Chapter 3

Three days later, I was in my office reviewing a patient's chart.

I had finalized my reinstatement paperwork over the past few days and officially returned to Central Medical Center.

It felt good to pick up the scalpel again.

It made me feel like I was back to being Claire Evans, instead of being somebody's decorative accessory.

My phone buzzed on the desk.

It was Alex again.

He had called countless times over the last three days, and I hadn't answered a single one.

Jonathan had been admitted to the VIP suite on the top floor, far away from my department.

We hadn't crossed paths once.

Watching the name flash on the screen, I hesitated for a moment before finally picking up.

"Dr. Evans." Alex's voice was hoarse and completely exhausted. "Please, I'm begging you, just come see Mr. Grant one time."

I leaned back in my chair, staring out at the blue sky.

"Isn't Miss Lane with him?" I asked.

Over the last few days, Sophie had essentially planted herself in Jonathan's room, playing the role of the devoted lady of the house.

The gossip had spread through the entire hospital.

Everyone was whispering that Mrs. Grant had fallen out of favor and the new flame was stepping up.

Alex sounded utterly helpless. "Ms. Lane is here, yes, but... but Mr. Grant's condition is deteriorating rapidly.

"He's been slipping in and out of consciousness, and whenever he wakes up, he calls your name.

"The hospital issued a critical condition notice this afternoon."

Critical condition.

Hearing those words issued formally by my old colleagues, applied to my legally wedded husband.

Yet, it felt so incredibly distant.

It was like I was listening to a story about a total stranger.

Alex kept talking. "Dr. Evans, I know what happened at the banquet was entirely Mr. Grant's fault. But he really isn't going to make it at this rate.

"Dr. Adams and the rest of the team are too scared to operate. They can only do conservative treatments. If this continues, Mr. Grant is going to..."

He didn't finish, but I got the message.

That piece of shrapnel was a grim reaper's scythe hanging directly over Jonathan's head.

It could drop at any given second.

Alex choked back a sob. "He just woke up a few minutes ago.

"He used every ounce of his strength to say that he just wants... he just wants to see you one last time."

See me one last time.

Did he want to apologize? Or did he just want to humiliate me one last time before he died?

I truly didn't care to find out.

I stared at my own reflection in the darkened screen of my phone.

My eyes were calm, indifferent, maybe even a little cruel.

She held her silence for three seconds.

Then, I slowly opened my mouth.

My voice wasn't loud, but it dropped like blocks of ice on the other end of the line. "Go find Sophie. She is his true love.

"Her love is so bright, it will surely light his way to heaven. I'm sure she'll find a way to save him."

With that, I hung up.

Finally, the world was quiet again.