Chapter 4

I don't even remember how I left the hospital.

My mind was a complete blank. Julian’s cold stare and Vanessa’s smug face kept flashing before my eyes.

I returned to my empty apartment and collapsed onto the couch.

My phone was ringing off the hook with calls from colleagues.

I didn't want to answer any of them.

Within hours, the internet exploded.

Vanessa’s livestream was clipped and reposted across every social media platform. The headlines were sensational:

*“EXCLUSIVE: Star Doctor's Secret Affair Exposed! CEO of Vance Medical Center Named as Cover-Up!”*

*“A Ruined Family's Cry for Help: Who Will Protect Us from These Monsters in Lab Coats?”*

In the video, I stood helplessly next to Julian as he coldly announced my suspension.

The comment section was a toxic wasteland of hate directed at me.

*“This Chloe girl looks like a total green tea bitch. No surprise here.”*

*“Doxx her! Find out where she lives!”*

*“She doesn't deserve to practice medicine. Revoke her license!”*

*“That CEO isn't innocent either. They're definitely sleeping together.”*

It felt like my entire life had been destroyed in a single day.

I had only saved a patient's life. I had only done my duty as a physician.

Why was this my reward?

As I curled up on my couch in agony, the doorbell rang.

I dragged myself up and looked through the peephole.

It was Arthur Pendelton.

He was alone, looking pale and even more exhausted than when he was in the hospital.

What was he doing here?

After a moment of hesitation, I opened the door.

"Dr. Miller..."

The moment he spoke, his voice cracked, and his eyes turned red.

"I'm so sorry."

He bowed deeply to me.

"It's all my fault. I ruined your life."

I stared at him, my emotions a tangled mess.

"Why are you here? Where is your wife?"

"We got into a massive fight, and I ran out."

He looked up, his face filled with immense guilt.

"Dr. Miller... Vanessa is insane! Don't believe a word she says!"

"Everything she said is a lie!"

"I know," I said wearily.

"Just go home. I don't want anything to do with your family ever again."

I started to close the door.

"Wait!" He desperately blocked the door with his hand.

"Dr. Miller, please hear me out!"

"Vanessa isn't doing this because she's jealous. She's doing it for money!"

I froze.

"What do you mean?"

"She... she owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to underground gambling sites!"

Arthur’s voice was trembling.

"She knew you were young, successful, and a chief physician, so she assumed you had money. She targeted you for extortion!"

"The affair, the accusations... she made it all up!"

I stared at him, speechless.

It was a setup. A carefully planned scam from the very beginning.

I was just the "lucky" target they chose.

"Then why didn't you say anything earlier?" I demanded, my voice cracking.

"Why did you just stand there at the restaurant and the hospital and watch her destroy my reputation?"

Arthur’s face flushed red with shame. He looked down.

"I... I was terrified of her."

"She threatened that if I spoke the truth, she would go to my corporate office and ruin my career. I'm so close to retirement, Chloe. I couldn't lose my pension..."

A wave of intense disgust washed over me.

This was the man I had fought so hard to save.

"Get out."

I pointed toward the hallway, my voice freezing cold.

"I never want to see your face again."

"Dr. Miller, please, I beg you! Help me just one more time!"

Suddenly, he fell to his knees, begging.

"Vanessa has lost her mind. She's using this scandal to threaten me. She wants me to sell our house to pay off her gambling debts!"

"I can't lose that house! It's my only home!"

He grabbed my legs, crying hysterically.

"Dr. Miller, you're a good person. You're smart. You must have a way!"

"Can you... can you just lend me two hundred thousand dollars to clear her debts first?"

"I swear I'll pay you back! I'll work for you, I'll do whatever you want!"

I stared at the pathetic man kneeling at my feet.

How could he possibly have the nerve to ask me for this?

It was absurd!

I kicked him away.

"Get the hell out!"

Just then, the front door was violently kicked open.

Vanessa burst in, followed by several burly, menacing men.

She saw Arthur kneeling on the floor, and a twisted, evil grin spread across her face.

"Perfect! Arthur! You ungrateful piece of shit!"

"I've been looking everywhere for you, and you're hiding at your mistress's apartment!"

She rushed over, kicking and slapping Arthur.

Then, she whipped out her phone and started taking rapid photos of me and the kneeling Arthur.

"Caught red-handed! Let's see how you deny it now!"

"Chloe Miller, didn't you say you two were innocent?"

"Then why is he on his knees in your apartment in the middle of the night?!"

"You ruined my marriage, and now you're hiding my husband? Not a chance!"

One of the men behind her brandished a baseball bat, taking a step toward me.

"Dr. Miller, our boss says you have two choices."

"Either you pay up."

"Or we make sure you never practice medicine in this state again."

I was cornered against the wall, with nowhere to run.

Fear, cold and suffocating, completely washed over me.

Just as the man raised the baseball bat, the door swung open once again.

Fifth Chapter