After My Husband Caused My Mother's Death

Chapter 2 Beg for Her Forgiveness

"Dean Bennett, I'm here to resign." I slid my prepared resignation letter across his desk. "This should make the internet trolls back off."

Dean Bennett's face twisted with regret. "Elena, we haven't uncovered the full truth yet. Give it time, there might still be hope..."

"Dean Bennett, they've already won," I gave a bitter laugh, my first.

He'd been my mentor for years and knew every dirty detail. Henry was protecting Vivian, no matter what. As the Grant conglomerate heir and our hospital's biggest investor, his money called the shots. Even the dean couldn't shield me now.

Dean Bennett dragged a hand down his face. "What's your plan then?"

"I'm taking one of those overseas offers."

His eyes lit up. Back in med school, Ivies and top-tier schools had begged me to enroll. I'd turned them all down.

"Excellent! Once this blows over, you'll come back stronger!"

After trading hollow pleasantries, I rose, bending at the waist in a stiff bow. "Thank you... for everything."

The vise around my lungs loosened, a fraction, as I stepped into the hallway. I cleared my desk, box by box. Then, bang! The door slammed open.

Henry stormed in, clutching a sobbing Vivian. His eyes narrowed to slits when he saw me. "You?"

"Y-you l-let him in! Henry swore he'd never..." Vivian wrenched free, mascara streaking down her cheeks. Her voice cracked. "Was this your sick idea of revenge?!"

"I thought your mother's death might've taught you humility," Henry's gaze turned arctic. "Apologize to Vivian, now."

His words were razor blades slicing my skin. Ever since Vivian arrived, every disaster landed on my shoulders. Her no-shows? My "unreasonable schedule." The double-dose prescription? She threw me under the bus. When she misdiagnosed a patient's cholecystitis as a stomach problem and delayed critical treatment, she tried to pin it all on me for not reviewing her ultrasound scans.

Everyone could see through her transparent attempts to frame me; everyone except Henry. The second Vivian's eyes welled up, suddenly everything became my fault. Time after time, Henry forced me to apologize to her, crushing my pride into the dust. So when Vivian was caught cheating and tearfully called Henry, claiming I'd pressured the vice dean to assault her, he believed her without hesitation.

He ordered me to publicly admit online that I was the woman in that scandal. When I refused, he exploited the cardiac surgery department's official account to livestream his lies, publicly naming me as the one responsible. Enough was enough. This time, I didn't apologize.

"You know exactly why he came for you," I leveled a frosty glare at Vivian, "or have you lied to yourself so much that you actually believe that woman in the video was me?"

Her eyes turned bloodshot with rage. "You sent him to ruin my reputation!" she shrieked. With a sharp gasp, she stepped forward as if to kneel. "Have mercy! Please, stop tormenting me!"

"Elena," Henry hauled her upright and snarled, "I warned you, no more tricks. Get on your knees now and beg for Vivian's forgiveness. Or your medical career ends here."