ora Daniels didn't feel it. Her body ached from yesterday's endless work, and her eyes still

back on her feet, hurrying into the hospital's

ces lowered the moment Nora approached, like the air shifted with her presence. She tried to ke

ed all ni

y Dr. Cole is al

. He only picks on her because

d now he's punishing her in p

even look like she belongs here.

fists tight against her sides, fighting the urge to defend herself.

hem," she whispered fiercely, sliding to Nora's side. "

austion. She could endure the humiliation. But being painted a

e moved through the corridor like gravity itself bent for him. His sil

e spoke. His voice was calm, controlled. "T

t usually let interns step foot inside such comp

e even puffing their chest

ian's eyes l

nie

d through the a

ut beneath her. She could feel the room shift-the en

ly. "Nora, he-he

forced out, her

triple bypass. One of the hardest surgeries you'll ever wit

erupted b

? She'll

her. She'll cr

how she got in. C

eady. She hadn't even assisted in the simplest

. But the thought of her father-lying weak in the hospital ward, depending on her-flashe

ered, though her thro

p to be anything kind. He scribbled on his clipboard and turne

ed off, leaving the ro

setting you up again. A bypass? Do you know how long those last? You'l

ce barely a whisper. "Then I

. "You don't have to prove anything to him. You j

de her chest, her heart was

ed from her-or why he seemed determin

wasn't just going t

to test her e

... she wasn't su