Chapter 2

I took a deep breath, forcing the surgeon in me to take over. The wife was falling apart, but the doctor had a job to do.

"I' ll check her vitals," I said, my voice flat. I walked past Julian and picked up Chloe' s chart. Her heart rate was stabilizing. Her breathing was less shallow. She would be fine. Physically, at least.

Julian watched me, a nervous energy radiating from him. "So, you' ll handle it? Keep it off the record?"

"I' ll ensure she receives appropriate medical care," I said without looking at him. "That' s my only job here."

I left him standing there and went to speak with the attending physician. I didn' t ask for any favors. I just got a standard update and ordered a psychiatric consult for the morning, standard procedure for a potential suicide gesture, which this level of intoxication could be.

An hour later, Chloe was moved to a short-stay observation room. I told Julian to go home to our daughter, Lily. He hesitated, then left, probably relieved to escape the sterile judgment of the hospital.

I went to Chloe' s room for a final check before my shift ended. I found her sitting up in bed, the tears gone. She was scrolling through her phone. When she saw me, a small, smug smile touched her lips.

"Dr. Reed," she said, her voice syrupy sweet. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"It' s my job," I replied, keeping my face blank.

She put her phone down. "Julian told me all about you. He said you were tough." She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering on my scrubs. "He says your job is unfeminine. Brutal. All that blood and death."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"He says I' m different," she continued, her voice a cruel purr. "He says I' m pure, untainted potential. He needs that. He' s a philosopher, you know. He needs beauty and light, not… this." She gestured vaguely at me, at my profession, at my entire life.

I just stared at her, the sheer audacity of it sucking the air from my lungs. This girl, who was in college because of my money, was sitting in a hospital bed I was responsible for, telling me my husband found me disgusting.

I didn' t say a word. I turned and walked out of the room, my own heartbeat roaring in my ears.