Chapter 1

"Cami, have you really thought this through? Are you sure you want to transfer to Orivane Hospital?"

Joe Meyer, the hospital director of Centrum Hospital, stared at Camille Stowell in disbelief, the transfer request clutched in his hands.

Her lashes flickered, and a thin, bitter smile curved her lips. "Yes, I've already decided."

Realizing there was no turning her, Joe sighed before scrawling his signature on the request form.

Camille had just left the director's office when she stumbled upon Julian Hatcher, Kimberly Walsh in her crisp white coat, and her son, Xavier Walsh.

She stopped cold.

Hand in hand, they could have passed for the very image of a perfect family. Kimberly held Xavier on one side, while Xavier's other hand was held by Julian. Xavier beamed with a joy that lit his whole face.

The sight struck Camille with a pain so fierce it nearly blinded her.

Julian's patience and tenderness toward Kimberly and Xavier were things Camille had never tasted. All she had ever felt from him was hatred.

Kimberly had been his first love.

Camille had made a deal with his grandmother, Anita Pearce, years ago to marry him. She only found out Kimberly was his ex after they were already married.

To him, Camille was nothing more than a schemer who'd taken advantage of the opening. In his eyes, she was the conniving woman who'd plotted her way into his life.

He had no idea that Camille had known him long before Kimberly appeared. She simply didn't exist in his memory.

She'd clung to the hope that once she became his wife, he would remember her, that she could touch his heart. But she'd been completely wrong.

He loathed her.

A man who loathed her could never love her. Otherwise, six years of marriage wouldn't have ended with him declaring himself unattached, treating her as if she were a stranger.

"Dr. Stowell?"

Kimberly's eyes found Camille.

Julian's brow knitted as he held Camille in a tense gaze, as if he feared she might expose everything between them.

The cold edge in his eyes pressed against Camille's chest, but she pulled herself together. "Hi, Dr. Walsh. Hi, Mr. Hatcher."

Not long ago, Julian had bought a stake in Centrum Hospital, joining its ranks of shareholders. But Camille knew it hadn't been for her. It was for Kimberly.

When Kimberly returned to the country, Julian had ensured she stepped straight into Centrum Hospital as chief of surgery, taking the position from day one.

Everyone at the hospital knew Julian had her back. Rumors had been spreading that he was Kimberly's boyfriend, but he hadn't bothered to address them.

Kimberly slipped her arm through his with casual ease. "Hello, Dr. Stowell. I'm new here and still finding my feet. There's so much I need to learn from you."

Before Camille could speak, Xavier's arms were already wrapped around Julian. "Daddy, I'm tired. Can you carry me?"

Camille went pale.

Xavier had called him "Daddy"?

Kimberly scrunched her face into a mock scowl. "Xav, that's not what you call him!"

Then she shot Julian an apologetic look. "Sorry about that, Julian. Xav doesn't know any better."

Julian's gaze flicked toward Camille, calm and unshaken. Gently, he lifted Xavier into his arms. "It's fine."

"I like Daddy Julian!" Xavier clung to his neck, his voice sweet and earnest. "I wish Daddy Julian were really my dad!"

"You little rascal," Kimberly murmured, giving his head a gentle poke.

Camille clenched her fists, struck by the gentleness in Julian she'd never seen before. But it didn't matter. She'd never reach his heart, and perhaps that was for the best.

Suppressing the pang in her chest, she moved past them and stepped into the elevator.

…

Camille hadn't made her transfer request public, and she hadn't mentioned it to Julian either. There seemed to be no reason to. After all, he might not even care to know.

She drove up to Hatcher Manor and rang the doorbell.

The door opened shortly afterward, revealing Leah Bessler, the maid. "Welcome back, Mrs. Hatcher."

"Is Anita home?" Camille asked.

"Yes, she's in. Please, come right in."

Leah's respect was plain in every word.

Anita, a respected elder in the Hatcher family, had managed the household's affairs ever since Julian's grandfather passed away.

Hailing from the South, Anita was a Pearce by birth—a name synonymous with Southern business magnates. Even as a young woman, she had been a woman of swift decisions and bold actions.

Not even her mother-in-law, who had never taken a liking to her, had ever dared to cross her.

Leah guided Camille into the prayer room. Anita knelt on a cushion, her fingers brushing over her rosary beads.

"Mrs. Hatcher Senior, Mrs. Hatcher has arrived," Leah announced.

Anita slowly opened her eyes and turned toward Camille. "Come, sit with me."

After Leah left, Camille settled beside Anita, bowing her head in quiet reverence before the saint's figure.

Anita's devotion ran deep. She clung to the practices of her faith, often vanishing to the chapel or slipping away on retreats that could last two weeks.

"Anita, I want a divorce from Julian."