The intern, Chloe Miller, screwed up the monitoring equipment, and it caused a patient to hemorrhage badly. But Declan Hayes – my boyfriend of six years, who was also my chief physician – he made *me*, the nurse manager, take the fall. My boyfriend sacrificed me to protect his new fling’s future. He didn’t bother coming home at night anymore, spending his time with Chloe. I was just a disposable pawn, ready to be used and discarded. “Chloe’s still an intern, Anya. One mistake could ruin her whole career.” Declan looked at me, his eyes cold, his tone utterly dismissive. “You’re experienced. Taking some responsibility is nothing for someone like you.” His face was grim, his gaze filled with disdain, as if I were nothing. “Anya, you need to know your place. You think you’re so great? If I hadn’t pulled strings for you, do you really think you’d be the nurse manager?” I stared at the man I’d dated for six years, and my heart turned to ashes. Six years of my youth, and all I got was his ruthless humiliation and betrayal. But I was going to show him. Without him, I’d thrive even more. **1** Blood. Everywhere. The monitor shrieked a piercing alarm, the patient’s blood pressure plummeting. “Clamps! Now!” Declan’s voice roared through the operating room. My hands trembled, but I quickly handed over the instrument. “Anya Stone, what did you just do?” Declan’s gaze sliced through me like a blade. “I didn’t —” “Did you touch the monitor to make it alarm?” He cut me off, his voice chillingly cold. I froze. The monitor had indeed gone off, but I hadn’t touched it. It was Chloe, the new intern. She’d clearly bumped the equipment a moment ago. I instinctively glanced at Chloe. She stood innocently in the corner, her eyes red-rimmed and wide. “Dr. Hayes, I really don’t know what happened.” Chloe’s voice was soft and sweet. “I was just watching from the side, I didn’t touch anything.” Declan frowned, his gaze sweeping between Chloe and me, finally settling on me. “Anya, you’re the nurse manager. It’s your responsibility to ensure safety in the operating room. Now the patient’s bleeding, someone has to be held accountable.” I opened my mouth, wanting to say that Chloe had touched the monitor. But seeing her innocent, helpless look, the words died on my tongue. *Forget it.* I’m the nurse manager. Taking responsibility is part of my job. “I’ll write the report,” I mumbled. Declan nodded and returned his focus to the surgery. Where he couldn’t see, Chloe flashed me a smile. It sent a shiver down my spine. After the surgery, Declan walked into the office. “Report done?” “Almost.” He glanced at the screen, then nodded. “This sounds appropriate.” “Chloe’s still an intern. One mistake could ruin her whole career.” “You’re experienced. Taking some responsibility is nothing for someone like you.” I looked up at him, the man I’d been with for six years. “Declan, do you really think this was my fault?” “It’s not *your* fault, but someone has to take responsibility.” His tone was flat. “The hospital needs to give the family an explanation.” “Then why not Chloe?” Declan frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you trying to pass the blame to an intern? Anya, when did you get so petty?” I stared at him, suddenly feeling like I was looking at a stranger. Six years, and in his eyes, I was just a tool, someone he could push forward to take the blame at any time. “I’m not trying to pass the blame.” I turned back to the computer screen. “I’ll write it as you said.” Declan patted my shoulder. “That’s my girl. You’ve always been the most understanding.” *Understanding enough to lose myself.* He turned to leave, but I called out, “Declan, let’s have dinner together tonight?” “Can’t tonight. I need to take Chloe through the hospital procedures. She’s new, there’s a lot she doesn’t know.” “How about tomorrow?” “We’ll see,” he said, walking away without a glance back. **2** The next day, Chloe was already at the nurses’ station, bright and early. She saw me and immediately flashed a sweet smile. “Anya, good morning! Thanks again for yesterday.” “Just do your job well,” I said. “Oh, by the way, Dr. Hayes took me to dinner last night. At that Italian place near the hospital,” Chloe gushed, beaming. “He said I have a lot of potential.” A knot tightened in my stomach. That Italian restaurant was where Declan and I had our first date. “Oh, Dr. Hayes asked me to bring you this coffee,” she said, handing me a mocha. “How did he know I like this?” “I asked him yesterday!” Chloe’s smile was triumphant. “Dr. Hayes didn’t even hesitate. He said mocha, and sugar-free, because you’re on a diet lately.” My grip tightened on the coffee cup. He’d told Chloe my preferences, and in such detail. Just then, Declan walked in. He wore his white coat, still the same detached expression, but when he saw Chloe, his face softened visibly. “Chloe, do you remember what I taught you yesterday?” “Yes!” Chloe nodded enthusiastically. “Dr. Hayes, can I shadow you on your rounds today?” “Of course.” Declan nodded, then looked at me. “Anya, the hospital received your accident report yesterday. Your evaluation this month might be affected.” “I know.” “But it’s fine. Just be more careful next time.” His tone was flat, as if discussing something trivial. Chloe murmured beside him, “It’s all my fault. If only I wasn’t so new and didn’t understand anything, Anya wouldn’t have had to take the blame.” Declan patted her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Chloe. Everyone has an adjustment period when they’re new. Anya’s the nurse manager; handling these things is her responsibility.” *Right. My responsibility.* So, her mistakes are my responsibility too? I lowered my head and drank my coffee, not wanting them to see my expression. “Alright, let’s go on rounds,” Declan said to Chloe. They walked off, one after the other. I watched their backs, an unreadable feeling swirling inside me. That evening, I got home, but Declan still wasn’t back. I remembered what Chloe had said today: Declan had hugged her and told her she reminded him of someone he used to know. The sound of keys jangling outside broke my thoughts. Declan was home. “What kept you so late?” I asked. “Just practicing procedures with Chloe. It took a while,” he said, taking off his jacket. “The hospital has a medical conference tomorrow. I’m taking Chloe with me.” *Chloe, again.* “Why are you taking her? She’s just an intern.” “She’s very talented. It’ll be good for her future development to see more,” Declan said, looking at me. “Do you have an issue with that?” “I don’t have an issue, I just think it’s a bit strange.” “What’s so strange? Is there a problem with me developing my subordinates?” Declan’s voice was tinged with impatience. “Anya, what’s wrong with you lately? You’re always targeting Chloe.” *Targeting? When did I ever target her?* “I’m not targeting her. I just think you’re being too good to her.” “Too good?” Declan scoffed. “I’m good to her because she deserves it. She’s diligent and hardworking, unlike some people who just overthink everything.” *Some people? Was he talking about me?* “Declan, what do you mean by that?” “What do *you* think I mean?” His eyes were cold. “Chloe told me recently that you keep giving her dirty looks, making her feel stressed. She’s just a young girl who just started, do you really have to be like that?” Chloe told him I gave her dirty looks? When did I ever do that? “When did I ever give her dirty looks?” “You know perfectly well yourself.” Declan turned and walked towards the bedroom. “I suggest you rein it in, before people start to talk.” **3** The next day, Chloe wore a new dress, a pale blue one. “Anya, Dr. Hayes is taking me to a medical conference today! I’m so nervous,” she said with a sweet smile. “How do I look in this dress? Dr. Hayes said blue looks really good on me.” Declan complimented her on blue? Just then, Declan walked over. “Chloe, ready?” “Ready!” Chloe nodded excitedly. Declan glanced at me, said nothing, and turned to leave. “Declan, wait.” I called out. “What is it?” “Did you talk trash about me to Chloe yesterday?” Declan frowned. “I didn’t talk trash about you. I just objectively analyzed the situation.” “What situation?” “Anya, your behavior lately has been worrying.” Declan’s tone was calm. “As a nurse manager, you should be more tolerant and magnanimous, not let personal emotions affect your work.” *Personal emotions? Did I affect my work?* “When did I ever let personal emotions affect my work?” “Your attitude towards Chloe says it all.” Declan looked at me, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “She’s just a recent graduate, do you really need to target her like that?” I sighed inwardly and cut him off. “Forget it. You two go.” Around noon, Liam called me. “Anya, have you thought about yesterday’s offer?” “I want to go back.” I said the words with almost no hesitation. “Really?” Liam’s voice was filled with surprise. “That’s fantastic! When can you come?” “Let me sort things out here. Probably about a month.” “Great! I’ll go talk to Dr. Vance right away and secure a spot for you.” I hung up, feeling a huge weight lift from my chest. In the afternoon, Declan and Chloe returned. Chloe’s face was flushed with excitement. Declan walked over and glanced at the content on my screen. His face instantly changed. “A resignation letter? You’re resigning?” “Yes.” I turned to face him. “I’m going back to my family’s town.” “Why?” Declan frowned. “Is it because I’ve been busy and haven’t had time for you?” “It’s not that.” I looked at him. “Declan, do you think we still have a future?” “What do you mean?” “We’ve been together for six years. Have you ever thought about marriage?” Declan paused. “Marriage? My career is on the rise right now. It’s too early to get married.” *Too early? We’re almost thirty. Is that still early?* “Then when won’t it be early?” “Give it a few more years,” Declan said casually. “Marriage isn’t good for career development right now.” *Not good? Or is it that I’m just not important to him anymore?* “Declan, do you still love me?” The moment the question left my lips, I saw a flicker of panic in Declan’s eyes. “Why are you asking that?” “Answer me.” Declan was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “What is love? We’ve been together for so long, it’s gone beyond love. It’s family now.” *Family?* I looked at him, a chill spreading through my heart. In his eyes, I had gone from a girlfriend to a relative—someone who could be easily ignored. “I understand.” I stood up. “Let’s break up.” Declan seemed not to have heard me clearly. “What did you say?” “I said, let’s break up.” I repeated, my voice calm. **4** “Anya, are you crazy?” Declan’s voice rose. “You’re breaking up with me because of Chloe?” “It’s not because of Chloe. It’s because we don’t have love anymore.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297075”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance
Leave a Reply