After Harley left, I moved numbly to my bed. I sank onto the edge of the mattress, burying my face in my hands as soft, trembling sobs escaped me once again.
That night flashed in my mind—his harsh voice, the terrible words I was never meant to hear, and the paralyzing fear that had followed. Taking a shaky breath, I wiped the wetness from my cheeks. Slowly, I pushed myself to my feet as a new determination settled heavily within me. I made a quiet promise in my heart: I would fix the distance between us.
"When I'm done with you, Harley," I murmured softly to the empty room, "you won't have a choice but to forgive me."
With that resolve, I walked toward the bathroom, undressed, and stepped into the shower. Warm water cascaded over me, and I stood beneath the spray for a long time, letting the heat soothe the dull ache in my chest while I washed my hair. Later, dressed in a soft two-piece pajama set, I slipped beneath the heavy covers of my bed. The ceiling blurred above me as the exhaustion of the day finally pulled me into sleep.
Morning arrived far too quickly.
I jolted upright the moment my brain registered the day's most important event: my interview at the local hospital. Shit. Throwing off the layers of blankets, I scrambled out of bed. The room quickly turned chaotic as clothes flew everywhere in my frantic search for something remotely professional.
Minutes later, I stood before the full-length mirror, catching my breath as I took in my reflection. A crisp white button-down shirt was tucked neatly into a knee-length black pencil skirt, and my hair was swept up into a polished but effortless bun. After applying a light touch of makeup, I gave myself one last approving nod before stepping out of my room.
As I hurried down the stairs, I spotted Mrs. Huang by the main door, slipping into an elegant coat. My eyes widened when I noticed two large suitcases sitting beside her.
Panic washed over me, and I picked up my pace. "Morning, Auntie. Where are you going?"
Mrs. Huang turned and smiled warmly. "Morning, honey. I'm joining my husband in Hawaii. We'll be back in a couple of months."
A couple of months?
Before I could voice my shock, she stepped forward and added gently, "Make sure to make up with Harley. He can be incredibly stubborn, but he'll come around." She pulled me into a tight, warm hug before turning and exiting the mansion, leaving me standing in the foyer, stunned.
When I turned around, I froze. Harley was standing at the bottom of the stairs, immaculately dressed in a tailored suit, watching me with cold, distant eyes.
I opened my mouth to greet him, but he walked right past me without a single word. He slipped on his shoes, stepped out the door, and let it slam shut behind him. A quiet shiver ran through my body.
Back in the kitchen, I made myself a strong cup of coffee and drank it in one go before heading out. Mr. Lu was already waiting inside the silver BMW.
I opened the door and slipped into the back seat. "Morning, Mr. Lu."
"Good morning, Miss Huo. Where to?"
As I buckled my seatbelt, I replied, "Seojin General Hospital, please."
Mr. Lu nodded and pulled away from the estate. The ride was quiet, giving me a chance to pull out my phone and send Amy a quick text to confirm our lunch date. When the car finally came to a stop, I thanked Mr. Lu and stepped out onto the pavement.
The hospital building stood before me—tall, modern, and majestic. I paused for a moment, craning my neck to take in its sheer scale and intricate glass design. Taking a steadying breath, I straightened my posture and walked toward the entrance. Outwardly, I was calm, composed, and professional. Inside, my heart was pounding relentlessly against my ribs.
You can do this, Sophie, I told myself. You didn't come all this way to fail.
With that thought anchoring me, I pushed the heavy glass doors open and stepped inside Seojin General Hospital. The interior was bright and bustling, filled with the sharp, clinical scent of antiseptic, the soft beeping of monitors, and the echo of hurried footsteps.
I approached the main reception desk and offered a polite smile. "Good morning. I'm here for an interview with Chief Wang."
The receptionist nodded efficiently and gestured down the main corridor. "Third floor, last office on the right."
"Thank you."
As I walked toward the elevators, two nurses brushed past me. Their voices were low, but clear enough for me to catch fragments of their excited conversation.
"Did you hear? Mr. Huang donated again."
"The entire new wing, right? He practically owns half this hospital."
"He's so handsome… but God, he's cold. No one ever gets close to him."
My steps faltered for just a fraction of a second before I forced myself to keep moving forward. Harley. Even here… I couldn't escape his reach. I stepped into the empty elevator and focused on steadying my breathing as the metal doors slid shut.
The elevator chimed softly on the third floor. I stepped out and followed the quiet, polished hallway until I reached the last frosted-glass door on the right. Taking one final breath, I knocked gently.
"Come in."
I pushed the door open. Behind a massive wooden desk sat a middle-aged man with kind yet sharply observant eyes. His presence was calm, but carried a distinct, heavy authority.
"Good morning, Chief Wang," I greeted politely.
He studied me for a moment before offering a small, welcoming smile. "Good morning. You must be Sophie Huo."
"Yes, sir."
"Please, have a seat."
I sat in the leather chair across from him, keeping my posture perfectly straight and my hands folded neatly in my lap.
"I've reviewed your file," he began, glancing briefly at the open folder on his desk before returning his gaze to me. "Your academic record is highly impressive. Studying abroad for four years is no small feat."
"Thank you, sir."
He nodded slowly, observing me with quiet attentiveness. "Tell me, Miss Huo… why did you choose to return to Seojin General Hospital?"
For a brief second, my chest tightened—but my professional composure didn't slip. "This is home," I replied calmly. "And I want to serve where I belong."
Chief Wang watched me closely, as if weighing the sincerity behind my words. Then, a faint smile appeared. "I see." He leaned back slightly in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Tell me, what is your specialty?"
"I focused on internal medicine during my studies," I replied confidently. "But I also completed extensive rotations in emergency care and pediatrics. I prefer internal medicine because it allows me to build long-term relationships with patients and treat underlying causes, rather than just managing symptoms."
His brows lifted slightly—impressed, but reserved. "And how do you handle pressure?"
"I stay calm," I answered without hesitation. "Patients look to us for reassurance. If we panic, they panic. I believe composure is just as important as medical knowledge."
A genuine smile tugged at his lips. "That is a very wise answer." He closed the file in front of him and met my eyes directly. "We need doctors who are competent, but also steady under fire. From what I see, you are both."
My heart skipped a beat.
"I would like to offer you a position in the internal medicine department, effective immediately."
For a moment, the room seemed to ring. I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly. "Effective immediately?"
He nodded. "If you're ready."
A massive wave of relief washed over me, but I kept my posture impeccably straight. "I am ready, sir."
"Good," Chief Wang replied warmly. "If you'll excuse yourself, you may head down to administrative services on the second floor to collect your badge, uniform, and pager. Welcome to Seojin General Hospital, Dr. Huo."
The title sent a quiet, electric thrill straight through me. I rose to my feet. "Thank you, Chief Wang."
Stepping out of his office, I exhaled a long, shaky breath, allowing myself a brief moment in the empty hallway to process everything. Then, with a newfound lightness in my step, I made my way to the elevator and pressed the button for the second floor.
Administrative services was tucked neatly at the end of a busy corridor. A woman behind the counter looked up as I approached.
"Hi, I'm Sophie Huo. I was just hired in internal medicine."
She smiled politely, her fingers flying across her keyboard. "Congratulations, Dr. Huo. Just one moment."
After a few minutes, she returned to the counter and handed me a neatly folded white coat, a hospital badge clipped to a lanyard, and a standard-issue pager. I stepped away from the desk and stared down at the crisp, laminated plastic of the badge.
Dr. Sophie Huo, Internal Medicine.
It felt real now. I ran my thumb over the raised lettering of my name. For the first time since my plane touched down in Seoul, I finally felt steady.