Chapter 3

By the time I reached the hospital, a swarm of reporters was already there. Cameras and microphones packed the front entrance so tightly there was barely room to walk. Flashbulbs went off like a barrage, blinding and relentless.

“Dr. Emily, did you refuse to treat James’s ex-girlfriend Olivia out of jealousy?”

“Is it true that you had a heated argument with the patient’s family in the ER?”

“There are rumors that you delayed critical treatment because of personal emotions. How do you respond to that?”

Each question came at me like a knife.

I froze, completely stunned by the sudden chaos, my mind going blank.

Hospital security eventually forced a path through the crowd and escorted me inside.

The atmosphere in the dean’s office was heavy and suffocating.

James was there. So were Olivia’s parents, along with several senior hospital administrators.

James kept his head down. I couldn’t see his expression.

The moment Olivia’s mother spotted me, she lunged forward, pointing straight at my face.

“You unethical woman! You jealous witch! Just because Olivia is James’s ex, you refused to save her! Do you even deserve to be a doctor?”

“I didn’t...”

“You still dare to deny it?” she shrieked. “We’ve heard everything! You said in front of everyone that you refused to treat Olivia! If James hadn’t acted fast and found another doctor, who knows what would’ve happened to her! Someone like you should have your license revoked!”

I looked at James. I waited for him to say something.

After all, the request to change doctors was made because he didn’t trust me.

But he stayed silent. From beginning to end, he didn’t look at me even once.

In that moment, my heart went completely cold.

So, this was how he saw me. This was the kind of person I was in his eyes.

The dean cleared his throat, breaking the suffocating silence.

“Dr. Emily,” he said solemnly, “this incident has caused extremely negative public impact and has escalated into a serious medical ethics controversy. In order to calm public opinion and provide an explanation to the patient’s family, after discussion, the hospital has decided…”

He paused, looking at me heavily.

“To temporarily suspend you from all duties, pending further investigation.”

Suspended.

The word hit me like a hammer.

How many sleepless nights had I endured to become a competent doctor? How much effort had I poured into this career?

And now, because of baseless accusations, everything I’d worked for could vanish overnight.

I looked around the room, at these people, at James standing there in silence, and suddenly, it all felt absurd.

What was I even holding on to?

Why was I ruining myself for a man who didn’t love me, didn’t trust me?

“Fine,” I said calmly.

Then I reached into the pocket of my white coat, took out my hospital ID, and placed it gently on the dean’s desk.

“No need to go through all that,” I said, looking at him and at James. “I won’t wait for the investigation. I resign.”

Everyone froze, including James.

He finally looked up at me, shock written all over his face.

“Emily, are you out of your mind?”

I didn’t answer him.

I simply bowed slightly to the dean.

“Thank you for the years of training and support. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

With that, I straightened my back, turned around, and walked out without looking back.

At the end of the hallway stood Jack. His small figure looked strangely lonely.

When he saw me, his eyes flickered, and he called out timidly, “Mom…”

I stopped and looked at him quietly.

“They said you might get fired because of me…” he asked softly, his eyes red. “Is that true?”

I didn’t answer directly.

Instead, I asked, “Jack, do you want Aunt Olivia to be your mom?”

He froze, clearly not expecting that question.

He lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers. After a long pause, he spoke in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

“Aunt Olivia… she’s nice to me. She buys me toys, plays games with me… Dad likes her a lot too…”

That was his answer.

I understood.

Somewhere along the way, in Jack’s heart, I, the mother who worked too much, who didn’t know how to company had already lost to Olivia, who was gentle, patient, and knew exactly how to please him.

My heart felt like it was being crushed in an invisible grip, so tight I could barely breathe.

“Alright,” I said softly. “I’ll give you what you want.”