Chapter 2

After finishing my last surgery of the day, I rubbed my aching back and headed out.

Passing by Chloe's office, the lights were off.

Lucas's office was empty, too.

No doubt they were off fooling around somewhere together.

Swallowing the lingering bitterness, I drove back to the house.

The house was completely dark.

Staring at the empty rooms, I let out a tired sigh.

All these years, I don't think Chloe had ever cooked a single meal for me.

Starving, I boiled a bowl of instant noodles.

Right after I finished, my phone rang. It was an old buddy of mine.

"Gavin, are you really going to keep throwing your life away under Chloe?"

"With your talent, you should be running the department, or even running an entire clinic. But you're still stuck as an ordinary surgeon. Who does that Lucas think he is? A nobody who couldn't even make it overseas, and now he's walking all over you."

"Your hands deserve a real hospital. If you come over to my place, you call the shots on all the surgical work. I'll handle the paperwork and the politics. You just focus on the operating room."

"Whatever you want, just name it."

Back when I was helping Chloe build her business from scratch, that was when I loved her the most. I gave everything to lay her foundation.

If she hadn't rekindled things with Lucas, I probably would've stayed an ordinary doctor for her my whole life.

Now, she didn't deserve it.

Besides, we were already done.

Going through this mess opened my eyes.

When someone doesn't love you, every move is a calculation. Even if you bleed yourself dry, they'll never care.

While I still had my best years ahead of me, it was time to fight for my own future.

And honestly, his offer was too good to pass up.

I hated office politics, but I genuinely loved medicine.

"All right. Once I wrap up my business here, I'll head over."

"Awesome. I'll be waiting for you."

My friend hung up, clearly thrilled.

"Where are you going?"

Chloe's voice cut through the air. She kicked off her heels and glared at me.

I glanced at her calmly.

"To a scam farm overseas."

She let out a contemptuous scoff.

"Always playing the victim. Why would anyone scam you? Use your head for once. Don't get yourself conned and drag down my company!"

The disgust on her face made my eyes sting.

The next second, her phone vibrated. In an instant, the sharp sneer melted into an all-out smile.

Her voice turned sugary sweet.

"Hey babe... Stop it. Once I finish up here, I'm heading right back. Wait for me, okay?"

No prizes for guessing who that was.

I didn't want to listen to her cheap flirting.

I rinsed my bowl and went back to the bedroom.

Chloe barged in behind me, slamming a thick file against my chest.

"I went through hell to secure this case. You study it carefully and make sure the surgery is flawless. Failure is not an option!"