Chapter 3

Amber laughed even louder now.

"Just an Attending position? You begged for it with six months of night shifts, but I got it just by asking."

"Did you honestly think Marcus would stand up for you?"

Marcus stepped out of the office, and Amber’s face instantly changed into a victim's mask.

"Marcus, your ex-wife... she's jealous of my promotion. She says I don't deserve it."

Marcus looked at me with deep disappointment. "You used to be reasonable, Chloe. Now you're acting like a hysterical Karen."

"If you're so jealous, go complain to Vice President Sterling."

"If you can convince him, the position is yours."

"Otherwise, screaming here won't change a thing."

Vice President Sterling—Amber's father.

Those two were snakes of the same nest.

Seeing a crowd gathering, Amber's little sidekick, Lily, stepped up to support her. This gave Amber even more confidence.

"Chloe, I've been very patient with you. We all know you slept your way through grad school to get those papers published."

"For the sake of our old school days, I didn't report you. And now you have the nerve to fight for this promotion?"

"With your lack of ethics, you should have your medical license revoked."

The medical students, who had all received favors from Amber, quickly joined in.

"She's just a fraud who traded sex for papers. She only knows how to work in bed."

"And she calls herself a research genius? Pathetic."

"If she keeps causing a scene, let's just report her to the board."

Amber looked at me triumphantly. She believed that whatever she wanted, she could get.

It had been that way her entire life.

I cleared my throat, completely ignoring her accusations.

"Amber, the only thesis that was slept for was yours—right in Marcus's bed."

Before I could finish, Marcus’s hand slapped hard across my face.

My head snapped to the side, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

"Watch your mouth! Do you have any proof?" Marcus barked. "How dare you slander Amber!"

Proof?

Did they have any proof when they were trash-talking me?

The onlookers became even more aggressive.

"Amber, let me call the cops. Let's get Chloe arrested."

"She’s literally making up lies in public. This is harassment!"

I stood there, waiting for them to call the police.

But Amber stopped them.

"Forget it. If we call the police, Chloe's career will be totally over. With a criminal record, no one will ever hire her."

Her words made everyone forget about the police and instead praise her for being "magnanimous."

Marcus stood protectively in front of Amber, glaring at me. It was clear that if I said another word, he would slap me again.

Human nature is truly unpredictable.

I had fallen for Marcus because, back in college, when everyone accused me of stealing a roommate's watch, Marcus had stood in front of me to protect me.

Now, he was standing in the exact same protective stance—but for Amber.

And he was the one accusing me.

Amber patted my cheek mockingly.

"Remember this, Chloe. I got this position fair and square."

Fair and square? With the thesis I spent three years researching?

Did they really think I would just sit back and let them trample me again in this life?

I smiled lightly.

"Fair and square? You mean by using my research paper?"