l shut, a gentle sorrow

re often than she could count, but even during her har

d, she took it as if i

ortable lie. Connor didn't even have to lift a finger. He s

lized she couldn't keep lying t

an's illness or the exhausting need to win Connor's favor.

y, peeling an orange. Faint chatter from ot

? The doctor w

bstetrics and gynecology department at Benign

a different doctor? I fought tooth and nail to

a rumor going around that this doctor makes her patients buy pricey herbal med

s! She's doing all this for

ey. I even heard past scandals were covered up by the hospital, but this ti

doctor. I get this baby through IVF. If so

? I'd just go to another hospital. Th

rsh words, Deann

nfront them, anger flashing in her eye

d nasty gossip. You're far more talented than they'll ever understand. What giv

nto a lioness, ready to protect every heartbeat and flutter. They know nothing about what I can do; all they hear are rumors, and

to those who had damaged her name a

It stung to see her so unfairly judged. "This can't go on. People need to know

ituation left There

lved, Deanna's decisions could somet

's heart might steer her off course an

eanna offered a calm reassurance. "There's no need

ght little comf

pl

ort of

e blame again and let o

ted spiral, and she buried her head in her

a kept her thoug

tone, "I didn't bring any clothes with me. Can you bu

mained composed, like she was following

never been part

e with care-except when it came to Connor, where s

I hear you right?" She stared, wide-eyed, u

othing to wear for the occasion. Could you help

rms around Deanna, squeezing so hard it felt like Dea

"Deanna, for a second, I thought you'd go back to that miserable life. I was certain you'd end up shackled to Connor for

d she might back out. When she got through to her secretary, her tone was brisk and in

reed reluctantly. She said into the phone, "Forget the assets. Deanna has no use for that junk. Let

xit, calling over her shoulder, "Deanna! Hol

a faint smile as she watch

rrified she might

behind Theresa, Dea

nd although Nikolas hadn't mentioned it, Deanna sensed trouble brewing. The hospital's goo

resolve Gillian's si

onnor, Deanna had to factor in

ng divorce, she found hersel

aded to Nikolas' office t

you trying to give me a heart attack? Is it because I asked you to rest? Please, understand, with all th

are. Take your break. Your salary will continue, and if there's anything we

las' voice matched the

e was the kind of talent rarely seen-a na

fore operations, hands trembling and ner

d by composure. She wielded the scalpel the way an artist handled a brush,

without the recklessness of youth, and she always t

re sorely lacking in mo

uld mean losing someone who

s it have to do with Connor? Just tell me how you want things handled. If I

answer came with a knowing smile. "Mr. Green, my family only gave me a year's free

hopes collapse, as if someone h

s and countless employees counting on her leader

and looked back at her with sorrow. "Alright, I'll let you leave, but you have t

you ever develop a new treatment, you need to sh

le softened.

tment learned she was leaving, a collec

r the last three years. I truly appreciate everything. I hope we see each other again soon.