Chapter 200: Maya was dismissed.
Maya’s phone suddenly rang.
The director’s number flashed across the screen.
Her anger disappeared. An unsettling feeling replaced it.
She stared at the screen for a moment, then answered.
"Hello."
"Dr. Maya. Come to my office. Now."
The call ended.
Maya’s fingers tightened around the phone.
Ian’s warning immediately came back into her mind.
"What am I supposed to say?"
Cold sweat prickled her back as she walked toward the director’s office. At the end of the corridor, she stopped before the heavy wooden door. Her breathing quickened. She raised her hand and knocked.
"Come in."
Maya pushed the door open. "Sir." She lowered her head. "You called me."
The director slammed his palm against the desk. "Do you know what you did yesterday?"
Maya flinched.
"Instead of taking prompt action, you wasted time. The patient was in critical condition, yet you called Dr. Whitmore, who was on leave. What were you thinking?"
"Sir, I’m sorry. I did it because the patient’s family specifically demanded Dr. Whitmore."
"That’s a poor excuse." The director’s voice hardened. "You had a hundred ways to handle the situation, but you chose to disturb a doctor who was officially on leave. Your actions could have endangered the patient. I cannot ignore that."
He leaned back in his chair. "I wanted to fire you, but Ian stopped me."
Maya looked up sharply.
"But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences." He pushed a file across the desk. "You are no longer part of Dr. Whitmore’s team. You have been transferred to Dr. Grant’s team. Read the documents and sign them."
"What?" Maya stared at the file. "You are removing me from Dr. Whitmore’s team?"
"Yes."
Her fingers curled at her sides. "Did Ian know about this?"
"Of course." The director’s expression was unreadable.
He had originally intended to dismiss Maya completely. Ian had persuaded him not to, but only after agreeing to one condition.
He would finally accept the director’s son, Dr. Jay, into his team.
For months, the director had been trying to get Jay transferred under Ian’s supervision. Ian had refused every time.
His neurosurgery team handled some of the hospital’s most complicated cases, and every position was limited. Ian had carefully chosen his doctors based on experience, technical ability, and their capacity to handle high-pressure surgeries.
Jay had only recently completed his fellowship and lacked the experience Ian expected from a member of his team.
Ian had refused to make an exception simply because Jay was the director’s son. There had also been no vacant position.
"I don’t have a spot for him," Ian had told the director more than once. "If an opening becomes available, I’ll consider it."
Now the director had seized the opportunity to slip his son into the team and replace Maya.
"I am the director," he said firmly. "Everyone has to follow my decisions. Sign the documents if you don’t want to be dismissed."
Maya’s jaw tightened. She couldn’t afford to lose her job. More importantly, she couldn’t give up her proximity to Ian.
Even after everything that had happened, she still believed she had a chance. If she stayed at the hospital, she could still see him. And sooner or later, she would find the courage to confess her feelings.
She snatched up the pen and signed the documents.
The director took the file and checked her signature. A satisfied smile touched his lips.
"Make sure you follow the transfer instructions."
Maya lowered her head. The thought of losing her place beside Ian hurt, but she refused to let it end her plans.
The director waved his hand. "You can leave now."
Maya turned and walked out.
Later that afternoon...
Evelyn came to the hospital. She was still thinking about the day she had spent with Ian.
For the first time in years, Ian had chosen to put his family before everything else. He had kept his promise, stayed with them the entire day, and made Leo happier than she had seen him in a long time.
She wanted to thank him properly.
A small smile touched her lips as she looked down at the box in her hand.
Ian loved her home-baked cookies. So, that morning, she had baked a fresh batch for him.
’He will be happy to see them.’
With that thought warming her heart, she walked toward his office. But as she approached, her steps suddenly faltered.
Through the partially open door, she saw Maya sobbing against Ian’s chest. And Ian had his hands on her shoulders.
He wasn’t pushing her away. He was comforting her.
Evelyn stopped breathing for a moment. The box in her hands suddenly felt unbearably heavy.
She stared at them, unable to move. The sight tore her heart apart.
Just yesterday, Ian had made her believe that perhaps things could be different this time. Evelyn had hoped she could start over with him, that he had finally chosen her and Leo. But she was wrong.
Ian had never loved her. His heart belonged to another woman.
A dull ache spread through her chest.
Her eyes burned. The hope of remarrying him and having a future together crumbled.
The box slipped from her fingers. It struck the marble floor with a sharp crack. The lid sprang open, scattering the cookies across the polished surface.
The sound jolted both Ian and Maya.
They turned.
Ian’s eyes widened the instant he saw Evelyn.
"Evelyn..." Panic surged through him.
He immediately released Maya and took a step forward. Then his gaze dropped to the cookies lying broken across the floor.
His stomach twisted. He immediately felt his world collapsing around him, just like those cookies.
’Not again.’
Evelyn gave him a hurtful look before turning around and storming away.
"Evelyn, wait..." Ian shouted behind her.
She didn’t stop.
Ian hurried after her.
"Ian..." Maya reached for his wrist. "My ankle hurts..."
He didn’t even turn around. He pulled his wrist free and continued after Evelyn.
Maya lost her balance and stumbled to the floor. She stared after him in disbelief.
He hadn’t even looked back.
The disappointment on her face hardened into resentment as her fingers curled into fists.
Meanwhile, Ian caught up with Evelyn near the end of the corridor. He grabbed her arm firmly, stopping her.
"Don’t touch me." She tried to push him away.
But Ian refused to let her go. He stepped in front of her and pulled her into his arms.
Evelyn stiffened.
Her stomach churned. Only moments ago, those same arms had been around another woman. The faint scent of Maya’s perfume lingered on his clothes.
"Let go of me."
"No." His arms tightened around her. "I won’t until you listen to me."