Chapter 4

The fluorescent lights in the crowded hospital corridor hum as I stride toward the nurses' station, my scrub pants swishing with each step. Around me, the usual chaos of shift change unfolds—residents calling out lab results, nurses wheeling medication carts, and the constant beeping of monitors providing a steady background thrum. But my attention is focused on the confrontation brewing ahead.

As I turn the corner, I spot Amanda perched on a stool near the station, her designer handbag slung over one shoulder. Her eyes lock onto mine, and a sly smile curves her lips. Before I can greet her,…