Chapter 3

By the time Julian and I rushed down to the lobby, the place was in utter chaos.

Vanessa was sitting on the floor in the center of the lobby, crying hysterically.

Surrounding her were a dozen men and women holding up large white placards.

Written in bold, red letters were the words:

"Dr. Chloe Miller: Home-Wrecker in Scrubs! Return My Husband!"

"Vance Medical Center Protects Sexual Predators!"

Dozens of patients and visitors were pointing and whispering.

The security guards were sweating profusely, not daring to lay a hand on them.

"There she is! The home-wrecker is here!"

The moment Vanessa saw me, she leaped off the floor and charged at me.

"You bitch! I'll kill you!"

Julian was fast. He grabbed my waist and pulled me behind him.

Two security guards immediately rushed forward and tackled Vanessa to the ground.

"Let me go! You corporate dogs! You're protecting her!"

Vanessa thrashed wildly, screaming at me.

"Chloe Miller, you shameless whore! You slept with my husband, and now you're hiding?"

"You think having the CEO back you up makes you untouchable?"

"Everyone, look! This is Vance Medical's star doctor! This is the kind of disgusting trash she does behind closed doors!"

Her words felt like knives stabbing repeatedly into my chest.

The murmurs from the crowd grew louder.

"Is this real? She looks so professional, how could she..."

"Well, there's no smoke without fire. She must have done something."

"Doctors these days will do anything for money."

I felt the blood drain from my face. I wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow me whole.

Julian’s face was thunderous. He barked at the security team:

"What are you waiting for? Call the NYPD!"

"Have every single one of these trespassers arrested for harassment and disturbing the peace!"

Hearing that the police were called, Vanessa didn't back down. Instead, she became even more hysterical.

"Call the police! Great! Let the cops decide who's right!"

"Let's see if the law protects a CEO harboring his mistress, or a victim fighting for her marriage!"

She pulled out her phone and began recording a Snapchat livestream, pointing it directly at Julian and me.

"Look, everyone! This is Julian Vance, the high-and-mighty CEO of Vance Medical Center!"

"To protect his little side chick's job, he's abusing his power to silence us regular citizens!"

The words "little side chick" hit me like a sledgehammer.

I looked up at Julian in absolute panic.

This mess was dragging him down with me.

"CEO Vance, I'm so sorry, I—"

"Silence."

He cut me off, his voice colder than ice.

"Chloe, effective immediately, you are suspended pending investigation."

"Until this matter is fully cleared up, you are not to step foot inside this hospital."

I felt like I had been struck by lightning. I stared at him in utter disbelief.

Suspended?

He was actually suspending me?

Vanessa let out a triumphant, ugly laugh.

"Did you hear that? Even your sugar daddy thinks you're disgusting and threw you out!"

"Chloe Miller, you are finished!"

Fourth Chapter