Chapter 3

I ignored Mia's whining, shoving her hand aside. I clamped the artery and quickly threw in a repair stitch to stop the geyser of blood.

By the time the patient was patched up and fully stable, Mia was bawling loudly in the corner of the OR.

Harrison burst into the room, instinctively shielding Mia. "Natalie, what the hell did you do? Why did the artery blow?"

"She nicked it with the scissors!" I yelled.

"Bullshit! Mia didn't even touch the instruments," Carter barked from the doorway. "You screwed up the closure!"

Every nurse in the room stared at the floor. No one dared to defend me.

Harrison looked at me with deep disgust. "You are so jealous of her you would literally butcher a patient on the table.

"You don't even deserve a medical license."

Mia buried her face in Harrison's scrubs, sobbing.

Looking at the three of them united against me, I didn't even have the energy to fight back.

*****

I walked through the pouring rain back to the house I grew up in.

I punched my code into the smart lock, but the keypad just flashed a red error light.

Martha Thompson, our housekeeper, finally opened the door, looking apologetic. "Miss Bennett, your brother left strict orders. You have to be gone by tonight so you don't upset Mia."

I just nodded. Still soaking wet in my scrubs, I grabbed my duffel bag.

After our parents died, Carter and I were supposed to be a team.

This house was full of memories.

I stood there for a long moment before deciding to leave everything behind. I only packed what I needed.

My phone chimed.

The first text was from Harrison, demanding to know when HR would get my resignation letter.

The second was a flight confirmation: my ticket to the war zone was officially booked.

My phone buzzed again.

The wedding planning group chat was blowing up. I had incoming messages from everyone: the head florist, wedding photographer, ceremony officiant, custom dress designer.

I shot them each a quick DM. [Hey, the wedding's off. Please process my refund.]

The florist hit me back almost instantly. [Oh no, what happened? What about the white roses we ordered?]

I didn't even like white roses. They were Mia's favorite.

When I pulled up to the suburban cemetery, a fresh bouquet was already leaning against my parents' headstone.

The card was written in neat, delicate cursive.

[Dear Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, please don't worry. I'll take good care of Carter from now on. Yours, Mia Lawson.]

Carter actually brought her here.

Rain mixed with my tears, blurring my vision.

I reached out, my trembling fingers tracing the cold photos of my parents etched into the stone.

"Mom, Dad," I choked out, totally breaking down. "I don't have a home anymore.

"Carter doesn't want me. Harrison swore an oath right here at your graves, and he bailed on me too."

*****

Later that afternoon, I headed to the hospital to process my paperwork.

Carter tossed a disciplinary notice onto the desk in front of me. "Natalie, just apologize to Mia and admit the surgical error was your fault.

"Do that, and I can make this write-up go away."

I stared at the paper and burst out laughing. "Carter, do you seriously think I give a damn about a demerit at this point?"

Carter sneered. "With this on your record, you can kiss your medical career goodbye."

I didn't even have the energy to argue. I just turned and yanked the office door open.

Outside, a guy with bloodshot eyes was charging down the hall, wildly swinging a hunting knife. "You killed my wife!"