Charlotte had just finished her rounds at the hospital, checking on her post-op patients. One of the families, upon learning she was the lead surgeon, immediately tried to kneel in gratitude.

Charlotte and her team rushed forward to stop them, gently lifting the elderly woman back onto her feet. "Theres no need for this," she said, her tone calm and steady. "Its our duty to save lives."

The woman, the mother of the patient, wiped tears from her face, her voice choked with sobs. "If not for you, my son wouldve been lost to us. Youve given him a second chance, and Ill never be able to thank you enough."

These momentsfleeting victories against deathnever lost their weight. For all their exposure to lifes fragility, each saved life still felt like a miracle worth savoring.

Charlotte reassured the grievingbut now hopefulmother with a few more comforting words, relayed instructions regarding the patients care, and left the room alongside her colleagues. The surgery had been a success; the patient was out of danger, and thankfully, no post-operative complications had arisen. All told, considering the dire circumstances, it was as close to a happy ending as one could hope for.

Back in her office, Charlottes phone buzzed on her desk. She glanced at the screen: her father, Kaiden Sheridan. Her expression froze. After hesitating, she pressed to answer the call.

Lotte, can you and Julian come back home for a bit?

She felt an uneasy pang, already guessing at his reason. Her grip on the phone tightened. "If theres something specific you need to say, just say it," she replied evenly.

What kind of tone is that? Kaiden countered, irritation creeping into his voice. "Do I need a special reason to ask my daughter and son-in-law to visit? Be home this afternoon. Dont be late."

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Charlotte lowered the phone and stared at it for a moment, the knot of tension in her chest tightening.

Meanwhile, Julian was in the middle of a meeting at the office when his phone buzzed. A message popped up on his screen:

Julian, Xaviers all set for school today, thanks to you. I dont know how Id manage without your help.

It was from Claire. He scanned the text quickly and tapped out a short reply: No problem.

The message sent, his thumb hovered over the screen, and almost absently, his gaze flicked to Charlottes chat window. For the first time, he noticed her last message to him, sent over a month ago: Are you coming over this weekend?

He hadnt replied. And she hadnt sent another message since.

Shes really good at pretending not to care, he thought, an unexpected flicker of irritation stirring in him.

By the afternoon, Charlotte was standing outside the Sheridan family home. Her hand lingered on the latch, hesitating as memories of past visits flooded back. Finally, she squared her shoulders and pushed open the door. Inside, Ella greeted her warmly, her face lighting up.

"Lotte! Youre here," Ella said, bustling toward her with a welcoming smile. But almost immediately, she glanced behind Charlotte, her expression faltering slightly.

"Theres no one else," Charlotte said quietly, answering her unspoken question. "Its just me."

Ellas smile wavered, stiffening for a split second before being hastily replaced with forced cheer. "Oh, well, come in."

Kaiden descended the stairs just as Charlotte stepped further into the room. He looked past her, noted Julians absence, and his mouth tightened with displeasure.

"I told you to bring Julian with you," he said sharply.

"Hes busy," she replied, her tone clipped.

"Busy? Hes your husband! Every couple fights now and then, but dont they always make up? You cant even convince your own husband to come home for a meal? Pathetic!" Kaidens voice rose, each word like a slap in itself.

Charlotte stood rooted to the spot, her heart tightening. The years had taught her not to flinch at these moments, but it didnt make them sting any less. No one understood her, least of all her own family. Not once did they ever stop to ask what might actually be wrong. No, their judgments came swift and cutting, as if whatever fault there was could only lie with her. Nothing had changed in six years.

It hadnt always been this way. When shed first married Julian, her parents were thrilled. They saw his wealth and prestige as a golden opportunity for their daughter's future. The Sheridans, modest but comfortable in their middle-class standing, never considered things like dowries or financial details important back then. Or so she thought.

It hadnt taken long after the wedding for them to show their true priorities. The requests began graduallya loan to help her younger brother buy a new car, another to upgrade their house. Then the demands escalated: her fathers business ventures had failed spectacularly, and who else but their son-in-law could they turn to when the debts swelled beyond control?

In their eyes, their sons needs always outweighed hers. And as for Julian, they treated him like nothing more than an endless ATM.

Charlotte blinked out of her thoughts, her fathers impatient glower pulling her back to the present. "Well?" Kaiden demanded, nostrils flaring.

She exhaled, cold resolve chilling her voice. "Im sorry to disappoint you," she said, the words clipped, "but Im divorcing him."

For a moment, Kaiden simply stared at her, dumbstruck. Then his face contorted, rage crackling like lightning in his expression. Before she could react, his hand swung through the air, connecting hard with her cheek. The impact jolted her head to the side, the sting of it reverberating over her skin.

The room fell into silence, save for her shallow breathing. Slowly, she turned her head back, meeting his fury with steady, unblinking eyes.