Chapter 4

I was pinned to the ground, with countless guns aimed at my head.

In that moment, it felt like a nightmare—so surreal, I almost believed I was dreaming.

I had been a doctor for years. I couldn't possibly make such a rookie mistake.

"There has to be some kind of misunderstanding! I was in surgery the entire time. I never even had the chance to touch the medication! Besides, with so many people around, why would I be stupid enough to do something like that?"

The rebels exchanged glances but said nothing. That's when I realized they didn't understand English.

I turned instinctively toward Scott for help. He was the only one here who could communicate with the locals.

But his expression was dazed, his eyes clouded with an emotion I couldn't decipher. After a long hesitation, he finally spoke.

And the moment his words fell, a rebel rushed up and slapped me across the face.

My mind went blank, terror flooding in as my body trembled uncontrollably.

They didn't give me a chance to speak. Rage boiling over, they slammed me back to the ground and began kicking and punching me mercilessly.

"Scott! What the heck did you say to them?!"

I screamed through blood and tears, but Scott only turned away, sorrow written all over his face.

And in that moment, even the dullest person would have understood—he hadn't defended me. He'd admitted guilt on my behalf.

I trembled violently, voice hoarse from shouting. "It wasn't me! I swear it wasn't me! I never even went near the medicine. It was Piper who was stationed with the supplies! She framed me! Scott—"

The rebels paused, frowning in confusion at my frantic denial. They loosened their grip slightly.

I lay crumpled on the ground like a stray dog, bloodied and shaking, trying with everything I had to make them understand.

"Everyone here can vouch for me! I've been in surgery the whole time. I never left the operating table!"

I pointed directly at Piper. "She was the one overseeing the meds! She's the only one who could have tampered with them!"

Panic flashed in Piper's eyes before she burst into tears.

"Dr. Armstrong, I know you don't like me, but you can't falsely accuse me like this! You were the one who told me to do it! You said since I was the 'homewrecker,' I should be the one to help cover for you!"

She pulled out her phone and began showing everyone text messages, allegedly from me.

As I looked at her sobbing, broken-hearted act, I began to wonder if I'd lost my mind.

I didn't even have her number. And there was no signal in this place. How could I have sent her a single text?

"Piper! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Before she could respond, Scott suddenly barked, "Enough!"

His outburst choked off the last of my defense.

His eyes were filled with guilt and inner conflict. I waited, hoping he'd finally speak up for me.

But after a long silence, all I got was, "Mia, you have to take responsibility for your own actions. You're trying to frame Piper. Do you want her to die in your place? Have you forgotten the oath we took as doctors? Compassion for every patient. What you're doing… it's cruel."

Tears blurred my vision. It felt like a blade was twisting deep inside my chest.

This was the man I had loved with all my heart for eight years.

And now, at the moment when my life hung in the balance, he had chosen to sacrifice me to protect the woman he loved.

He wanted me to die for her.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I screamed at him with everything I had.

"Scott! Is that how little you think of me? That I'd be this careless with people's lives?!"

He looked me dead in the eyes and said, "What else am I supposed to think?"

With that single sentence, he sealed my fate.

The rebels no longer hesitated. They forced me back to the ground and stomped on my hand, shattering the bones.

Then they dragged me away and threw me into a cell, declaring they would execute me after they buried their dead.

As I was dragged off, I heard Scott say, face heavy with sorrow, "Mia, I'm a doctor. My first duty is to protect my patients."

…

Snapping back to the present, I stared at the scar that still marred the back of my hand.

I took a step back, widening the distance between us, and looked Scott in the eye.

"There's no future for us," I said calmly. "Please stop interfering in my life."

But it was as if he hadn't heard me at all.

"Mia," he said, "I admit things got messy back then. But I didn't have a choice. As a doctor, I couldn't abandon my patient. I couldn't betray my conscience."

I laughed, unable to contain it. He looked so self-righteous, so sure of himself.

Then I raised my left hand, letting the diamond ring catch the light.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Maynard. I'm already married."

The crowd fell silent; you could have heard a pin drop.