Chapter 4

With my colleagues staring, I stopped in front of another physician from our department.

"I bought these from a kid on the street. Would you share them with the staff in the break room, Dr. Vance?"

Dr. Maya Vance was Chloe's long-standing departmental rival. Chloe had warned me countless times to keep my distance from her.

I never cared for their workplace politics, but I knew Maya was a sharp clinician and genuinely kind, often bringing homemade treats for the floor nurses.

Chloe's face turned an ugly shade of purple. Just as she opened her mouth to snap, I turned and walked toward my car.

Before I took five steps, Chloe caught up and grabbed my sleeve.

"Mason! What the hell was that? Giving roses to Maya right in front of me?"

"I said a few harsh words to you, and you humiliate me publicly? Did you even stop to think about my reputation?"

Her reputation?

Had she thought about my reputation when she sent me to wait in the wrong place?

I looked at her and felt tired all the way down to my bones.

"Let's get a divorce," I said, my voice dead flat.

Chloe froze. "What did you say? Have you lost your mind? Just because I complimented Logan, you're throwing a tantrum like this?"

"Do you think marriage is a joke? First you abandon your professional duties, and now you treat our vows like trash!"

Logan jogged up behind her, putting on a frantic, pleading face.

"Dr. Crawford, please calm down. You've been married for years. What will Chloe do if you divorce?"

"If this is about me, I'll submit a transfer request tomorrow! I swear I'll never show up in front of Chloe again!"

I looked at their synchronized performance, sick to my stomach.

"No need," I said coldly. "I'm the one leaving. I'll make room for the two of you."

Realizing I was dead serious, Chloe's brow furrowed, her tone turning venomous.

"Mason, you really are heartless. All those promises about cherishing me forever were lies. You think I actually need a man like you?"

"You strut around acting like you're some kind of medical prodigy! I've been sick of your bloated ego for years. There are plenty of men out there ten times better than you!"

Logan looked from Chloe to me. Once he realized I meant it, he straightened up beside her.

"Don't worry, Chloe. I will never let you down. I'll climb to the very top and make huge contributions to cardiac surgery."

Right as the words left his mouth, Chloe's phone buzzed loudly.

The caller ID flashed: CEO Harrison.

Chloe flashed the screen in my face like a victory trophy. "See that? Logan saved the CEO's mother. He's the hospital's golden boy now. The rewards will be endless."

"As for you, Mason, enjoy rotting away as a third-rate physician for the rest of your miserable life!"

Smug, she tapped the screen and hit speakerphone so I could hear her triumph.

Harrison was shouting before she could say a word.

"Chloe! Get your ass back to the hospital right now!"

"My mother's in shock. The ICU team thinks she's bleeding. Logan told me she was out of danger!"