Chapter 1

My name was Katia Xavier. I was twenty-five years old, and I worked as a nurse at a hospital.

During my school years, I never dated anyone. Once I started working at the hospital, I was so busy every day that I hardly had any time for my personal life.

However, my family kept insisting that I get married. They even started to wonder if I was not interested in men. I guessed they were surprised that someone as good-looking as me had not found a partner yet.

I had a classic oval face with delicate features and fair skin. I hardly needed any makeup.

I was about 5 feet 5 inches tall. I was not very tall, but my body was well-proportioned.

What embarrassed me the most was my curvy figure, which was hard to hide, even in loose work clothes.

My waist was slim, and my hips were perky. Together, they formed a clear hourglass shape.

My legs were long and toned, and the part of my calves that showed under my uniform skirt looked smooth and shapely.

Every time I walked through the hospital corridors, I could feel the intense stares of patients and their families. They looked at me up and down without holding back. It made me feel both ashamed and powerless.

I would sometimes have to wear a fitted nurse uniform to make my rounds. The buttons across my chest were always stretched tight, showing more than intended if I bent over even a little. Some male patients’ hearts would start beating faster, and the machines would show it.

Even my coworkers sometimes made jokes about my figure, and, because of that, I put even more energy into my work. I hoped to earn respect through my professional skills. Alas, most people kept on noticing my attractive figure before anything else.

One day, I had just finished my rounds when I ran into the head of surgery, Zach Carter, at the corner of the hallway. It looked like he was about to leave. He had already changed into casual clothes. He wore a dark gray shirt and looked especially sharp.

When I saw him, I immediately lowered my head and tried to slip past him.

“Where are you rushing off to, Katia?” Zach stood in my way.

“Hello, Dr. Carter. I still have several rooms to check.” I tried to move past him.

“Wait.” He lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. “Your head nurse mentioned that your department is short-staffed and you're having a heavy workload. You were a top student in medical school. Why not transfer to my surgery department? The pay is much better.”

His words made me wary. Nurses in the hospital were assigned centrally. There was no reason for him to be involved. Besides, the head nurse had never mentioned a shortage.

“Thank you for the offer, Dr. Carter, but I think I’m better suited to my current work.”

“Don’t be so quick to refuse. I’m serious. Our department just received new funding, and we really need staff.” His tone softened. “I know your current job is stressful, and the pay is low. Someone with your qualifications shouldn’t have to struggle like this.”

His words struck a nerve. My small monthly salary was barely enough to get by in the city, let alone deal with my family’s constant pressure to get married. I thought about the older nurses in the department. They repeated the same work every day and earned very little. The thought filled me with anxiety.

“Do you really mean it, Dr. Carter?”

“Alright. Come to my office and sit down. We can talk it over. Don’t worry. No one will know.”

As he spoke, his gaze burned into me. A faint, unreadable smile rested on his lips.

I hesitated.

Reason told me I should leave immediately, but the future Zach promised tempted me. Maybe this really was a chance to change my life.

“Okay… I’ll stay just for a little while, then I’ll leave.” I ended up agreeing to his invitation.

I followed him to his office at the end of the third-floor corridor. My mind ran wild the whole way. When I opened the door, the large office was empty except for the two of us. The curtains were tightly closed, making the whole room look dark and gloomy.

“Would you like something to drink?” Zach walked to the wine cabinet in the corner and took out a bottle of red wine. “It’s imported from Brance. It’s a rare and very good wine.”

“No, thank you, Dr. Carter… I don’t drink.” I twisted the hem of my uniform nervously and stood there. I did not know what to do.

“It’s fine. Just one glass to relax.” He came over with two glasses and pushed one into my hand.

Zach stood very close to me. His gaze never left my body.

“Katia, did you know that the hospital is about to select a group of staff for special training?”

“I’ve heard about it.”

“With my recommendation, your chances would be much higher. And with qualifications like yours…”

I knew what he was implying. At some point, I realized that I had already drunk more than half the wine in my glass, and I suddenly felt an unusual wave of dizziness. My legs turned weak, and my whole body felt hot. A strange sensation rose from my lower abdomen.

“Dr. Carter, I feel a little dizzy...” I grabbed the corner of the table to keep my balance, but my body had no strength.

The smile on Zach’s face grew wider. “Don’t worry. This is normal. Alcohol can make you feel dizzy. You should rest on the couch for a while.”

He held my waist and led me to the large couch in the corner of the office. My mind felt heavy and foggy. Still, I began to realize that something was wrong.

“I should go back, Dr. Carter...” I tried to stand, but my whole body felt limp.

Had there been more than alcohol in that glass? Whatever it was, it started to take effect; a burning heat began spreading through my body.

“Don’t rush off,” Dr. Carter replied with an expression I could not recognize.

Then, he pushed me onto the couch.

“It’s not often I get a chance to get close to the prettiest nurse in the hospital.”