Chapter 4

Down at the precinct, Julian kept his arm tightly around Gemma, whispering words of comfort.

I sat alone on the opposite bench.

The left side of my face was swollen and throbbing hot.

When my tongue brushed against the cut inside my cheek, the metallic taste of blood made my eyes sting.

The officer walked over with a clipboard, his expression grave.

"Ma'am, if you refuse to settle, Ms. Reed will be processed for misdemeanor assault and battery."

Hearing that, Gemma clung to Julian's jacket, sobbing hysterically.

"Julian, I'm scared... I just lost control. My hormones were out of whack, I swear I didn't mean it..."

Julian rubbed her back soothingly, then turned to me, his chin tilted up with familiar arrogance.

"Name your price. How much to drop the charges?"

I looked at him. Trying to speak sent a sharp pang through my cheek, pulling a hiss from my lips.

He was still the exact same man. Selfish to the bone.

When he was infatuated with you, you were his queen.

When he was bored, you were lower than dirt.

Having spent two lifetimes entangled with him, I saw right through his act.

I enunciated every single syllable.

"I'm not dropping anything."

Julian sighed deeply, as if his patience for my 'tantrum' had reached its absolute limit.

"Chloe, don't push it."

"It was just a slap. Take the check and walk away before you make this ugly."

I met his glare and repeated firmly,

"Keep your dirty money."

"There is no settlement. And there is no forgiveness."

Julian didn't waste another breath. He dialed his corporate attorney on speaker.

Within twenty minutes, a slick lawyer in a bespoke suit arrived, immediately trying to talk me into signing a non-disclosure settlement.

Between the lines, every word was a veiled threat.

What chance did a regular doctor like me have against Julian Vance's legal team?

Right on cue, my phone rang.

It was Dr. Evans, my department head.

"Chloe! Settle with Mr. Vance right now! If you don't, you can kiss your residency goodbye!"

I knew this was Julian flexing his influence. But why should I swallow this poison?

"Go ahead and fire me, Dr. Evans. I quit."

Before I could hang up, a small crowd in hospital uniforms stormed through the precinct doors, led by Briggs, the HR Director.

"Chloe Hayes! You've dragged this hospital's reputation through the mud! Rumors are already spreading on Twitter that you're a homewrecker who got into a catfight in an exam room!"

"Our board is threatening to pull funding over this scandal! If you don't sign this waiver and issue a public apology, we'll sue you for breach of contract and strip your medical license!"

They swarmed around me, shouting over my attempts to explain.

Until a deep, furious voice boomed from the entrance.

"I dare anyone to lay a finger on her!"