At the airport, I managed to book the next available flight to the United States. Just before boarding, a colleague sent me a screenshot from an online forum. It was Mariam Castro's latest comment:
"Dr. Francesca is an exceptional physician. I've always admired her. I believe she made an error in a moment of confusion, and I'm ready to forgive her and give her another chance. Francesca, please return. I hope we can continue to work together!"
I scoffed at her bold words. She only missed the results I delivered. Even in her desperate plea, she had to coat it with a layer of self-righteousness. I turned off my phone, deciding to ignore it.
Once at Harvard University, I found myself among the brightest minds from across the globe. Here, I had access to cutting-edge medical research and the most advanced medical technology. It struck me how naive I had been to once sacrifice opportunities for Gian Olson. I committed myself fully to my studies, determined to excel further.
My mentor, the world-renowned Dr. Tobias Wheeler, was quite pleased with my progress. Three months later, I accompanied him back to attend a symposium on arthritis patient rehabilitation.
As soon as we arrived in Washington, D.C., I saw Gian Olson approaching with his usual charm. He smiled warmly at me, saying, "Francesca, I knew you were coming back today, so I came to pick you up!"
I narrowed my eyes slightly and replied coolly, "What do you want?"
He stepped closer, casually placing an arm around my shoulder, "You're my girlfriend. You left for three months without a word; you have no idea how much I've missed you."
Girlfriend? If he hadn’t mentioned it, I might have forgotten we hadn’t officially broken up. I stayed silent as Gian tightened his grip on my shoulder.
"Francesca, I saved your life once, so you have to help Mariam with her clinical trial this time," he insisted. "Otherwise, don't blame me if we break up!"
