Chapter 1
After Claire and Allen got engaged, she discovered the painful truth: he had never truly let go of his childhood sweetheart.
Allen doted on Evelyn with an almost reverent care, treating her like a fragile treasure. He welcomed her into their home and made her needs a priority–always attentive, always concerned. His devotion to Evelyn seemed to overshadow everything Claire had thought they shared.
Claire, once fierce and full of defiance, fell silent. She stopped demanding his attention, stopped arguing over the small slights, and no longer tried to compete for his love.
Instead, she quietly submitted an application to the hospital, all of it done in secret,
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without Allen’s knowledge.
Once the agreement was signed, she waited for the perfect moment–the day when she could finally leave this place, and him, behind. /
In the end, the only thing she left Allen was the formal end to their engagement.
“Allen,” she said, her voice steady, “I don’t love you anymore.”
“Director, I’m applying to go abroad and volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières,” Claire said calmly.
Director Smith blinked, taken aback by her words. After a moment of stunned silence, he leaned forward, clearly trying to reason with her.
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“Claire, with your qualifications, you’re more than capable of handling this position. But I heard your wedding is planned for next month. Leaving now might not be the best timing.”
Of course, Claire understood what Director Smith was hinting at. But she was tired- tired of being tangled in Allen’s world, tired of being ignored, tired of feeling like a stranger in her own life.
“Director, I’ve already made my decision. Here’s my application. Please sign it. This position has been vacant for over six months, and I’d like to give it a shot. I’ve heard that returning from this kind of experience can fast–track a promotion to department head. It’s a great opportunity.”
Director Smith hesitated as he looked at the application in her hand.
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It was true–a stint with Médecins Sans Frontières could fast–track promotions. But only if one returned unscathed. The places Médecins Sans Frontières operated in were often war zones or unstable regions -dangerous areas where no one could guarantee their safety.
While Director Smith wasn’t particularly concerned about Claire’s safety, he was worried about the repercussions for Allen, the hospital’s star surgeon, if she left.
“Claire, there’s no need to rush into this. With Dr. Brown here, whether or not you go with Médecins Sans Frontières, the hospital will always consider your future. You’ve got time.”
Though his words were vague, Claire understood the unspoken message.
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But right now, she wanted nothing more than to sever all ties with Allen.
Allen, her fiancé, was also the hospital’s most skilled surgeon, renowned for handling the most complex and difficult surgeries.
The truth was, the hospital would never let Claire’s future take precedence over Allen’s. They would sacrifice her career if it meant keeping him.
In fact, Claire’s arrival at the hospital had been entirely because of Allen.
Her thoughts drifted to the past:
She had been just a rural doctor, working at a small village clinic, barely making ends meet. One stormy night, she saved Allen after a car accident.
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Later, when Director Smith recruited Allen, he had made one condition: “I’ll join, but only if I can bring someone with me.”
That’s how Claire ended up at the hospital, working alongside Allen, struggling to prove herself and shed the label of “Allen’s fiancée.”
Despite all her hard work, she could never escape that shadow.
“Did you tell Allen you wanted to leave and join Médecins Sans Frontières?” Director Smith’s voice pulled her from her reverie.
“Don’t worry, Director. I’ll tell Dr. Brown myself, Claire said, her voice steady, though the tight grip of her fists and the pale knuckles betraying her anxiety made it clear she wasn’t as composed as she appeared. She could already picture Allen’s furious face
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-his clenched jaw, the simmering anger in his eyes, and the inevitable refusal she’d face.
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