"

I gave him a reassuring smile. "No need, Dr. Warren. I've already secured Alan Lowell as the lead surgeon. I'll have him coordinate the surgical plan with you."

Dr. Warren's eyes lit up.

"Alan Lowell is coming back? Thank God! I'll prep the pre-op plans right now!"

But midnight came and went. Alan didn't show.

My heart crept up into my throat.

I texted him. No reply.

I called. Went straight to voicemail.

Suddenly, the ICU alarms shrieked like a banshee.

A nurse sprinted out into the hall. "Dr. Quinn! Your father is crashing!"

My knees buckled. I nearly hit the floor.

The code team fought for him in the resuscitation room for forty agonizing minutes.

Dr. Warren finally pushed the doors open. He was drenched in sweat, his face shield fogged over.

"Elena, we stabilized him for now. But he needs surgery immediately."

I opened my mouth to speak.

Footsteps echoed behind me.

Vincent stood there in his scrubs, twirling a surgical cap around his finger. The corner of his mouth was curled up in a triumphant smirk. Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.

"Made your choice, Elena?" he drawled.

"Your dad's life? Or your useless pride?"

I stared at his face.

My nails dug so hard into my palms they drew blood.

In my past life, he wore this exact same expression.

When I was on my knees begging him not to leave. When my dad died on the table. When he was picking out paint colors for the nursery with Mia.

Always this face.

Arrogant. Untouchable. Playing God.

"You clear Mia's name right now, and I'll scrub in."

"I guarantee your dad walks out of there alive."

There wasn't a shred of guilt in his eyes. Only absolute certainty that he held the life of the mentor who built him in the palm of his hand.

Like a hunter watching a wounded deer.

No need to rush. Just wait for it to bleed out.

I took a deep breath, about to speak—

"Who told you you're the only one who can operate on Dr. Quinn?"

The voice echoed down the hallway.

Low, deep, and perfectly steady.