Chapter 1Ever since I took over my fiancé Ronan's clinic, business has been blowing up.
This morning I walked into my office and some woman was sitting in my chair.
"I'm Quinn. Ronan's ex. Starting today, you're my assistant."
She had this look on her face, all smug.
"If you can pass my little test, then maybe—maybe—you can marry him."
I just stood there. Was she serious?
The turned to Ronan, who'd finally showed up late.
"Is this what you want?"
"Pretty much."
He shrugged like it was nothing.
"Quinn's worried some gold digger's trying to trap me. Plus she studied under one of the top specialists in the States. You should feel lucky she's even giving you the time."
I had no words.
Five years with this man, and he didn't trust me at all.
You know what? Screw this.
I have a medical degree from Johns Hopkins—why am I putting up with this crap?
...
"Don't just stand there."
Ronan reached over and straightened my collar. "Go grab Quinn some coffee. You'll be calling her 'teacher' soon anyway."
I looked right at him.
Then I ripped off my white coat.
"What the hell are you doing?"
His face went dark immediately.
"Nothing much."
I smiled. "Since your ex is so amazing, guess I don't need to stick around."
When we first got together, Ronan told me all about how Quinn dumped him to study in Paris. He said he never wanted to see her again.
But now? The second she flies back to the States, he brings her straight to the clinic and hands her my position.
Guess it doesn't matter what he said—first love hits different.
"Wait, let me leave instead."
Quinn stood up, playing peacemaker, and turned to Ronan. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset your girlfriend."
"If I'm messing things up between you two, I'll feel awful."
She started for the door.
"No!"
"This isn't your fault. Anyone can walk out that door—except you."
Ronan rushed to stop her, then shot me a look.
"Piper, can you stop being so jealous? Quinn and I are just friends now."
"And Quinn's résumé speaks for itself!"
"Do you know how many people would kill for a chance to learn from her?"
"I'm doing this for you. You know what level you're at, right? Don't be ungrateful."
When he looked at Quinn, his eyes lit up. When he looked at me, nothing but disgust.
My chest felt tight.
By the time the clinic passed down to Ronan, the medical knowledge had basically died out.
The place was circling the drain, about to shut down completely.
After I took over, I used my skills to turn everything around. Word spread. I rebuilt the reputation from nothing.
We went from empty waiting rooms to appointments booked three months out.
All in three years.
Weren't my accomplishments worth something?
But I guess the filter of first love had him completely blind.
"How about this—I'll meet you halfway—"
Quinn walked over and showed her perfect smile:
"Publicly, we're equals. Privately, you call me 'teacher.'"
"Ronan's been through so much. You need to be more understanding."
Seeing her fake-sweet act made me want to throw up.
"You don't get to call yourself my teacher."
Then I dropped my coat and headed for the door.
"Piper!"
Ronan completely lost it. Slammed his hand down on the table so hard it shook the whole room.
"You walk out that door, don't bother coming back!"
"The wedding's off!"
I stopped and turned around.
A smug grin spread across his face.
He thought he had me cornered.
But I just smiled back.
"Fine by me."
"Your first love's back anyway."
Chapter 2
His grin froze.
I didn't wait around. I walked straight out, and the second I hit the sidewalk, I ran into one of our regulars—some local real estate guy.
"Hi! Dr. Winters."
"Ever since you started treating me, my back's been feeling better every day. I'm even sleeping through the night."
He was all smiles.
Before I could say anything, Ronan rushed out.
"Mr. Palmer, we just brought in a doctor who's way better than Piper. Like, a hundred times better."
"Oh yeah?"
Mr. Palmer looked impressed. "This place really is full of talent."
Ronan grinned wide. But the second Mr. Palmer walked inside, his face went ice-cold.
"Piper."
"Don't go thinking we need you to stay afloat. With Quinn here, this place is only gonna get better."
He started walking away, then turned back:
"You should really learn from Quinn how to be supportive."
I watched him leave.
Then I laughed—bitter and cold.
Three years ago, the clinic was dying. One doctor, busted equipment, everything falling apart.
Ronan said we were broke.
So what did I do?
I bought all new equipment with my own money. I ran free clinics in the community.
I worked around the clock to rebuild our reputation from the ground up.
The first month we turned a profit, Ronan held me and said:
"Piper, I wanna reinvest this back into the clinic, so I can't pay you yet. Just hang tight for a bit."
I didn't argue.
And that "bit" turned into three years. No real salary.
Even after the clinic started making good money—
He'd use the whole 'we're getting married soon, no need to split things' excuse and toss me a thousand bucks a month like it was charity.
And now he was blaming ME for not being understanding enough.
What a joke.
The second I got home, I saw Ronan post something in the client group chat.
[Starting today, Quinn Reed replaces Piper Winters as lead physician.]
The chat exploded.
[Dr. Winters is leaving? Why?]
[Who's Quinn? Never heard of her. Is she even good?]
[Mr. Shaw, you can't mess around with our health like this. Dr. Winters has been treating us this whole time and she's great.]
Ronan doubled down immediately.
[Piper's taking a break for personal reasons.]
[Don't worry. Quinn studied under one of the top specialists in the country and spent years in Paris. She's published over a hundred academic papers and won every major award in her field.]
To prove it, he posted like a dozen photos of certificates and trophies.
All of them had Quinn's name on them.
But I could tell right away they were fake.
Because I'd won those same awards. Some of them even had the exact same year as mine.
I sent Ronan a quick message to warn him.
Not because I wanted to grovel.
Because I was worried about the patients.
The next second, he kicked me out of the group.
Then he sent me this: [You're just jealous Quinn's better than you, so you're starting drama. Pathetic. Think about what you've done!!!]
Those big bold exclamation marks felt like a slap in the face.
Quinn was the one who hurt him.
I was the one who saved him and his clinic.
And he only believed her.
I looked around at all the wedding decorations we'd put up together. Then I tore every single one of them down.
The wedding next month?
Yeah. Not happening.
Chapter 3
That night, Ronan brought Quinn home. The second he walked in, he looked at me.
"Piper, you've had enough time to think, right? Go make dinner."
He thought I'd like before—that I'd swallow my pride and cook some fancy romantic meal for him and Quinn just to get back in his good graces.
But I didn't move.
"What are you waiting for? Get going! Quinn worked hard all day—she deserves a good meal."
"Oh, and Quinn can't eat seafood, no cilantro, and she's allergic to nuts."
That last part made me freeze.
Ronan and Quinn broke up almost eight years ago, and he still remembered every single thing she couldn't eat.
We'd been together for three years—living in the same house—and he couldn't remember I was lactose intolerant.
On my birthday, he bought me a cheesecake.
So many times, he'd add whole milk to my coffee or bring me ice cream for dessert.
Afterward, he'd just shrug and say he forgot.
Now, hearing this? The contrast hit me like a truck.
Who he actually cared about was painfully obvious.
I took a slow breath. "If you want dinner, make it yourself."
"What?"
Ronan whipped around, his eyes blazing. "Are you serious right now?"
"God, you're pathetic. When did you turn into such a petty, miserable person?"
"You think the clinic'll fall apart without you? You think I won't actually break up with you? Wow. Delusional."
Then he grabbed Quinn's hand. "Let's go eat out."
Quinn put on her little act. "Maybe you should go talk to Piper first. I don't want you two to break up over me."
Ronan scoffed. "My clinic's doing great. Half the women in this city are lining up to date me."
"Plenty of people are hoping we break up."
"Unlike some nobody small-town doctor who's a dime a dozen. Wouldn't even get noticed on the street."
He slammed the door behind him.
I stared up at the ceiling. Memories flooded back.
Ronan wasn't always like this.
He used to make me coffee when I was exhausted. He'd rub my shoulders.
He used to tell me meeting me was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Never said cruel things.
But as the clinic grew and the money started rolling in, Ronan changed.
He bought a Tesla. A Rolex. And his whole personality shifted.
He got sharp-tongued. Cold. Impatient.
I told myself I'd be the bigger person. That I'd just deal with it.
Until today.
I finally realized—I'd always just been a tool to him.
Never the person who mattered most.
Over the next few days, Ronan didn't come home. Didn't call. Didn't text.
Instead, he kept popping up all over Quinn's Instagram.
[Thanks for giving me a chance to show what I can do.]
The photo showed Quinn doing physical therapy on Mr. Palmer.
But I spotted the problem immediately. Her technique was all wrong.
Once or twice wouldn't matter.
But repeated sessions like that? She'd only make his back worse.
Just more proof Quinn was a total fraud.
[Turned thirty today. Birthday wish? That I stay happy forever. Honestly, just having him around is all the happiness I need.]
The photo showed him feeding Quinn cake.
[Party time! One dance and it feels like we're back in college.]
The photo showed them dancing close, eyes locked, looking at each other like nothing else in the world mattered.
And his ring?
Gone.
I didn't comment on any of it.
But one of their college friends recognized him in the photo and tagged him directly:
"@Ronan Shaw Wait, is this for real? Rekindling the old flame? Look at you, man!"
Ronan didn't respond.
Which meant he didn't deny it.
Two days later, Ronan finally texted: "Tonight at seven. Don't forget my dad's birthday dinner."
Ronan's dad had always been kind to me.
Every time we met, he was warm and friendly.
He'd even said I was the one who saved the clinic.
So that evening, I showed up.
And immediately spotted Quinn presenting a gift to Mr. Shaw.
