After Elizabeth left, the office fell into a suffocating silence, Baker Bryant’s expression dark enough to cast a shadow over the whole room. He yanked at his tie in irritation, memories clawing their way back—Elizabeth standing by him, her laughter contagious. Was it really such a big deal that he’d swapped Zahra Thomas’ doctor? Age had clearly dulled his sense of what actually mattered.

Determined to prove a point, Baker convinced himself Elizabeth needed a reality check: without him, she’d be nothing.

Outside, Elizabeth drifted through the hospital corridors she knew like the back of her hand, an unexpected wave of relief washing over her—like a weight she’d been carrying for years had finally slipped off. She let out a soft breath, pressing a hand to her chest. A heart that once raced for Baker now felt light, almost foreign. It was a sign. That chapter was closing.

Seven years of emotions, she realized, weren’t as impossible to let go of as she’d thought. She’d given so much, sacrificed even more, only to be met with Baker’s endless indifference and quiet cruelty. She should’ve seen it ages ago—the relationship had turned toxic, and holding on would only drag her deeper into the hurt.

No more letting the past dictate her future.

With only twenty-five days left in the statutory waiting period before the divorce could be finalized, she found herself actually looking forward to the final decree. After that, she’d leave the country for good.

For years, her whole world had revolved around Baker and Sam, leaving zero room for herself. Now, free from the weight of love and ready to walk away from this life, it was the perfect moment to reconnect with old friends, maybe throw herself a little farewell party.

Lost in a lively chat on her phone, Elizabeth didn’t notice the figure approaching from behind until a familiar voice cut through the air.

“Elizabeth, are you sure you want to divorce Baker?”

Her smile evaporated, replaced by a mask of cold composure. She turned around to face Zahra Thomas—pale, trembling, her eyes shimmering with barely-contained tears.

“I’m so sorry, Dr. Boyd. This is all my fault. I never thought my friendship with Baker would cause such a misunderstanding. If you’re upset, please take it out on me—just don’t let it ruin what you and Baker have. Sam is still so young… he needs his mother.”

Zahra’s voice came out as a fragile whisper, every word dripping with pleading. She even dipped into a small bow, though she looked unsteady as she straightened up.

Elizabeth nearly laughed at the pathetic damsel-in-distress act. “Baker’s not here, so you can drop the performance.”

She crossed her arms, her tone laced with sarcasm and barely-veiled contempt.

Zahra’s face went even paler, visibly rattled by Elizabeth’s bluntness. Her whole body trembled, tears spilling before she could stop them. “Dr. Boyd, I… I didn’t mean to—” she stammered, voice cracking with helplessness and hurt.

But Elizabeth had zero patience for her little charade. “Zahra, just because I never called you out on your connection to Baker doesn’t mean I’m blind. If your relationship with him was as innocent as you claim, would you be calling him ‘Baker’ so sweetly? Would you keep showing up when you know he’s a married man? But soon I’ll be his ex, so whatever happens between you two is none of my business. But if you pull this victim act in front of me again…”

She didn’t get to finish. Zahra quivered, lowered her head, and finally let the tears fall—each drop hitting the floor with a soft, almost theatrical splash.

Her voice shook even harder now. “I’m truly sorry, Dr. Boyd. I really, really didn’t mean to…”

Elizabeth’s patience was wearing razor-thin as Zahra kept whimpering in that weak little voice. But before she could snap back, a sudden force shoved her hard against the wall.

“Elizabeth!” The voice thundered right in her ear. Baker Bryant loomed over her, his face a mask of fury, looking like he was two seconds from losing it.

Stunned by the shove, Elizabeth’s back slammed into the wall, a sharp hiss escaping her lips. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

She pressed a hand against her aching arm, eyes blazing with anger.

“I’m losing it? Elizabeth, look at what you’ve done!” Baker’s eyes burned with righteous indignation as he stepped closer, his voice low and accusatory.

In his arms, Zahra hung limp and pale—the picture of wounded innocence. She looked like the real victim here. She glanced at Elizabeth through wet lashes, biting her lip, then tugged feebly at Baker’s sleeve. “Baker, don’t be mad… it’s not Dr. Boyd’s fault. She just… she just—” Her sentence dissolved into fresh sobs, tears dripping onto Baker’s hand, adding to her fragile charm.

Baker’s expression instantly softened. He patted Zahra’s back gently, like comforting a frightened child. “Don’t worry, I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you.”

Then he turned back to Elizabeth, his eyes narrowing, sharp enough to cut. “Elizabeth, what did you do to Zahra? I get that you’re not her biggest fan, but she’s a patient. As a doctor, where’s your professional integrity when you’re picking fights with a patient?”

Elizabeth met his disappointed stare, her chest heaving with fury. She’d always known Baker would choose Zahra over her, but it still stung—just not as much as it used to.

Holding his gaze, she spoke slowly, deliberately. “Baker, does your hospital need a reminder that the hallways are covered by cameras?”

She shot an amused glance at Zahra, who flinched slightly at her words. “If you really want to know what happened, check the surveillance footage. See who started this. Or are you just going to convict me based on Zahra’s word alone?”

She had no interest in playing along with Zahra’s little melodrama. Having said her piece, she turned to walk away.

As she turned, a strange sense of finality settled over her. In the past, Baker’s attitude would’ve shattered her, maybe left her in tears. But now, all she felt was relief—and a quiet, steely resolve.

Baker Bryant, maybe I once hoped you’d understand me, trust me. But now I see clearly: it’s Zahra you truly care about. There’s no point in sticking around any longer. Your love doesn’t hold me back anymore—and it sure as hell isn’t going to stop me from moving forward.

Baker Bryant watched Elizabeth Boyd’s figure disappear down the corridor, a strange knot of frustration and unease tightening in his chest. Why didn’t she fight back? The question kept circling his mind.

He replayed the calm determination in her eyes, the steady way she walked away. It planted a seed of doubt. Maybe he’d misread her.

In his arms, Zahra Thomas shifted. The silence was getting to her. Would Baker actually pull the security tapes? She hadn’t thought that far. When she’d confronted Elizabeth, she’d been careful to avoid any physical contact. If Baker watched those videos, her carefully crafted innocent act would come crashing down.

Her heart hammered as she pressed closer, trying to bury her anxiety in the warmth of his embrace. She watched his face from the corner of her eye, searching for what he was really thinking.

When he stayed lost in thought, she gave a soft cough.

“What’s wrong? You feeling okay?” Baker frowned, dragging his gaze back to her. His voice was laced with concern, and some of the tension in her chest loosened.

She gave a weak shake of her head. “I’m sorry, Baker. Did I make things worse? I just wanted to explain to Dr. Boyd about us, but I couldn’t get the words out, and now she’s even more upset. It’s my fault. I’m no good at talking when I’m not feeling well.”

Her voice wobbled with self-blame, her eyes going red, like she might cry any second.

Sympathy pulled at Baker. He patted her back gently. “This isn’t on you. She’s the one being unreasonable, acting jealous. I’ll take care of it. You don’t need to worry. Let me take you home to rest.”

Zahra glanced at him sideways. Good. He’d dropped the camera idea.

“Okay, Baker. I’ll trust you on this.”

After leaving the hospital, Elizabeth headed back to her new apartment. She sprawled on the soft bed, wondering how to fill the next twenty-five days until the statutory waiting period ended. One thing was certain: she’d avoid any chance of running into Baker or Zahra.

She’d use this time to relax, treat herself—a small reward for all the years of mess and hard work she’d been through. She was happily jotting down ideas on her phone when a call interrupted her peace.

The screen flashed a familiar number. Elizabeth hesitated, then answered.

“Hello? Ms. Monroe?”

She’d rather skip this call. Baker had mentioned it: Sam had been skipping school, falling behind, waiting on her tutoring. Once, she’d invested in Sam because she had hope. Now she had zero intention of raising a kid just so Baker’s new girlfriend could look good playing mom.

“Hello, Elizabeth, it’s Ms. Monroe.” The teacher’s voice was a little anxious. “I wouldn’t bother you unless it was important. Can you come to the school right now?”

Elizabeth frowned, caught off guard. “Ms. Monroe, take a breath. What’s going on with Sam?”

The teacher sighed, the rush in her voice saying it all. “Sam hasn’t been coming to school recently. Did you know?”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, then said flatly, “I know. But I can’t do anything about it. I’m divorcing my husband.”

That shut Ms. Monroe up for a few seconds. “Divorce? I… I wasn’t aware.”

Elizabeth shrugged, unbothered. “It’s fine. Just tell me what happened.”

Prompted, Ms. Monroe got back to the point. “Right, well. Sam showed up today. I thought he was here to catch up on classes. But then he got into a fight with a classmate. The other kid’s parents are on their way. I couldn’t reach Mr. Bryant, so I had to call you.”

A fight? It had only been a few days without her, and Sam was already acting out? Elizabeth clenched her fists, her thoughts cold.

“Okay. Don’t worry, Ms. Monroe. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

She hung up and considered calling Baker to handle it, but just as Ms. Monroe said, his phone was unreachable. Great. Just great.

She took a deep breath and decided to go herself, planning to deal with Baker later. After all, Sam was his son. He was the one responsible for how the kid turned out.

Ten minutes later, Elizabeth walked into Ms. Monroe’s office and immediately spotted Sam in the corner. Head down, fingers twisting together, his face tear-streaked and bruised. When he heard footsteps, he looked up.

“Why are you here? I don’t want you. I want Auntie Zahra!” His voice was sharp, defiant.

Elizabeth stopped. Her expression stayed hard. Nearby, Ms. Monroe took in the exchange, remembering Elizabeth’s earlier mention of the divorce. Awkward. She could already tell Baker and Elizabeth’s split had something to do with this “Auntie Zahra.”

Ms. Monroe cleared her throat, about to step in, but Elizabeth was more composed than she expected.

“Do you think I wanted to come?” Elizabeth shot back. “Sam, I’m here to clean up your mess. So keep quiet and don’t embarrass me again.”

She meant it. If she could’ve reached Baker, she wouldn’t be standing here. Sam stared at her, speechless, like he was seeing a stranger. Elizabeth had been strict with him before, but never this distant.