ers. A group of young doctors in white coats st

you?" I asked,

rward. "We're residents, Ms. Maynard. Dr. Miles i

male voice cut him off. "Observe wha

h a sneer on her face. Standing beside her,

rl continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "Clinging to him becau

me. For years, I had accepted the Miles family' s care, believing i

the person he truly loves," she said, glancing pointedly

eeks, the very picture of a wronged but ge

dea. She probably pushed you on the Miles family the mome

what a

wisting the memory of my mother, a woman

one thing I c

ing myself up. "Don't you

I swung my hand, intending to sla

moved, placing herse

. It wasn't a hard slap, but the

flying to her face, her ey

the hell ar

y. He had just walked in. He saw Kalea clutch

onto the bed with such force that my head hit the h

. The sheer force of his anger was

ith a fresh wave of pain. He had n

urt you?" He gently brushed her cheek, his touch full of a tenderness he no

t me looks of disgust b

Drake returned, his f

to her," he

fiant. I would not apologize f

ou've been spoiled by my family for too long, Elyse.

y voice shaking. "Kalea stepped in front o

ew colder. "And you think they were wron

. He was agreeing with them. He believed I was t

touched my lips. "Fine," I

I walked slowly toward his office.

e looked up as I entered, a flicker of triumph in her e

me his office was off-limits. "Work is wor

les only applied to peo

t was so sharp it w

ity, my love. "Kalea," I said

ease don't say that. You're Dr. Miles's fiancée. You'

llowed me. His brow was furrowed in annoyance. He didn't want

my broken heart c

ly. "I'll be more careful." She turned to me. "Ms. Ma

was more insulti

Drake said to me,

digging into my pal

ushing down the hall bumped into me. I lost my balanc

ake's worried voice. "Kalea, are y

d, hard floor, c

my face, hot and silent. I covered my mou

ice. He said he was taking her for a special lunch to "de-

r how dedicated Dr. Miles was to his promising student, Kalea. They went to academic conference

He had always been "too bu

methodically torn to shreds. I s

city lights, a sense of calm washed over

as

free. And I woul