Chapter 2

"Long time no see, Summer Vance."

Julian Wright looked at me, his dark eyes brimming with warmth.

"Have you made up your mind? Are you going to join our research team?"

I frowned, looking at him disapprovingly.

"Julian, did you fly all this way just for an answer? I replied to your email. You should know my decision. Why did you come here... and risk your life to save me?"

Julian smiled gently, touching the bandaged wound on his arm.

"I know. But I wanted to try one last time. If this trial succeeds, it will revolutionize neurosurgery and save countless lives."

"Summer, you told me before that you were getting married and didn't want to relocate abroad. What if I move the entire lab here? Will you join us then?"

My heart thudded. I suddenly remembered that the day before I declined Julian's offer in my past life, Ethan had proposed to me. That was the only reason I had turned down the opportunity of a lifetime.

Recalling the misery of my past life, my fingers trembled. I looked at the man in front of me and made up my mind.

"Okay. I’m in."

Lost in thought about Julian's research project, I unconsciously wandered back toward Ethan’s office.

"Ethan! I don't want her operating on me!"

The sharp voice instantly snatched my attention. In my past life, her voice had been a recurring nightmare that haunted me to my grave. I stopped in my tracks.

Inside the office, Ethan was patiently coaxing Chloe.

"Chloe, Summer is the only neurosurgeon in the state who can pull off this surgery. Just be good. I’ll take you to see her tomorrow, and I promise she’ll agree."

Chloe threw a tantrum, her voice dripping with petulance.

"How could she possibly treat me with care? I’m your ex-wife!"

Ethan continued to soothe her.

"She won't know who you really are to me. She'll think you're just my younger sister. She'll do everything she can to save you."

*Ex-wife?!*

I gasped, covering my mouth in shock. She wasn't his sister—she was his ex-wife! Ethan had been lying to me from the very beginning!

From inside the room, Chloe’s quiet whimpers drifted out.

"Ethan, I hate it when you get close to her. The way you look at her is different. Do you... do you not love me anymore? Have you fallen for her?"

"Are you still mad that I moved abroad and divorced you? I’m so sorry. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have chosen my career over you. Ethan, let's get remarried."

Ethan let out a soft chuckle. "Don't overthink things. Everything I'm doing is for you."

"Stop throwing tantrums, get the surgery, and I'll promise you anything."

Before long, the sound of heavy, breathless kissing echoed through the door.

My nose flared, and hot tears spilled over without warning.

It was all a lie. Ethan had put on a three-year show just for his ex-wife, while I had loved him blindly inside a cage made of deception.

In my past life, even at the moment of my death, I had convinced myself that he was just a grieving brother who had lost his mind.

Returning to this life, my only goal was to avoid operating on Chloe.

*Ethan, if you always intended to get back with your ex-wife, why on earth did you propose to me?*

The next day, as expected, Ethan brought Chloe to my office.

Chloe sat in a wheelchair, a thick blanket draped over her legs.

In reality, she had been admitted a week ago. But because her tumor was highly complex and she stubborn-mindedly demanded a "flawless" recovery with zero side effects, the department had been debating the surgical plan for days.

Seeing me glance at her legs, Chloe’s lips quivered. She looked up at Ethan, tears welling in her eyes as she pulled weakly at his sleeve.

"Ethan... does Dr. Vance look down on me because I'm crippled?"

Hearing this, Ethan’s face darkened instantly. He shot me a glare as sharp as a dagger.

"Summer! How can you treat a patient like this? Where are your professional ethics and compassion? Apologize to Chloe right now!"

The sudden accusation pierced my heart. A flash of hidden sorrow crossed my eyes as I stared at Ethan in utter disbelief.

The patients waiting in the hallway peered through the open door, whispering.

Ethan stiffened slightly, his lips parting as if he wanted to backtrack.

A bitter smile crept onto my face. Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, I turned to Chloe.

"I apologize, Ms. Sterling. I didn't mean to offend you. I was merely analyzing your clinical presentation."

Chloe let out a dismissive huff.

Ethan pushed her wheelchair closer to my desk. He sat beside me, secretly grabbing my hand and rubbing it coaxingly. He whispered, "Summer, I didn't mean to snap at you."

"Chloe has been pampered her whole life, and she's extremely sensitive right now. Please don't take it personally."

I ignored him, pulling my hand back and sitting up straight.

"Ms. Sterling, I believe my colleagues have already briefed you on your condition. With our current technology, the best-case scenario is removing the tumor to help you walk again, but there is a high probability of a permanent limp."

Chloe’s face twisted in rage. She grabbed the pen holder from my desk and hurled it straight at my face.

"Enough! I only want to hear how you're going to cure me completely!"

"Some 'star neurosurgeon' you are! You're a fraud!"

With that, she burst into tears and wheeled herself out of the room.

The pen holder had sliced my forehead, and a warm trickle of blood began to seep down my face. Yet, Ethan only gave me a cold, lingering look before rushing out to chase after her.

The waiting patients watched the entire scene unfold and began whispering loudly.

"Wow, that doctor just made a patient cry."

"And she calls herself a specialist? The patient called her a fraud and she didn't even deny it. What a joke! I'm getting a refund on my appointment."

"I knew she was too young to be reliable. Didn't you hear the male doctor? He said she has no ethics! Let's get out of here."

I lowered my head, blinking back the burning tears, and silently cleaned up the mess on the floor.