Chapter: 271

"Madeline, if you love it, keep it. Just promise me you'll be more mindful next time. You know our financial situation isn't rosy.

Please wait until things stabilize and the company's back on its feet.

By then, we can splurge. Got it?"

Madeline, smiling through her tears, nodded. “Alright.”

Her hands clung to Derek's, her teary eyes still carrying a hint of allure. Her delicate tongue peeked out as she whispered, "Derek..."

Derek succumbed to the lure, booting the 600, @00-dollar bag to the foot of the bed, getting entwined with Madeline.

As they reveled in their intimacy, listening to Madeline's moans, a stray thought crossed Derek's mind. What if the person in his arms were Norah instead? What kind of spectacle would that be? What would Norah say? How would she respond? Would she shoot him a look of disdain, or would she extend a welcome?

Norah had taken away a considerable fortune from him. Derek wondered whether it was an attempt to grab his attention, persuade him to alter his course, and reclaim those assets.

Yet, his heart belonged to Madeline. She was the woman he had pined for throughout the years. Now, with her lying beneath him, he wouldn't be swayed by anyone.

Almost involuntarily, images of the self-assured Norah on the racetrack, the composed Norah in the hospital, and the radiant Norah at the auction inundated Derek's thoughts.

"Hmm..." In the throes of ecstasy, his mind was flooded with Norah's images. Even if he wouldn't admit it, a part of his heart had already capitulated for Norah, just waiting for the rift to widen.

The following day, Norah headed to Silver Boulder Private Hospital for work. After finishing the customary patient rounds, she stepped into the operating room for surgeries.

Only three surgeries were on the docket for the day, concluding a little past three in the afternoon.

Norah made her way to Jamison's office, planning to ask for some time off. She had decided to forego the surgeries slated for the afternoon and wanted to check in on Joanna and Kason.

Jamison appeared somewhat taken aback as Norah stood at his office door. "Dr. Wilson, I was just about to seek you out, and here you are."

“What's up, Jamison?" Norah walked in, maintaining her composure.

Jamison sighed, his expression stern. “Remember our chat yesterday about your promotion to attending physician?"

Norah nodded.

"I don't know who dropped an anonymous complaint at the hospital, accusing you of inappropriate relationships within the premises. It alleges you pushed Aikin out using your connections, and your climb to attending physician was facilitated through those ties. The complaint even suggests that, as the department head, I favor you by constantly tossing opportunities your way."

Jamison admitted to harboring a soft spot for Norah's talent but vehemently denied any shady dealings. He treated Norah the same as other doctors, only scheduling a few extra surgeries for her. As for Aikin, he genuinely had no inkling about any link between Norah and Aikin, let alone any wrongdoing.

Norah had earned her current position through hard work and devotion to each surgery, with no hidden agendas.

"Your experience is insufficient, and you don't meet the requirements as per the hospital president. Instead, Baylor has been promoted to attending physician." Jamison responded helplessly, "This year's evaluation is out of the question. Next year, perhaps there will be a chance."

A glimmer of bitterness appeared in Norah's eyes. The writer of the anonymous letter was dissatisfied with her. From what Jamison had revealed, that individual was not only aware of Aikin but also knew her possibility to become an attending physician. This seemed to be the work of someone close to her. Was it for the promotion to the attending physician? Or was it just because of the distaste toward her?

"Why?" Norah looked up, her expression serious. “Don't I have the skills to be promoted to attending physician, except for years of service? Besides, isn't promotion determined by one's abilities?”