Chapter 63

Mia

It took a while to calm down, but when I got the call from the hospital's HR department, I felt a lot better. I needed to pick up my uniform scrubs downstairs. It was a bittersweet moment. I had signed a contract to complete a two-year residency at this hospital, which meant I would still be here for another two years before I could finally leave the city with my mom. As much as I was eager to start my work and focus on something constructive, the realization that I was tied to this place and its troubles for that long was overwhelming.

I took a deep breath and headed downstairs. My mind was still heavy with the events of the past days. Sasha walked down with me, trailing behind me like a very large, threatening knight. I picked up my scrubs and greeted a few people who I would be working with. As I made my way back to the elevator, carrying the freshly pressed scrubs, I was suddenly confronted by a furious, tearful woman. She was heavily pregnant, her face flushed with anger and distress.

“Are you Mia?” she demanded, her voice trembling with rage.

I nodded, wary of her intense demeanor. “Yes, I’m Mia. Can I help you?”

The woman’s eyes flashed with hurt and fury. “You’re the one who’s been with Ethan, you homewrecker!”

"What?"

She ignored my attempt at denial and continued, “I know it's you, you whore! I know women like you think you can just come in and tear everything apart, but I'm not going to let you have him easily!"

Tears streamed down her face, and it became clear that she was deeply hurt and angry. The last thing I wanted was to be involved in more conflict, especially not with someone who was obviously going through so much. I glanced around, noting the way people were looking at me.

I sighed. "Ma'am, I can see that you're distressed, but you need to calm down--"

"Don't tell me to--"

"You're far too pregnant to be stressing yourself out like this," I said calmly. "And I'm not involved with Ethan at all."

She shrieked. "You're lying! I know it's you and I can prove it!"

She fumbled for her bag, rummaging through it.

Sasha stepped closer to me. "Mrs. Warren, are you certain you want to deal with this?"

I glanced around as a few of my future co-workers seemed to be waiting to watch the situation unfold. She didn’t seem to care about the audience, but I did. I was going to have to work with these people.

“You think this is some kind of joke?” she shouted, digging through her bag and growing more and more distressed as she did. “You think you can just lie about what you've done and get away with it? Your little disguise isn't that convincing!"

She sniffled. "Whores like you who can’t keep her hands off other people’s husbands are the worst scum of the earth!”

"Ma'am," Sasha said firmly. "You're being ruder than you have any right to be, upset or not."

"And who are you?" She sneered at Sasha, still looking through her bag. "Someone else she's sunk her teeth into?"

"Sasha, it's fine." I was exhausted and emotionally drained. I wanted to be furious, but the woman was probably riding a roller coaster of hormones and emotions.

I was stunned, honestly. Ethan hadn't mentioned that his wife was pregnant and it turned my stomach even more to think that he'd talked about her the way he had, seeing her now.

"Could I have your name?"

"Emma," she bit out.

"Emma," I said. "I'm not sure what you're looking for, but why don't you take a deep breath and calm down. You’re going to hurt yourself. I'm not planning on running away or anything. Like I said, I’m not dating or seeing Ethan."

She glared at me suspiciously. Her face twisted with disbelief. She fumbled with her bag a bit longer before pulling out her phone and swiping across the screen, shoving it toward me, showing me a photo of Ethan with a woman. Beside him was a woman who had a striking resemblance to me—long hair, similar build, but she was dressed way better than I had ever dreamed of being and way too flashy to be me.

If it was just looks, I could see why she thought it was me.

“Look at this!” she shouted, shoving the phone closer. “Are you going to tell me this isn't you? Go ahead and tell the lie. Go ahead!"

I shook my head. The woman in the picture could have been my twin, but it wasn't me.

"My hair has never been that long, Emma.”

The woman’s eyes were filled with fury and despair as she shook her head. “You’re lying, but liars are always quick to lie. I’m going to make sure everyone knows what kind of person you are!”

One of my future co-workers, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward. “Is there a problem here?” he asked, his tone a mix of concern and authority.

"She thinks I'm seeing her husband, Ethan..." I frowned. "Whatever his last name is."

The co-worker addressed the woman. “This isn’t the place for this kind of confrontation.”

The woman glared at her. "I think it's a perfect time. Don't you want to know what kind of person will be working here? With my husband of all people! I could sue the hospital for facilitating adultery."

"It's fine," I pulled out my phone. "I can clear it up pretty easily. When was this picture taken?"

"Not even two days ago." She snarled, navigating to the time and location information.

I shook my head and pulled up my discharge summary on my phone.

"It wasn't me."

I showed her my phone. The woman’s face crumpled as she read the document. She sniffled and my heart filled with sympathy for her. The photo had been taken during the same period when I was in the hospital with Katie several days ago.

“I was in the hospital, not with Ethan. Whoever that woman is, she's not me. I'm sorry.”

Her eyes darted between the document and my face. The tears started to flow down her cheeks.

“I—I don’t understand,” she sobbed, her voice trembling.

I took a step closer, guiding her to sit down nearby as she sobbed.

“It’s okay,” I said gently. “Mistakes happen. I know this is a difficult time for you.”

The woman looked at me with a mixture of shame and sorrow. “I’m so sorry. I... I shouldn't have-- god, I've made such a fool of myself." She sniffled. "I just... I just... I was desperate to find out the truth. Ethan—he’s been so distant lately. I thought it was just stress at work until I got the picture..."

Her shoulders shook with sobs as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Thank you for being so understanding. I’m really sorry for causing such a scene."

“It’s alright,” I said, offering a small, reassuring smile. “Homewrecker isn't the worst thing I've been called today.... I think I'm pretty numb to outbursts at this point."

Sasha let out a trouble sound and shook his head. She held her phone in her hands, staring at the image.

I watched as the woman’s tears fell freely. “I really thought Ethan loved me,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I don't know what to do."

I glanced at the photo again and noticed the background—a familiar exterior that I recognized from my high school days. It was a casino where I had once applied for a job. After I found out it was owned by a mafia, I ran. far, far away from it.

“This photo was taken outside a casino. Have you ever been there?”

Emma shook her head. “No. Why do you ask?”

“I know the area pretty well. Ethan was supposed to be at work tonight, right?”

“Yes,” she confirmed, “He told me he was working tonight.”

I looked at my soon to be supervisor. "Could you page her husband?"

She nodded slowly and pulled out a tablet. After a few swipes, she frowned.

"I'm sorry I don't think he's on the schedule for the night. Ethan Sharpe, right?"

Emma hiccupped. "Yes..."

I stood. "Come with me."

"What?" She asked looking up at me.

“If Ethan is lying about working, there’s a good chance he might be at that casino tonight too. It's the right hour. Maybe we catch him." I looked at Sasha. "Think I can ask for a ride?"

He smiled. "I'll have the car pulled around for you."

Emma's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hope. “You’d do that for me? Even after all I said?”

"I'm a girl's girl." I shrugged. "And honestly, I could use a distraction from the craziness of my life. What do you say?"

She sniffled and nodded.