Chapter 2

I stared at Ethan.

I didn't have the strength left to argue.

The nurse pushed the door open, saw the cup on the floor, and immediately steadied me upright.

Then she turned to Ethan. "This patient just came out of major surgery. She can't be left alone. You're listed as her emergency contact. Why are you only showing up now?"

Ethan's expression froze. "She's always been tough. It's not that serious."

The nurse's voice shook with anger. "Not that serious? She just went through..."

"Viv!"

Megan burst into the room, cutting the nurse off mid-sentence.

Her eyes were red and swollen. She rushed to the bed and grabbed the edge of my blanket.

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have trusted Bolt. I shouldn't have said there was a child down there." Her shoulders trembled as she cried. "But I really did hear him say it. Viv, please don't blame Bolt, okay?"

I didn't answer.

Bolt had five years of professional training. If he didn't detect a living scent, he would never alert.

He just wouldn't.

The only one who 'alerted' was Megan.

Ethan rubbed her back gently. "Meg, you don't need to apologize. You were trying to save a life."

Megan wiped her tears. "But Viv got hurt. She must hate me."

Ethan turned to me. His eyes went cold. "Megan came all the way here to apologize. What more do you want?"

I stared at them. "The truth."

Ethan raised his brow. "What truth?"

"Why she lied."

Megan's face went white. The tears fell harder. "I didn't lie. Viv, we've known each other our whole lives. How can you say that about me?"

Ethan stepped in front of her immediately. "Enough. You know Megan is kind, and you're still trying to hurt her. Being in a hospital bed doesn't mean the whole world owes you something!"

The nurse spoke up. "The person who needs care right now is the patient. She can't even reach her water, and you two are in here pressuring her to apologize. How could you?"

Ethan ignored her.

I looked at him and said it. "We're done."

He stared at me. Then he let out a short, cold laugh.

He clearly didn't believe it. "Cool off first. When you've thought it through and you're ready to apologize to Megan, call me."

He left with Megan.

The moment the door closed, I heard her whisper. "Ethan, do you think Viv is really going to shut us out?"

His voice was calm. "No. Give her a few days. She'll come around."

The footsteps faded.

I looked down at the empty left sleeve of my hospital gown.

The tears finally came.

Six years together. He knew exactly how I worked.

Yet in every argument, I was the one who caved first.

Even with my hand crushed to nothing, he was certain I wouldn't leave.

Late that night, I filled out the employment paperwork one letter at a time with my right hand.

The last field asked: [Are you willing to accept long-term overseas deployment?]

I didn't hesitate.

I hit confirm.

[YES.]