When Ryan and I got married, he was dirt poor. He promised me that one day he’d make a name for himself and present me with a grand surprise. Three years later, he did it. His company went public, soaring to unprecedented heights, and his name was everywhere. At the celebratory banquet on the listing day, my heart swelled with joy as he handed me a beautifully wrapped package. But when I opened it, the smile on my face froze. I stood there, stunned. Inside were three bank cards, each with a small label. The first: $18,000, for the house call when you saved my mother. The second: $38,000, for the three years I lived in your home, rent. The third: $200,000, for three years of doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the house—your nanny fees. “Skylar, everything I owed you, I’ve paid back.” “Now, can you finally let me go?” My heart plunged. Was this how he saw our home? A hotel? And me? Just a nanny? This wasn’t a surprise gift; it was a death wish package! Before I could even process it, Ryan pulled out a massive diamond ring from his pocket. He knelt on one knee, gazing deeply at Chloe, my apprentice, who stood beside me. “Chloe, I love you.” Boom! My mind went blank. My neck stiffened as I slowly turned ninety degrees, staring at Chloe in disbelief. Chloe, who had become my apprentice at eighteen, and whom I had meticulously mentored for five years. “Mr. Ryan is proposing to his wife’s apprentice? What the hell… he’s not even trying to hide it?” “Ugh! And I used to idolize him! Turns out he’s a total scumbag!” “They say men change when they get rich, and it’s absolutely true. Company just went public, and he’s already ditching his wife for his young apprentice!” “Absolutely shameless! Disgusting!” “…” A wave of angry curses erupted through the hall. Ryan then turned to me, his face etched with a suffocating heaviness. “My mother was critically ill back then, and I couldn’t afford her treatment. You offered to save her life with surgery if I married into your family, and I agreed.” “A year later, my mother passed away. I wanted a divorce, but you used saving my mother’s life to manipulate me. I didn’t say anything then.” “Now, I’ve paid everything I owe you!” “In fact, if you agree to the divorce, I’ll even give you half the company’s shares. How about that?” The insults faltered. Countless gazes of surprise and curiosity turned to me, and whispers filled the room. “I knew Mr. Ryan couldn’t be that foolish. So there’s a heartbreaking backstory.” “Selling himself to save his mother, then repaying the debt after making it big, and even willing to give up half his shares for freedom. Nothing wrong with that!” “Yeah, on the contrary, his wife seems a bit unscrupulous. I suddenly feel so sorry for Mr. Ryan…” My chest felt like it was filled with ice shards, each breath a searing pain. My mind was flooded with the image of him, kneeling in the snow, kowtowing repeatedly, begging me to save his mother’s life. I saved her, without any conditions. Afterward, he proposed, and I, moved by his filial devotion, accepted. But now, it was twisted into me having blackmailed him all this time? Looking at the utter lack of emotion on his face now, it finally hit me. All those countless moments of affection and sweetness after our marriage were just a performance for me… The next second, Chloe’s furious voice rang in my ears. “Ryan, have you lost your mind?!” “I’ve always looked up to you as an elder. How am I supposed to face anyone after this?” “Skylar, I swear to you! There’s absolutely nothing going on between Ryan and me!” “I have no idea why he’s pulled this stunt today. You have to believe me!”
I froze, and the entire room erupted again. Ryan looked bewildered, opening his mouth to say something, but Chloe was already wiping her tears, fleeing as if her life depended on it. Back home, Ryan and I fell into a cold war. Waking up in the middle of the night, I paused as I passed his study. The door was tightly shut, but with my superior hearing as a neurosurgeon, I caught every word of the conversation inside. “Ryan, you were too hasty!” “Skylar hasn’t taught me The Phoenix Nerve Technique yet. Now isn’t the time to burn bridges with her!” “Y-yes… I’m sorry, Chloe. I just want you so badly! I want to marry you officially! I want to—” “I understand, but my heart and soul are already yours. Can’t you wait a little longer? Please?” “Alright… So, how are you going to make it up to me?” “Oh!” “Next time, we’ll try a new position. I promise it’ll blow your mind.” “…” I trembled, leaning against the wall, silent tears streaming down my face again. “What a loving couple, indeed!” “Since that’s the case, I’ll grant your wish.” As soon as dawn broke, Chloe called me. “Skylar, have you and Ryan made up?” “Ryan’s words yesterday were just drunken ramblings, please don’t take them seriously.” “Your kindness in teaching and guiding me has always been etched in my heart. Even though you’re only seven years older, I’ve always seen you like a mother.” “I would never do something so ungrateful as to be intimate with Ryan. You have to believe me, boo-hoo…” On the other end of the line, she was crying her eyes out. I didn’t expose her, only sneered silently. I had just hung up when Ryan pushed open the door. “Skylar, I was so out of it yesterday, I don’t know what happened. Someone must have been jealous and spiked my drink to make a fool of me.” “That gift package was just a prank to lighten the mood. This diamond ring was meant for you.” I took the ring, then tossed it into the trash can without a second thought, shoving a freshly printed divorce agreement at him. “Sign it.” Ryan froze, opening his mouth, but I pushed a surgical notebook gently towards him. “Now, can you sign it?” Seeing the surgical secrets, his pupils constricted sharply. He immediately picked up the pen to sign. But then he paused, his hand trembling slightly, a flicker of confusion in his eyes that even he didn’t notice. Three or four seconds later, he signed and quickly stood up. Before leaving, he glanced back at me, unusually calm, his lips twitching. “Skylar, I…” I cut him off. “I’ve let you go. Leave.” “Congratulations, Mr. Ryan, on regaining your freedom.” That same day, I posted a statement online, severing my mentorship with Chloe. Soon after, Ryan posted a response. [Shocking! Ex-husband publicly exposes Neurosurgeon Skylar Matthews’ Three Major Crimes!] “One, accepting bribes, openly disregarding hospital regulations, repeatedly and actively soliciting under-the-table payments from patient families, with bribe income reaching at least a million!” “Two, malpractice and negligence, not only refusing to treat the poor but also causing patient deaths multiple times due to misdiagnosis, then using money to cover it up.” “Three, marital infidelity, repeatedly offering ‘escort services’ to wealthy patients, and using her position and reputation to coerce new industry recruits into becoming her young boy-toys.” Below the post were videos of a group of patients and a young intern who had just joined the hospital, tearfully accusing me. No need to ask, Ryan must have used his money and influence. The post quickly shot to the top of trending topics, and the comment section exploded. The countless curses scrolling wildly across the screen were like poisoned daggers relentlessly stabbing my already shattered heart.
I clenched my fists, knuckles white, ultimately suppressing the volcanic rage and bitter hurt welling up inside me. The tears that had been brewing in my eyes didn’t fall. Because it wasn’t worth it. If they wanted to play, I’d play along until the very end! The next day, as I went to work at the hospital, security guards and nurses in the lobby pointed and whispered about me. I ignored them completely. As I was about to enter the elevator, Dean Thompson blocked my way, his face furious. “Dr. Matthews, an internal review has been initiated regarding your conduct. You’ll be suspended for a period.” I was stunned. “Dean, do you believe those online rumors too?” “Whether they’re rumors, we’ll find out after the investigation.” “But there are so many patients waiting for me…” Before I could finish, a tall, strikingly handsome man, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, approached me. “Effective immediately, you are no longer my sister’s attending physician. I cannot entrust my sister to someone of such questionable character.” My expression shifted slightly. I reminded him, “Mr. Thorne, you know your sister’s condition. You’ve consulted every famous doctor, domestic and international. Only I can save her.” Alex Thorne frowned at my words. Just as he looked troubled, Chloe, in a white coat, appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Her eyes glinting, she said softly, “Mr. Thorne, actually…” “I can do it too.” I paused, then scoffed, a cold smile on my lips. “Oh, really? Just got expelled from your mentorship, and your wings are already so strong?” Chloe looked heartbroken, her voice tinged with a sob. “Skylar, please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean to steal your patient, and I had no idea about that post Ryan made.” “But now the patient’s family insists they don’t want you to treat her. As a doctor, one can’t just disregard a patient’s life, right?” “Life is paramount, and patients have the right to choose their attending physician. These are all things you once taught me.” Alex Thorne looked at her skeptically. “My sister’s illness is a rare one. You can treat it?” Chloe nodded eagerly, about to guarantee it, when Alex already made up his mind. “Alright, you’re hired.” I sighed softly, then urged, “Mr. Thorne, I just taught her the surgical techniques. Even if she’s talented, I’m afraid…” Before I could finish, Alex waved his hand. “Shut your mouth, you jinx! Get her out of here!” Seeing several bodyguards approach, I quickly stepped back. “Don’t touch me. I’ll leave myself.” Before walking out the main door, I turned my head, sharing a deeply meaningful gaze with Alex . Over the next few days, Chloe’s treatment of Audrey went remarkably smoothly. For this, the hospital even held a commendation ceremony specifically for her. I was also required to attend, standing on stage like a mere green leaf, accentuating her dazzling brilliance. “Now, Mr. Thorne’s sister’s condition is basically stable, and Mr. Thorne, to show his gratitude, has expressed his intention to donate one hundred million dollars to our hospital!” “This is all thanks to Dr. Chloe. Her Phoenix Nerve Technique is truly phenomenal!” “Furthermore, according to many public reports, Dr. Chloe frequently offers free medical services and has an excellent reputation in the industry. She’s simply the opposite of some people.” At this, Dean Thompson glared at me, his brow furrowed, then continued, “After investigation, the claims in that previous post have been largely verified.” “The senior management and I have decided to terminate Skylar Matthews’ employment. The position of Head of Chinese Medicine, which she previously held, will be taken over by Chloe.” The audience erupted in thunderous applause, mixed with shouts of condemnation directed at me. “Serves her right!” “A corrupt, depraved doctor like her is an insult to our noble profession!” “Dismissal is too light; she should be blacklisted from the entire industry!”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “303109”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply