Chapter 26. Rejection and
Chapter 26: Rejection and Confrontation
Chapter 26: Rejection and Confrontation
(Sophia’s POV)
In the dimly lit hospital ward, I watched Marcus settle into the uncomfortable chair beside Oliver’s bed. The moonlight streaming through the window cast shadows across his sharp features.
This was my chance. My boldest move yet.
“There’s no spare bed for caregivers tonight,” I said softly, moving closer to him. “We’ll have to share the
space.”
My heart pounded as I reached for his coat. My fingers trembled slightly as I began unbuttoning it.
I had desired him for so long. Six years of regret burned in my chest like acid.
Why had I chosen another man? Why had I gotten pregnant with someone else’s child?
If I could go back, I would never have left Marcus’s side.
My fingers worked on the second button, then the third. Marcus remained still, his breathing steady.
Suddenly, his hand caught mine. His grip was firm but not painful.
“We shouldn’t do this,” he said quietly.
His golden eyes met mine in the darkness. There was no desire there, only careful distance.
He rebuttoned his coat with methodical precision. Each button felt like a rejection stabbing through my
heart.
“Oliver is asleep now,” he said, standing up. “I should go.”
I remained frozen as he walked toward the door. My face burned with humiliation.
“Marcus, wait-”
But he was already gone. The door closed with a soft click that echoed like thunder in my ears.
I stood there in the empty room, my hands still extended where his coat had been. The pale moonlight made everything look cold and lifeless.
My hatred for Elena deepened like poison spreading through my veins. This was all her fault.
(Elena’s POV)
The next morning, I arrived at the Northern Territory Central Healing Institute early. My phone buzzed with notifications from a group chat I didn’t recognize.
I frowned, scrolling through messages about a 9 AM department meeting. The timestamp showed the group was created yesterday evening.
I wasn’t in this group.
When I reached the conference room at 9:15, Senior William Cross was already speaking. All the department
staff sat around the table, taking notes.
Chapter 26: Rejection and.
“Healer Elena,” Senior William said sharply as I entered. “You’re late.”
Every head turned toward me. I felt their curious starès like pinpricks on my skin.
“I apologize,” I said calmly. “I wasn’t notified of this meeting.”
Sophia looked up from her tablet with perfectly crafted surprise. “But I announced it in the group chat yesterday.”
Her voice carried just the right amount of confusion. “Didn’t you see the message?”
Senior William’s expression darkened. “Do you think your special status exempts you from hospital rules?”
His tone was sharp with disapproval. “This kind of attitude is unacceptable.”
I remained composed despite the public humiliation. “Which group chat are you referring to?”
Sophia held up her phone, showing the group member list. “The new department coordination group.”
I studied the screen carefully. Every staff member’s name was listed except mine.
“I see,” I said quietly. “I wasn’t added to this group.”
The room fell silent. Several colleagues shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
“Are you suggesting this was deliberate workplace exclusion?” I asked, my voice steady.
Sophia’s face paled slightly. She hadn’t expected me to challenge her so directly.
“Of course not,” she said quickly. “It must have been an oversight.”
Her fingers fumbled with her phone. “I’ll add you to the group right now.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I replied. “The damage is already done.”
Senior William cleared his throat awkwardly. The logic of my argument was undeniable.
Sophia’s eyes grew darker with each passing second. Her carefully planned humiliation had backfired.
“I sincerely apologize,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ll be more careful in the future.”
But I could see the resentment burning behind her false smile.
After the meeting, I returned to my office to organize reports for my upcoming transfer. My phone rang with
my mother’s number.
“Elena, can we meet this afternoon?” Patricia’s voice sounded strained. “There’s something important we
need to discuss.”
I agreed to meet her at a restaurant near the institute. The familiar weight of family obligations settled on my
shoulders.
At the restaurant, Patricia sat across from me with nervous energy. She ordered my favorite dis‘
no appetite.
“I need you to delay the mate bond severance,” she said without preamble.
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