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I nodded. “They caught it. The senior nurse did when counting instruments. Tate blew up on her that it was her mistake and someone had to have thrown something away. She had them digging in all of the garbage bags and threatened their jobs if they let it get out. So she’s in trouble as well for not speaking up. She was scared of Tate and has kids.”

“That’s sad, but a woman and child are dead,” he sighed. “What a mess. I cannot believe she thought pushing in here and securing a new position would just make it all better.”

“I am known for going to the mat for our doctors. I mean, even if people don’t know it’s me doing it—the hospital is known for it.”

“True, but there are limits. She’s an idiot.” He clapped my shoulder. “We need to celebrate. No more of that fucking board. We never should have allowed it.”

I gave him a tired look. “You know why we did. It was a different time. A hospital run by doctors—andfemaledoctors at that—would have been run into the ground according to people. We were vulnerable to slander and—you know why we did it.”

“I know why we did it,” he said gently but then hugged me. “I’m just glad it’s over now and we can go back to thriving. Toxic is on tour and kicked out. Now we thrive and grow.”

Now we thrived and grew. That sounded like the best tagline ever.

2

Ha-joon

What happened flustered me. I wasn’t sure if I was really hurt or pissed or… I didn’t know.

I was overwhelmed. I was feeling too much.

I needed to figure out what was in my head and recenter.

Which was why I texted Mum saying I was coming home for the weekend to visit and see my London friends. Luckily, they were all going out Saturday night because of Matt’s promotion. I invited myself and was glad they sounded happy to have me.

I was out the door after the last patient, shocking my staff since I was normally the last to leave. I’d already told the office manager that I was going to London for the weekend, so she knew at least. She’d probably tell the others and that was fine. It wasn’t like I was going to hide it, and I didn’t want anyone to worry that there was an emergency.

I went home and grabbed the basics. I still had a full room at my parents’ London estate, and Mum would definitely have it stocked and ready for me.

Relief filled me when she was waiting for me even. She’d set it up so their warlock opened a portal from the front of my condo building when I was ready, but it was late in London and my parents were home from their evening’s events already.

“What has happened, my youngest?” she asked gently after we hugged.

“A lot and not too much and I’m being sensitive,” I admitted, glad it was just us.

“Tell me while we eat.”

“It’s too late for your dinner, Mum,” I hedged.

She chuckled. “We are wolves. We can always eat. I will pick, and I’m sure your father will sneak into the kitchen soon for food.”

I nodded and let her baby me. “The condo is perfect. Thank you so much, Mum. It’s—it’s been such a comfort while adjusting. You have no idea how much. It was exactly what I needed, and I appreciate the time and touches you put into the updating.”

“Good, good,” she accepted.

“You did always have a smooth tongue,” my sister, Seo-yeon, mocked as she walked into the kitchen. Her name meant “prosperous omen,” and she never let anyone forget it as if telling them that she lived up to the name.

I never found that she did. Fine, she was graceful, which her name meant too… But we all were as wolves.

“Because Imeanwhat I say,” I told her, giving her a look of warning. Right then was not the time for the normal bullshit and bullying.

It really wasn’t.

I focused back on Mum who was surprised at how I acted as well. “You work for everything at ASH unlike all of the bluster andpromoof my last place. I’m taking over male patients that were a problem for a female doctor—”

“Dr. Joyce Tai,” Mum interjected. “Brilliant but quirky, and that can have problems.”

I snorted. “Being a genius as a woman can be one. We both know that. And she’s careful—some men are just stupid. I’veheard several ramble at all the green lights she gave that she was interested and notonewas valid. Good patient care? Not flirting. Fitting them in when there was an issue that couldn’t wait?Not flirting.”