Chapter 1After graduation, I broke up with River Kingsley.
"Seriously? Just because I went to her medical lecture instead of your graduation?" His lips curved into a mocking smile.
I nodded, staying silent.
"You're never gonna grow up, are you?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Fine, have it your way. But don't come crawling back to me later."
From age twelve to twenty-four, I'd always been chasing after him, so insecure that everyone figured I couldn't survive without him.
But this time, I was genuinely exhausted.
He had no clue I'd already applied to study abroad for grad school—to a country, far, far away from him.
From now on, no one would stop him from doing whatever his sister-in-law wanted.
...
"I went to Serena's medical lecture." River's explanation was ice-cold.
Serena Vale was his sister-in-law.
She'd once said, "We're all the same age here—don't call me sister-in-law, it makes me sound ancient."
So River started obediently calling her "Serena."
"I know," I said, biting my lip.
"You know and you're still pissed?" He looked exasperated. "Could you maybe not throw a tantrum like a five-year-old?"
"River," I said, gripping my fingers together and forcing myself to meet his eyes. "Let's break up."
River leaned back in his clinic chair, glancing up with complete indifference. "Just because I missed your graduation?"
I nodded, staying quiet.
"You seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Willa, I don't have time for these stupid 'on-again, off-again' games. Adults think before they speak."
"Yeah."
"You really are never gonna grow up." He laughed coldly. "Fine, have it your way. But don't come crawling back to me later."
I nodded. "Don't worry, I won't."
As I turned to leave, Serena pushed through the door.
"River, wanna grab dinner? I've got this question..."
When Serena spotted me, she looked surprised. "Willa! What're you doing here?"
Seeing that I didn't look too good, she glanced at River, then at me.
"You guys had a fight?"
"Because River missed your graduation?"
"Willa, please don't get the wrong idea!"
"This was my first time giving a medical lecture, and it was super important to me, so I asked River to stick around and help me out."
"I had no idea it'd run so long and make him miss your graduation. I'm so sorry!"
Everything she said was perfectly reasonable.
It made me more look like a total child in front of her.
And THIS was also what I hated most about her.
When I stayed silent, she linked her arm through mine. "Come on! Let's all go eat together."
She teased River, "Your girlfriend's here, so let's skip the cafeteria today. How about sushi? I haven't had it in forever. River, you're buying!"
Then she covered her mouth, laughing. "Oh wait, I forgot—you always pay anyway."
"Willa, River mentioned you love sushi too, right?"
Suddenly hearing my name, I froze, looked at River and said through gritted teeth: "Do I? News to me."
Serena's brow furrowed slightly. "Maybe I misremembered. No biggie though—just tell us what you're craving. Don't be shy!"
She was treating me like a complete outsider.
And River didn't see anything wrong with it. He just stood up, methodically taking off his lab coat. "Let's go. Sushi it is."
I pulled my hand away from Serena's grip. "You guys go ahead. I'm going home." I turned and headed for the door.
As I left, I heard River say calmly, "Just ignore her. She's being childish—needs a reality check."
Chapter 2
That night, I saw Serena's Instagram story.
A photo of River looking down while listening to her lecture.
Caption: [Thank God for you.]
A little later, she posted a picture of sushi: [Thanks for remembering what I like.]
I immediately threw my phone aside.
Clutching my pillow, feeling absolutely miserable, I couldn't sleep all night.
The next day, Serena had posted again.
A photo of River sleeping.
The caption was totally suggestive: [Poor guy's exhausted!]
Weirdly, there were no likes. The next second I figured it out—this post was only visible to me.
Suddenly, my chest felt suffocating.
Buzz—
River texted me.
[Mom wants you to try on engagement dresses.]
[Serena's got surgery today—first time as lead surgeon, so I need to supervise. Won't be able to come along.]
After reading it, I immediately blocked him.
When I went downstairs for breakfast, Mom had just finished talking to River's mom.
She waved me over with a smile, saying River's mom had taken the day off to help me try on dresses.
She'd also taken time off work to come with me.
"I've loved that River kid since he was little. My instincts were spot-on—look how amazing he turned out. Willa, marrying him is like you saved the world in a past life."
I bit my lip and worked up the courage to say, "Mom, we broke up. The engagement's off."
My Mom's face instantly changed.
"You're calling off the engagement without any warning? You think this is some kiddie game?"
Seeing her eyes turn sharp instantly, my body couldn't help but tremble. "I thought River would've told you."
"River's so busy, and he still has to deal with your constant drama. Poor guy. When are you gonna learn to grow up?"
Finally, tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably. "Yeah! I haven't grown up, I'm a three-year-old. But nobody ever taught me how to be an adult. What am I supposed to do!"
Dad, who'd been quiet this whole time, suddenly spoke up. "If she doesn't want to get engaged, she doesn't have to. What's the big deal?"
Then he asked me, "Not gonna work at his place anymore?"
I sobbed in response. "Yeah, Dad... I just want to go abroad and study some more."
Mom got even angrier and was about to say something when Dad shot her a look that shut her up.
"If you wanna go, go. First time in years I've seen you stand up for yourself. Good for you.
"Don't worry, I'll handle the engagement thing."
Right then, I got a call from my best friend:
"Willa, my brother's having a heart episode and he's at your boyfriend's hospital, but the paperwork's taking forever and I'm scared he can't wait that long. Could you maybe ask your boyfriend to take a look?"
I went quiet for a few seconds.
My friend immediately apologized. "Sorry, Willa. I'm just panicking. I know you hate when I ask stuff like this. Sorry! I'll figure something else out."
I sighed. "Don't worry, I'm heading over right now."
Chapter 3
Ten minutes later, I was at the hospital.
My friend's brother looked pretty bad.
I asked the nurse why none of the cardiology specialists were around.
The nurse muttered that River had called them all to the OR.
Serena was doing her first lead surgery, and he wanted to make sure nothing went wrong.
I knew Serena didn't have that kind of authority—so, this was River's doing.
After all, his family basically owned this entire hospital.
I tried calling River over and over.
But his phone was off.
I ran to the OR and waited outside.
After what felt like forever, the surgery light finally went out.
River came out carrying Serena in his arms.
He glanced at me. "What're you doing here?"
I grabbed his arm. "My friend's brother is really sick..."
Before I could finish, River shook me off and kept walking.
I jogged after him to his office.
In there, he gently placed Serena on the couch in his break room.
Then he sat at his computer, staring intently at the screen.
I rushed over. "Dr. Kingsley, my friend's brother is having a heart attack. It's an emergency—could you please take a look?"
He looked up. "Why are you still here? Isn't my mom waiting to help you try on dresses?"
"Could you please just go check on him?"
River sighed softly. "Serena just finished surgery. I'm worried she might have nightmares."
My heart ached, but I kept pushing. "Could you at least get another doctor?"
"Can't do it. They need to monitor their patients. I won't allow any mistakes."
"River, don't you have any professional ethics? I told you there's a patient out there who's seriously ill! As a doctor, shouldn't you at least take a look?!"
He seemed surprised I'd raised my voice at him.
Frowning, he said coldly, "Willa, I've told you a million times. In this line of work, the worst thing you can do is get emotionally involved. No matter how sick a patient is, they have to follow hospital protocol. When it's my turn, I'll be there on time."
My voice softened. "Harper is my best friend. Please, I'm begging you!"
He laughed bitterly. "Didn't you just say yesterday you'd never beg me again?"
"This is the last time." Tears were pouring down my face.
River seemed to soften a bit.
But suddenly Serena's voice drifted from the break room: "River, are you there? I'm scared."
River immediately stood up and said coldly, "If it can't wait, transfer him to another hospital."
