Ophelia stood frozen in the hallway of City Medical Center, the weight of Mr. Kane’s words still echoing in her ears.
Your suspension has been lifted.
Around her, the hallway had gone deathly silent.
Dr. Margaret Voss’s face had turned ghostly pale before she stormed off without another word.
Dana stood a few feet away, mouth slightly open, clearly shocked that her gossip had backfired so spectacularly.
A few other colleagues shifted uncomfortably, their mocking smiles fading into awkward uncertainty.
Ophelia didn’t feel triumphant but felt hollow in that moment.
“Thank you, sir,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Kane paused, turning back to Ophelia as he gave her a curt.
“Clean up the mess Voss left behind. And Dr. Cater… try to keep your personal life from becoming tomorrow’s headline.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Ophelia standing in the middle of the hallway like a ghost.
She made her way to her office on unsteady legs.
The moment she closed the door behind her, the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
She sank into her chair, burying her face in her hands.
Everything felt too fast, too overwhelming.
Just hours ago, she had been suspended and humiliated in front of everyone.
Now she was back not just that, but promoted and she knew exactly who had made it happen.
Tristan.
He had done it anonymously, just like he always did.
Fixing her problems from the shadows while keeping her trapped.
The thought made her chest tighten with a confusing mix of gratitude and resentment.
Just then a soft knock sounded on her door.
Before she could answer, Dana poked her head in, her expression a poor imitation of concern.
“Ophelia… wow. I guess congratulations are in order?” Dana’s voice dripped with fake sweetness.
“I mean, it’s amazing how quickly things turned around for you. One minute everyone’s calling you a scandal, the next you’re heading the division. It must be nice having… powerful friends.”
Ophelia wiped her tears quickly and lifted her chin.
“Is there something you need, Dana?”
Dana smiled thinly. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Just wanted to say I am happy for you. Really. Though some people are already whispering that you must have slept with someone very important to make this happen so fast. But hey, what do they know, right?”
The words stung, but Ophelia refused to let it show.
“If that’s all, I have work to catch up on… so..” she let out.
Dana lingered for a second longer, then shrugged.
“Well… guess it’s my cue to take my leave.” With that, she found her way out, closing the door behind her.
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Ophelia packed her things, of course, she had been transferred and would now be using Margaret’s office.
Even though she felt sad she is still kinda happy on the other end, she has pushed Margaret out of her way at the moment.
Just then her phone buzzed on the desk and when she checked to see it was from Tristan.
“Well, guess you have received your promotion.
Enjoy it while it lasts
She stared at the screen for a long moment, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Finally, she typed back.
“You didn’t have to fire her.”
Not a few seconds later before he replied, “Well… Liora is being handed your position and I see the other lady has no importance so.”
Ophelia read the message over and over and then sent again, “How in the world do you know things about the center!”
“I have eyes everywhere Lia, and I need to protect what is mine.”
The simple declaration sent a shiver down her spine.
She hated how those words both angered and comforted her at the same time.
Eyes everywhere?
She really can’t explain Tristan, after all she hadn’t bothered herself to know anything about him, for the whole seven years she had known him.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of meetings, Ophelia getting her new office, and awkward conversations with colleagues who suddenly wanted to act as if nothing had happened.
By the time evening came, Ophelia was drained. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
She packed her things and headed to the parking lot, her mind swirling with everything that had transpired.
She had barely reached her car when her phone rang, and she knew who it was going to be.
“Are you still at the Center?” he asked, voice low and calm.
“Yes. I am about to leave.”
“I am sending a car for you.”
Ophelia leaned against her vehicle, closing her eyes.
“Tristan… I told you this morning. I can’t be seen with you.. I don’t want to be seen with you.” There was a pause on the other end.
“Then meet me at my penthouse. Tonight.”
Her heart skipped as the memory of riding him on her couch that morning flashed through her mind.
Heat pooled low in her belly despite everything.
“I… I need time,” she whispered.
“You have until 9 PM,” he replied.
“After that, I will come find you myself.” He hung up before she could argue.
Ophelia drove home in silence, her mind a battlefield of emotions.
Part of her still ached for Nicholas, the man she had loved for seven years.
The man who had thrown her away so easily.
Another part of her was dangerously drawn to Tristan the man who fixed her problems while demanding everything in return.
When she got home, she took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the tears and confusion.
She stood in front of her closet for a long time before choosing a simple black dress.
Not one of the ones Tristan had sent her.
At 8:45 PM, she stared at her reflection.
She didn’t know what she was doing anymore.
She didn’t know if she was falling for Tristan or simply surviving him.
But when her phone buzzed with a message from him.
” Waiting..” She grabbed her keys and left.