Chapter 3

With that, I turned off my phone. All I wanted now was to get the divorce finalized.

Over the next few days, Serena kept sending me job postings.

There were positions for pharmacy receptionists near our hospital, then patient escorts for $50 an hour.

Finally, she even sent me a job posting for a hospital cleaner, with a message:

“I know the cleaning supervisor, I’ll ask her to consider your hand and give you light work.”

“This is the closest job to me. What do you think? Want to consider it?”

Her tone was utterly serious. I couldn’t even find an excuse to pretend she was joking.

So, in her eyes, I was only fit to be a cleaner now.

I sneered, replying coldly:

“Julian went to school for Hospitality Management. Wouldn’t *he* be a better fit for this?”

Serena’s impatient voice note quickly came back:

“You’re still jealous of Julian, aren’t you? He went from a hospitality major to where he is now, and you’re here mocking him instead of recognizing his hard work and talent. Let me tell you, Julian is my best friend, and I won’t allow you to slander him. If you insist on competing with him, then you’re not fit to be my husband.”

“He works hard, and I don’t?! Serena, do you even have a heart? Can’t you see how much I’ve sacrificed for our home, so your mom wouldn’t look down on me? How could you just give away my position?”

I practically screamed it, my voice raw.

I’d always thought Serena, despite her temper, at least saw my efforts for her.

But I never imagined she only saw me as a stepping stone to elevate another man.

She only ever thought from his perspective.

What kind of “friend” does that? Are they *really* just friends?

Serena sighed and said:

“I just think you’re capable, you can survive anywhere. But Julian is different, he needs my protection.”

I gave a bitter laugh.

“So, you’re finally admitting you intentionally botched the surgery, aren’t you?”

My words left Serena stunned, speechless for a long moment.

Three years ago, I came to this small hospital for her.

Back then, I thought as long as we loved each other, as long as we worked hard enough, any difficulty would be overcome.

But the truth proved I was too naive.

Some people aren't worth your efforts, and some are destined to only walk a short path with you in life.

The next day, I returned to the hospital to complete some handover procedures.

My right hand was completely useless; I couldn’t perform my current duties and had to resign.

But as soon as I walked in, I was surrounded by a group of people.

I looked closely and realized they were all families of patients I had treated.

Seeing Julian smiling brightly behind them, I understood immediately. He’d probably told the families something.

They approached aggressively, their words far from polite.

“Dr. Reed, we all came to this hospital specifically for your treatment. How can you be so irresponsible, just refusing to operate?”

“Yeah, right? So what if someone took your Chief position? You’re refusing to provide treatment plans just because of that? How petty can you be?”

I tried to explain that Julian was their new doctor and they should talk to him.

Julian, at that moment, casually let slip a remark.

“He couldn’t have run out of ideas, could he? Maybe he’s faking his disability to avoid responsibility.”

At his words, the patient families grew even angrier, no longer listening to anything I said.

The leader of the group marched over and ripped off the bandage from my hand.

My weak, somewhat atrophied hand was exposed to everyone.