Chapter 4

The moment I landed in Hawaii, I turned off my brain and slept for two full days.

I completely wiped the hospital, the betrayal, and the stress from my mind. It was as if I had never worked a day in my life.

A week later, I finally powered on my phone.

The screen instantly froze under a tidal wave of missed calls and notifications.

Chloe had sent dozens of frantic voice messages on Snapchat.

"Logan! Where the hell are you? Get back to the hospital in five minutes!"

Then came a message from Director Vance.

He sounded desperate. He said the real estate mogul’s daughter was in critical condition. Julian's surgery had failed, and the family was demanding that I, and only I, perform the revision surgery.

He promised that if I saved her, they would completely clear my name and restore my license.

Listening to the audio files, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

I had warned them. I had practically begged them to listen.

And now that the patient was dying, they suddenly remembered my name?

I ignored the messages, tossed my phone onto my beach towel, and laid back to enjoy the Hawaiian sun.

But paradise had its flaws. The beach was notorious for pickpockets.

As I was dozing off under an umbrella, I felt a sudden tug on my backpack. I opened my eyes to see a teenager running away with my bag.

Instinct kicked in. I sprinted after him, took him down with a clean sweep, pinned him to the sand, and dragged him straight to the local precinct.

While the deputy was taking my statement, the station’s radio went off. It was a frantic emergency call.

A heavily pregnant woman in a remote cabin was in active labor. The nearest ambulance was at least an hour away, and she was alone and terrified.

The deputies were panicking. They weren't trained for high-risk deliveries.

Out of sheer medical instinct, I pulled out my digital board certification from my phone.

"I’m an OB-GYN surgeon. I can help."

After verifying my credentials, the deputy practically threw me into the patrol car.

Over my career, I had delivered babies in every extreme condition imaginable. This was nothing.

Forty minutes later, a healthy baby boy let out his first cry. By the time the paramedics arrived, the mother was stable, and the baby was clean.

The lead paramedic looked at me like I was a god. "Dr. Carter, that was incredible work. We are severely understaffed here. Would you consider joining our medical center? We can offer you a premium contract."

I smiled and politely declined.

"Thank you, but I'm taking a break from medicine. However, if there's an emergency while I'm in town, feel free to call."

Though I declined a full-time role, the clinic director was incredibly grateful. He even personally paid for a luxury condo rental for me, hoping I'd stay on the island a bit longer to consult on difficult cases.

I was living the dream, completely forgetting about the toxic mess back home.

Until Chloe tracked me down.

She sent me a furious FaceTime request, her face twisted in rage when I answered. "Logan Carter! Who do you think you are? Ignoring my calls and texts!"

"The entire hospital is turning upside down looking for you!"

"We tracked your IP address to Hawaii. Get your ass on a plane back to Austin right now! The State Board experts are waiting for you!"

I had turned off my GPS before boarding, but I had made the mistake of posting a beach photo on Instagram without blocking her.

Director Vance’s call came through immediately after. He sounded like he was on the verge of tears, begging to know when I was coming back.

It was obvious. The Medical Board and the Police Department were putting immense pressure on them.

This wasn't just a botched surgery anymore; it was a high-profile criminal case. If the patient suffered permanent damage because of the hospital's incompetence, it would be a massive civil lawsuit and criminal negligence.

"Logan! Get back here!" Chloe's shrill voice screamed through the speaker.

I pulled the phone away from my ear and replied coolly, "First of all, Chloe, we are divorced, and I don't work for you. I don't have to do a damn thing you say. Second, I resigned. Why would I fly back to work for free?"

"And lastly, is this how you beg someone for help? Where are your manners?"

Chloe gasped, momentarily speechless, before she erupted into more venomous insults. "Logan, do you really think this hospital can't function without you?"

"Beg you? In your dreams! Go to hell! I hope you drown in Hawaii!"