Chapter 8: Thalie Noor here. May I come in?

Nat’s POV

“Defensive. You keep acting like a shrew and all, even insulting Thalie. Look, I actually wanted to ask you; since you’re a doctor, regarding what Thalie should take for her cold. But you just wouldn’t pick up your phone to be helpful.”

The absurdity of his words makes my stomach churn even harder. I stare into his eyes, fingers digging into my nails. “Do you seriously have no idea who pushed me into the pool and how I caught this cold, huh?”

He looks at me, puzzled.

I take a deep breath, trying to regulate my emotions. “You know what? You’re a lost cause.”

I turn sharply, desperate for space and clean air, but he grabs my sleeve again. His pull is forceful, and I’m caught off guard.

His other arm instinctively shoots out, catching me around the waist. His firm grip, once familiar, now feels like a violation that makes my skin crawl.

“Where are you going without answering my question?” he demands, voice hard.

I want to say something, snap back, shove his hand away, remind him that he has no right, but the words never make it out.

A wave of nausea surges up my throat without warning.

My hand flies to my mouth. “Excuse me—”

I twist out of his grip and run down the corridor. I barely make it to the bathroom before I lean over the sink, gagging violently as my body convulses.

Nothing but bitter bile comes up, burning my throat as I retch again.

The door creaks behind me, followed by his voice. “Nat? Nat. Answer me. Are you okay?”

[Damn! That bastard.] Noelle curses.

I grip the edge of the sink, catching my breath before rinsing my mouth. My face is as ghostly as paper as I stare at the mirror, sweat beading along my hairline.

Ivan knocks on the door. “Answer me. Natasha.”

“I—Ivan…” The voice belongs to the obvious. The conversations I wish not to hear flow into my ears.

“Thalie, why do you come out without your coat? Have you forgotten your health isn’t stable yet?”

I wipe my hand with tissues, taking one last glance at myself.

“Come, let’s get your coat so your cold doesn’t worsen.”

“Thanks for being there for me, Ivan.”

“Silly girl, you’re my responsibility.”

And with that, the sound of their footsteps disappears.

Hateful creatures.

I step out of the bathroom, feeling the cold air on my face.

“I got this,” I tell myself with conviction before going back to my office. I rest inside for a while as my head grows heavy.

Of course, I can handle it. It isn’t a big deal.

Less than an hour later, I’m back on my feet to report to my supervisor.

The woman with black curly hair goes through a file. She listens attentively to my words before asking with concern, “Are you sure you can check up on her? You don’t seem too good at this moment.”

I give a smile. “Yes. She’s been expecting me. I’ll take the rest of the day off afterward.”

“Alright,” she concedes, still hesitant. “And, just so you know, we have a new intern starting soon. She has some experience in obstetrics too, so she might be a good support for your caseload once she’s oriented.”

A new intern?

Already?

I clench my hand, my heart pounding for a split second before I finally find the confidence.

“Actually, that won’t be necessary. I wish to tender my resignation.”

Silence.

The look of shock on my supervisor’s face doesn’t escape me. Furrows appear between her brows, her lips silently parting in disbelief.

“What?” She finally manages to say, closing the file and dedicating her full attention to me. “You want to resign? Why?”

That reaction is expected. After all, if you asked me a week ago, I would never have thought I’d be talking about resignation today. This hospital, this place… I have long seen it as my home.

I explain calmly with the excuse I have prepared beforehand. “I’ve decided to pursue an advanced surgical fellowship back in my hometown. It requires my full dedication, so I’ll need to resign to focus on it.”

She taps the table, her brows softening a bit. Finally, she sighs and says, “Alright. If that’s your dream, I can’t stand in your way. However, protocol requires a one-month notice period. You’ll also need to train your replacement, the new intern. Is that acceptable?”

“A month?” I repeat.

That’s a whole thirty days. Thirty more days of having to deal with his blatant infidelity.

Can I… do it?

Looking at it another way, during that month, I’ll be able to fully transfer the patients under me and wrap everything up.

At least that’s what I think as I nod.

“Sure. No problem.”

She heaves a sigh of relief, checking her wristwatch. “You’re planning to check on that patient, right?”

There’s a knock on the door, and a thin, honeyed voice makes its way through. “Excuse me. Thalie Noor here. May I come in?”