I finished speaking, ignoring the astonished stares from those around me, and turned to leave. But Gian swiftly moved to block my path.

His voice suddenly escalated, "Francesca, what kind of joke is this?"

"Where would someone like you get the funds to study abroad? Don't act on a whim!"

Mariam's expression soured too. "Dr. Olson, after all your dedication to ankylosing spondylitis rehab research, how can you just walk away? It's so irresponsible!"

I stared at the two of them, my lips curling into a smug grin. "Isn't my departure exactly what you both wanted?"

There was a brief silence before Mariam, seeming to have resolved her internal conflict, clasped my hand tightly.

"Dr. Olson, you have remarkable talent, and I don't want to see you abandon your aspirations."

"If you're open to it, I could introduce you to Dr. Sullivan, and perhaps he'd consider taking you under his wing."

With those words, Mariam instantly gained sainthood status in the eyes of our peers. And if I turned her down, it would appear that I was being ungrateful.

Just then, Director Harvey stepped forward. He gave Mariam a supportive pat on the shoulder.

"Dr. Castro, you haven't done anything wrong, so why should you make unnecessary concessions?"

"Especially to someone whose integrity is questionable!"

He added, his gaze sharp as it locked onto me.

"Since you've already decided, this small hospital can't possibly accommodate someone as distinguished as you."

"Submit your resignation, and I'll approve it immediately."

Gian looked visibly shaken, as if he wanted to say something in my defense. But I cut him off, shrugged off my lab coat, and walked away without a backward glance.

As soon as I stepped outside the hospital's doors, Gian caught up to me and grabbed my arm.

"Francesca, who said you could quit? Come back and apologize to the director."

I shook off his grip, my face expressionless. "Not a chance!"

"Francesca, you're just a broke kid. How do you plan on affording to study abroad? Take another step, and we're through!"

His domineering tone was pathetic. This was the man I'd devoted myself to for three years.

I smirked in self-mockery. "Then let's end it."

I didn't give him time to respond, jumping into a cab and driving away.

By the time I reached home, news of the events between Mariam and me had spread throughout the hospital. Some gossip-mongers even posted about it on the New York Medical Forum.

Suddenly, Mariam and I became notorious in the city's medical circles. She was praised as an admirable doctor, attracting offers from prestigious research groups worldwide.

As for me, I was branded a thief lurking in the shadows. My previous accomplishments were completely dismissed, and I was painted as "a shame to the medical field" and "a disgrace among doctors."

Reading one scathing comment after another on the forum, I felt an odd sense of calm.

It was on my strong recommendation that Mariam initially joined the research group. Once she was part of it, all her experimental data came from me; she hadn't even conducted a single experiment herself.

My mentor had high hopes for me, and before he passed away, he left a recommendation letter, hoping I could join Dr. Sullivan's research group and build a future there.

Now, the research is nearing the clinical trial phase. It'll be interesting to see how Mariam, without me to shield her, plans to independently complete an ankylosing spondylitis repair surgery.

Exposing Gian and Mariam's lies is only a matter of time.

After submitting my resignation, I began packing my belongings. Surveying the apartment Gian and I had shared for three years, I couldn't escape a wave of sadness. Gian was my first love; once we were together, he became the center of my universe.

That was until I discovered the encrypted photo album on his phone, filled with intimate pictures of him and Mariam. When I confronted him, seeking clarity, he lashed out, accusing me of invading his privacy and claiming I had no trust in him. This sparked a month-long cold war between us. In the end, it was I who had to swallow my pride and apologize to earn his grudging forgiveness.

But from then on, he was less discreet in his favoritism toward Mariam. When I was bedridden with a high fever, he left me alone because she called. On my birthday, he hosted her for a lavish dinner, leaving me behind at the restaurant until closing time. He repeatedly shared my research findings with her to help her advance. I didn't remain silent—I argued, but every time it ended with him saying, "If you're not happy, then let's break up."

I could overlook many things, but my research on ankylosing spondylitis was the dream driving my medical career. It wasn't just about academic achievement; it was for the countless patients in need. So this time, I wouldn't back down.

Packing didn't take long, as I didn't have much. Just as I was about to leave with my suitcase, the door swung open, and Gian walked in with Mariam.

Feigning surprise, Mariam asked, "Dr. Olson, are you really leaving for Europe to study?"

Gian shot me a disdainful look and said, "Francesca, stop pretending. You're not fooling anyone."

"With your mediocre background, you think you can study in Europe? I bet you can't even afford a plane ticket!"

"You better get back to the clinic with Mariam while you still have a chance to patch things up. Don’t worry; Mariam isn’t as petty as you. She’ll speak up for you."

Mariam, clearly enjoying herself, chimed in, "Yes, Dr. Olson, if you apologize to me publicly at the staff meeting, it’ll all be forgotten. Once I become Dr. Sullivan’s student, I’ll put in a good word for you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Mariam, where do you get the nerve to ask me to apologize?"

"Put in a good word for me with Dr. Sullivan? You're scared I'll leave for good!"

Hearing my blunt reply, Gian glowered protectively at her. "Mariam’s father is the director of a major hospital. To me, she’s leagues beyond you; you couldn’t compare to a single hair on her head."

"You better do as Mariam says, or forget about me forgiving you ever again!"

The boyfriend I'd cherished for three years had finally shown his true colors. Gian was right; my background couldn’t match Mariam’s. But he had no clue I was the only doctor both domestically and internationally capable of performing ankylosing spondylitis repair surgery. Patients were flocking to me, with the highest treatment fees exceeding a million dollars. Mariam and her father, the director of a small-town hospital, weren't even qualified to fetch me a cup of coffee.

Initially, I had planned to reveal all this to him and marry him once the project was complete. Now I see, he doesn't deserve it.

In that moment, all my love for Gian evaporated. I looked at him coolly and said, "Really? Good riddance."

"I hope you both continue to be so smug in the future."

With that, I picked up my suitcase, walked past them, and officially said goodbye to three wasted years of my life.

At the airport, I managed to book the next available flight to the United States. Just before boarding, a colleague sent me a screenshot from an online forum. It was Mariam Castro's latest comment:

"Dr. Francesca is an exceptional physician. I've always admired her. I believe she made an error in a moment of confusion, and I'm ready to forgive her and give her another chance. Francesca, please return. I hope we can continue to work together!"

I scoffed at her bold words. She only missed the results I delivered. Even in her desperate plea, she had to coat it with a layer of self-righteousness. I turned off my phone, deciding to ignore it.

Once at Harvard University, I found myself among the brightest minds from across the globe. Here, I had access to cutting-edge medical research and the most advanced medical technology. It struck me how naive I had been to once sacrifice opportunities for Gian Olson. I committed myself fully to my studies, determined to excel further.

My mentor, the world-renowned Dr. Tobias Wheeler, was quite pleased with my progress. Three months later, I accompanied him back to attend a symposium on arthritis patient rehabilitation.

As soon as we arrived in Washington, D.C., I saw Gian Olson approaching with his usual charm. He smiled warmly at me, saying, "Francesca, I knew you were coming back today, so I came to pick you up!"

I narrowed my eyes slightly and replied coolly, "What do you want?"

He stepped closer, casually placing an arm around my shoulder, "You're my girlfriend. You left for three months without a word; you have no idea how much I've missed you."

Girlfriend? If he hadn’t mentioned it, I might have forgotten we hadn’t officially broken up. I stayed silent as Gian tightened his grip on my shoulder.

"Francesca, I saved your life once, so you have to help Mariam with her clinical trial this time," he insisted. "Otherwise, don't blame me if we break up!"