Chapter 1

As the attending physician, I made the mistake of attending the private recovery celebration dinner hosted by my patient's family.

The moment his wife saw me, she grabbed my hands with overwhelming enthusiasm. "Dr. Miller! Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, my Arthur wouldn't have made it! You are our family's savior!"

I offered a polite smile, about to say it was just my job.

But her expression instantly shifted, her eyes growing sharp and piercing. "However, Dr. Miller, while we appreciate you saving his life, don't you think you got a little too intimate with him? Checking on him constantly, touching him, even personally feeding him?"

"Arthur talks about you every single day at home now. He keeps saying how gentle and attentive you are. It really doesn't sit well with me."

The surrounding relatives and friends fell dead silent. The atmosphere instantly turned incredibly awkward.

Before I could even explain, she slammed a document onto the table.

"This is the bill for the emotional distress you've caused our marriage, plus a 'rehab fee' because he’s addicted to your 'care.' Two hundred thousand dollars."

"Either pay me two hundred thousand, or you can give me a new husband!"

First Chapter

"Mrs. Pendelton, what is that supposed to mean?"

My smile froze on my face.

"It means you saved his life, but he’s no longer my husband," Vanessa Pendelton said, crossing her arms. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear.

"Every day at home, he either talks about how great Dr. Miller is, or complains about how clumsy I am."

"I can't live like this anymore."

I took a deep breath, trying my best to stay calm.

"Mr. Pendelton’s daily care was almost entirely handled by the nursing staff and interns."

"I only performed necessary medical examinations and assisted with his feeding when his dysphagia put him in critical danger."

"Is there a misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?" She sneered, pointing at her husband, Arthur.

"Arthur, tell her yourself. Do you or do you not talk about Dr. Miller every single day?"

Arthur, looking pale and frail from his illness, shifted uncomfortably. He glanced at me, then quickly lowered his head.

"I... I just think Dr. Miller is a good, highly responsible doctor."

"See!" Vanessa slapped her thigh.

"She has completely stolen his soul! You call that a misunderstanding?"

The relatives around the table began whispering to one another.

"Seriously, she's a doctor. Why did she have to get so close to a patient?"

"Exactly. She should have kept her distance. Professional boundaries, hello?"

"Look at her. With looks like that, she doesn't seem like the type to behave herself."

I felt the blood rush to my head.

"Mrs. Pendelton, please watch your mouth."

"Why should I?"

Her voice suddenly shrieked as she pointed a finger right at my nose.

"A young, pretty doctor like you, putting your hands all over my husband under the guise of 'checking him.' What were you really planning?"

"That was an emergency! He was choking on food. If I had been even a few seconds later, he would have suffocated!"

I tried desperately to suppress my rising anger.

"Emergency? Then what about feeding him? His hands aren't broken. Why would a chief attending physician personally feed him?"

"He had severe dysphagia at the time! He required professional assessment and swallowing therapy!"

"I don't care!" she shrieked, starting to make a scene.

"It's because of you! You made him cold to me! You ruined our twenty-year marriage!"

"Two hundred thousand dollars. Not a penny less! Otherwise, I will make a scene at your hospital and report you to the medical board!"

I was shaking with rage.

"This is extortion!"

Arthur finally couldn't take it anymore. He tugged at her sleeve.

"Vanessa, stop. Dr. Miller saved my life."

*Slap!*

A loud slap echoed through the room.

Vanessa slapped Arthur hard across the face.

"Saved your life? More like she's your new side chick!"

"You ungrateful bastard! I slaved away taking care of you, and now you're taking her side?"

Everyone in the banquet hall stared at us, treating us like a cheap soap opera.

A wave of dizziness hit me. I had never been so insulted in my entire life.

I grabbed my bag and turned to leave.

"You think you can just walk away? Nobody leaves until I get my money!"

Vanessa suddenly lunged forward, grabbing my arm with a iron grip.

Her fingernails dug deep into my skin.

"Let go!"

"I won't! If you don't explain yourself and give me the money today, I will ruin your life!"

She was incredibly strong, and I couldn't break free.

Just then, a cold, deep voice cut through the noise from the doorway.

"What is going on here?"

I turned my head and saw the CEO of our medical center, Julian Vance.

Behind him stood several chief department heads.

Why were they here?

Vanessa froze when she saw Julian, but she quickly recovered her loud, obnoxious attitude.

"Are you the CEO? Perfect! One of your doctors seduced my husband and ruined my family!"

"You need to give me an explanation!"

Julian’s brow furrowed. His eyes fell on my arm, which was already turning red from her grip.

"Let her go."

Second Chapter