Chapter 3

3.

Vincent’s expression froze.

"You forgot?"

I ignored him, went upstairs, and closed the door.

In the middle of the night, a noise downstairs woke me up.

I groggily opened my door, planning to check it out. As I reached the top of the stairs, I heard Sloane's voice.

"I just want to know what I did wrong. Dr. Hayes, did Mrs. Hayes misunderstand something between us?"

"You've been ignoring me, you don't reply to my iMessages."

"If it's because of her... I can go and explain things to her."

By the end, her voice was trembling.

Sloane was the only female intern Vincent had mentored in two years. Maybe because of that, everyone else in the department gave her a little extra attention. Even Vincent seemed to say her name more often than others.

After a long pause, Vincent finally spoke. "It has nothing to do with you. Don't overthink it."

"Really?" Sloane pressed, her voice thick with emotion. "But you've been ignoring me..."

"Yeah."

Sloane’s mood flipped instantly. She laughed.

I slowly walked down the stairs.

Just in time to see Sloane throw herself into Vincent's arms, her hands wrapped tightly around his neck.

I glanced over but didn't say a word. I walked past them, into the kitchen, and poured myself a glass of water.

The color drained from Vincent's face. He violently pushed Sloane away.

Sloane frantically wiped her face and said to me, "Mrs. Hayes, it's not what it looks like. I was just so emotional―"

I tilted my head, a slight smile on my lips. "It's fine."

"I'm tired. Just keep it down."

Sloane's expression froze, and she instinctively looked at Vincent.

After sending Sloane off, Vincent came upstairs to find me.

"Evelyn." He rubbed his forehead. "There's a problem between us. We need to talk."

I smiled slightly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"About Sloane?"

Vincent fell silent.

I sighed, looking at him with an expression so calm it was like I was looking at a stranger.

"Vincent, I don't think there's anything to talk about. She's your intern, your only female intern. It's only natural for you to take extra care of her. I'm not going to get angry over something like this, and you don't need to explain."

I said, "There's nothing to explain. I get it."

Vincent's face turned pale.

Those were the exact words he had said to me, word for word, after one of our many fights about Sloane.

Now, I was serving them right back to him.

He was about to say something else, but his phone rang.

It was Sloane.

Vincent glanced at me, hesitated, but answered it anyway. He put it on speaker.

Sloane was crying on the other end. "Dr. Hayes, a patient's family member is harassing me during my night shift. Can you please come to the hospital? I'm so scared."

Vincent frowned. "Have you called security? Go to the break room and wait. I'll have someone check on you."

He hung up, then dialed another number, gave a few quick instructions, and hung up again.

He looked at me, momentarily speechless.

I spoke first. "If you're that worried, you might as well go yourself."

Vincent was silent for a long time.

"Security can handle it. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go there alone right now."

I smirked.

The conversation with Vincent didn't continue. He went back to his own room.

I was wide awake.

Half an hour later, I heard the soft click of the front door closing. Then, the garage door opened.

Vincent had gone to Sloane after all.