Chapter 2 The Cost of Loyalty

"Clara, I shouldn't have snapped. I was just thinking about how much we suffered back when we first started our internships. That's why I try to look out for her. Jenny really wants to be a doctor. If you help her this once, I won't divorce you—"

He didn't even finish before Jenny stepped into the frame. "Dr. Fletcher, I don't want you sacrificing yourself for me by staying in a broken marriage."

I let out a sharp laugh. "Right. Being married to me has been such a burden that everyone in our department feels sorry for you and your precious intern. So, let's get divorced. That way, the two of you can finally enjoy a marriage without any burdens."

My words hit Andrew hard. "Clara! Are you incapable of understanding plain words? I told you there's nothing between Jenny and me! Looks like they were right about you always picking fights for no reason!"

Jenny brushed a soothing hand along his back, her voice soft. "Dr. Fletcher, as much as I want to become a doctor, I won't drag you down. I'll take full responsibility for everything."

Andrew's eyes filled with pity. "You're under my supervision. I'm responsible for you. I won't let anything happen to you."

Then, he turned that commanding tone on me. "Clara, you're going to the director and telling him you were the lead surgeon. Jenny was only observing. If you don't go, I'll sign the divorce papers first thing tomorrow."

He hung up.

I felt nothing, almost amused.

He had already signed those divorce papers the first time we fought because of Jenny. All it needed was my signature to take effect.

…

By the time I wrapped up the paperwork for the malpractice review, daylight had already broken.

A colleague who often helped handle hospital disputes called me. "Dr. Winters, it wasn't easy for Jenny to get her internship here. You've helped us a lot, so what's wrong with helping her? Besides, helping her is helping Dr. Fletcher. You really want to see him dragged into this?"

I didn't bother replying. I hung up and blocked the number on the spot. I was done with Andrew and those heartless colleagues.

I pulled the divorce papers from my drawer and signed. Then, I packed Andrew's things and mailed the whole lot to Jenny's place.

Yet, when I picked up the photo of Andrew and my mother-in-law, my eyes still stung. I hadn't grown up in a loving home. I'd never known what a mother's affection felt like.

After the wedding, my mother-in-law treated me like her own daughter. She filled the hollow places I never talked about.

When she learned about Andrew and Jenny, she scolded him over and over, furious on my behalf.

She should've lived a long life.

Instead, she died because of a minor surgery.

…

The next morning, the moment I stepped into the department, Jenny was already sitting in my office, smug from head to toe. "Dr. Winters, you've been suspended. Dr. Fletcher assigned me to take over your work."

I gave her a cold stare. "You two violated hospital policy. That has nothing to do with me."

Jenny smiled as she opened the surgical record on the hospital system. "Dr. Winters, you were the lead surgeon yesterday. I was only observing."

I stared at the record, stunned by the absurdity.

Andrew had actually altered the operative notes just to pin everything on me.

The moment I reached toward the screen with a dark expression, Jenny gave a startled cry and stumbled backward, clutching her face. "Dr. Winters, why would you hit me?"

Andrew appeared at the doorway just in time to hear that, and he threw the cup in his hand straight at me. "Clara! How dare you lay a hand on her? Apologize to her now!"

Colleagues rushed in at the sound, their eyes wide with shock.

Hot water splashed across the left side of my face, burning it raw. Blood dripped from my forehead, mixing with the heat.

My skin throbbed, but the pain inside me was far worse.

Andrew looked right past my injuries, fussing instead over Jenny, who didn't have a single mark on her. "Can't handle your own mistakes, and now you want to drag her down? The surgical record clearly shows you as the lead surgeon. Don't try to pull Jenny into this!"

How ridiculous. This was the man I once gave everything to. "Dr. Fletcher, if I were as incompetent as you say, how did you end up as department head?"

That hit his sore spot. His glare burned like open flame.