The Cost of Loyalty

"Clara, I shouldn't have snapped. I was just thinking about how much we suffered back when we first started our internships. That's why I try to look out for her. Jenny really wants to be a doctor. If you help her this once, I won't divorce you—"

He didn't even finish before Jenny stepped into the frame. "Dr. Fletcher, I don't want you sacrificing yourself for me by staying in a broken marriage."

I let out a sharp laugh. "Right. Being married to me has been such a burden that everyone in our department feels sorry for you and your precious intern. So, let's get divorced. That way, the two of you can finally enjoy a marriage without any burdens."

My words hit Andrew hard. "Clara! Are you incapable of understanding plain words? I told you there's nothing between Jenny and me! Looks like they were right about you always picking fights for no reason!"

Jenny brushed a soothing hand along his back, her voice soft. "Dr. Fletcher, as much as I want to become a doctor, I won't drag you down. I'll take full responsibility for everything."

Andrew's eyes filled with pity. "You're under my supervision. I'm responsible for you. I won't let anything happen to you."

Then, he turned that commanding tone on me. "Clara, you're going to the director and telling him you were the lead surgeon. Jenny was only observing. If you don't go, I'll sign the divorce papers first thing tomorrow."

He hung up.

I felt nothing, almost amused.

He had already signed those divorce papers the first time we fought because of Jenny. All it needed was my signature to take effect.

…

By the time I wrapped up the paperwork for the malpractice review, daylight had already broken.

A colleague who often helped handle hospital disputes called me. "Dr. Winters, it wasn't easy for Jenny to get her internship here. You've helped us a lot, so what's wrong with helping her? Besides, helping her is helping Dr. Fletcher. You really want to see him dragged into this?"

I didn't bother replying. I hung up and blocked the number on the spot. I was done with Andrew and those heartless colleagues.

I pulled the divorce papers from my drawer and signed. Then, I packed Andrew's things and mailed the whole lot to Jenny's place.

Yet, when I picked up the photo of Andrew and my mother-in-law, my eyes still stung. I hadn't grown up in a loving home. I'd never known what a mother's affection felt like.

After the wedding, my mother-in-law treated me like her own daughter. She filled the hollow places I never talked about.

When she learned about Andrew and Jenny, she scolded him over and over, furious on my behalf.

She should've lived a long life.

Instead, she died because of a minor surgery.

…

The next morning, the moment I stepped into the department, Jenny was already sitting in my office, smug from head to toe. "Dr. Winters, you've been suspended. Dr. Fletcher assigned me to take over your work."

I gave her a cold stare. "You two violated hospital policy. That has nothing to do with me."

Jenny smiled as she opened the surgical record on the hospital system. "Dr. Winters, you were the lead surgeon yesterday. I was only observing."

I stared at the record, stunned by the absurdity.

Andrew had actually altered the operative notes just to pin everything on me.

The moment I reached toward the screen with a dark expression, Jenny gave a startled cry and stumbled backward, clutching her face. "Dr. Winters, why would you hit me?"

Andrew appeared at the doorway just in time to hear that, and he threw the cup in his hand straight at me. "Clara! How dare you lay a hand on her? Apologize to her now!"

Colleagues rushed in at the sound, their eyes wide with shock.

Hot water splashed across the left side of my face, burning it raw. Blood dripped from my forehead, mixing with the heat.

My skin throbbed, but the pain inside me was far worse.

Andrew looked right past my injuries, fussing instead over Jenny, who didn't have a single mark on her. "Can't handle your own mistakes, and now you want to drag her down? The surgical record clearly shows you as the lead surgeon. Don't try to pull Jenny into this!"

How ridiculous. This was the man I once gave everything to. "Dr. Fletcher, if I were as incompetent as you say, how did you end up as department head?"

That hit his sore spot. His glare burned like open flame.

The One Who Died on the Table

He glared at me, his jaw tight. "Clara, while I still have a shred of feeling for you, you'd better quit while you can."

I let out a cold laugh. "You think it's the right time to talk about feelings? I'm already—"

"That's enough!" William Sterling, the hospital director, strode into the office, his expression dark with anger. "What are you all doing, yelling in a clinic room? Do you want the patients to think this place is a joke? If you want to get fired, just say so."

Everyone panicked at the thought of losing their job and hurried out of the room.

William stared at Andrew and me for a few seconds before turning his fury on me. "Clara, you were the lead surgeon. A mistake during the operation resulted in a patient's death. You're suspended during the investigation.

"When it's over, the hospital will move forward with your termination. As for legal responsibility, we'll know once the investigation concludes."

I stared at him, stunned. No one knew better than he did who the lead surgeon actually was that night.

…

Before I could speak, Andrew and every colleague from the department voiced their support for the director's decision. Some even said that a heartless doctor like me belonged behind bars.

Jenny stepped forward, wearing a victor's smile as she shooed me away. "This isn't your clinic anymore. Why are you still here?"

Andrew didn't stop her. Instead, he yanked off my badge and threw it on the floor, stomping on it.

I looked at my husband, someone I had once cared for, and the colleagues I had trusted. Then, I turned and walked out, numb.

I didn't leave the hospital right away. I went to the morgue to see my mother-in-law. I whispered an apology to her, telling her I would not take the fall for Andrew and Jenny.

When I got home, the living room was a wreck. A foul stench hung in the air.

All of my belongings had been tossed beside the trash can. The certificates I had earned over the years were scattered across the floor, covered in muddy footprints.

From the bedroom came sounds I didn't need to describe.

Fury surged through me. I kicked the door open. "Both of you, out!"

The two tangled on the bed jolted apart in fright.

Andrew pulled Jenny into his arms and snapped at me, "Ever heard of knocking?"

He tugged the blanket higher, irritation all over his face. He looked at me like I was the one intruding. "I've already decided to divorce you. Why are you still here?"

I let out a bitter laugh. This was my house. Why should I hand it over to this disgusting pair?

Jenny was already itching to move in. Her clothes were hung neatly in my closet.

I yanked them down and threw them out the door. "Let's not forget that I bought this place. If anyone's leaving, it's the two of you."

Andrew's face twisted with rage, his voice going shrill. "What do you mean it's your house? This is our marital home. Half of it is mine. If you had any decency left, you'd hand it over willingly. And don't even think about tattling to my mom. I earned this after all these years of being married to you."

Anger burned through me. He still dared to bring up his mother.

My eyes stung red as I forced the words out. "You still don't know who died on that operating table, do you?"

Andrew scoffed. "Why should I care? The patient's already dead. Now, get out unless you want to watch me and Jenny enjoy ourselves."

Jenny nipped Andrew's ear on purpose, her expression dripping with mockery. "Honestly, Dr. Winters just can't stand the idea of divorcing you. That's why she's looking for excuses to stay."

Andrew playfully tapped her arm. "Too late for regrets. She thinks I can't live without her? Please. I've got plans. Divorce her first, then I'll tell my mom. Even if she wants to object, it won't matter."

His arrogance was almost laughable.

"She won't object," I said quietly. "She won't get the chance."

Andrew brightened even more. "So, she finally saw what you're really like and stopped siding with you? That's great. I knew it. No mother in the world would choose an outsider over her own son."

I pulled out the folder from the drawer—every record from his mother's admission to the failed resuscitation—and threw it at his face.

"Andrew, the reason she won't object is that the person who died in that operating room was your mother!"