Chapter 4

A hush fell over the crowd for a second, then someone scoffed:

“Huh, who knows if he’s faking it?”

“Let’s see if he reacts to pain; that’ll tell us if he’s faking.” Julian offered, fueling the fire.

The leader immediately understood, grabbed me, and threw me to the floor.

He stomped viciously on the back of my hand.

Excruciating pain shot through my ruined hand, but I had no strength to pull away.

I could only let out a guttural, desperate scream.

Julian suddenly rushed forward, as if to intervene.

I found it strange, and sure enough, Serena’s voice quickly rang out behind me.

“What are you all doing?!”

Julian, at that moment, cried out in surprise and stumbled to the ground.

“Alex, I was trying to help you! Why did you shove me?!”

Everyone immediately started talking amongst themselves.

“Didn’t he say his hand was useless? How does he have the strength to push someone?”

“He really is just trying to shirk responsibility, isn’t he?”

Serena’s gaze at me became incredibly complex.

But it was only for a second. She rushed over, and immediately slapped me across the face.

“Alex, what the hell is wrong with you?! Julian was being kind enough to help, and you pushed him!”

I hadn’t even reacted when Julian pulled Serena’s hand to his mouth, gently blowing on it.

“Did you hurt your hand, darling? Why do you always lose control when it comes to me?”

“Alright, don’t be angry. Alex is jealous that I took his position, I can understand that. Just let him vent on me a few more times; I can take it. Don’t make a big deal out of this, it’s not good for him, or for you.”

His words sounded so kind and magnanimous.

They not only made Serena look at him with tenderness but also made the patient families sigh in admiration.

“They’re both doctors, but their character is so different.”

In the end, it was Julian who repeatedly promised them that he would get the treatment plans from me.

Only then did they reluctantly leave.

Some even grabbed my collar before leaving, threatening me:

“If those treatment plans aren’t out today, you can tell your family to prepare for your funeral.”

A notification popped up on my phone from HR, telling me to clear out the hospital apartment.

This was the apartment Serena and I had applied for together.

Now, having to move out, I truly felt that Serena and I were over.

I planned to clean it out myself, but Serena caught up, offering to help.

I couldn’t care less. Anyway, she was now the sole owner of that apartment.

But when I stepped back inside, I knew why Serena had chased after me.

The chili plants and mint I’d personally grown on the balcony were gone.

The couple’s mugs and matching aprons in the kitchen had been replaced.

The wallpaper, sofa, and bed throughout the entire apartment were now in Julian’s preferred style.

Even the photo of Serena and me graduating from medical school, which used to hang in the living room,

had been replaced by a photo of Julian and Serena on the day he became Chief.

I didn’t need to pack anything. This small home, once decorated by Serena and me,

was completely unrelated to me now.

Three short days. That’s all it took.

All my belongings were packed into a single suitcase, left abandoned outside the apartment door.

Along with Buddy, the pet dog Serena and I had adopted together.

Serena was DINK, so we’d adopted Buddy.

She used to say he was like our child. Now, she’d thrown our child out with me.

The thick summer air choked me, making it hard to breathe.

“Buddy,” I called out.

Hearing my voice, Buddy’s chubby body trembled, and he stood up.

Seeing it was me, he whined excitedly, as if wanting to get close like usual.

When he realized his head couldn’t squeeze through the bars of his crate, he just sat obediently, wagging his tail incessantly.