After My Divorce, His Enemy Claimed Me.

The hospital gossip

(Vaughn)

I spent the night in a hotel downtown, surrounded by garbage bags and suitcases filled with my life.

The room was nice. King bed, flat screen TV, minibar. But it didn't matter. I was still living out of trash bags like some kind of loser.

I stared at the ceiling, my phone in my hand, refreshing social media over and over. Nothing. Sloane hadn't posted anything. No cryptic quotes about betrayal, no sad selfies, nothing that would make me look bad.

That bothered me more than it should have.

She should have been crying. She should have been posting about how hurt she was, how I'd destroyed her. Instead, she was acting like I didn't matter. Like our four years together meant nothing.

I tried calling her again. Blocked. I tried texting from a different number. No response.

By the time the sun came up, I was furious.

I got ready for work, putting on my best suit. If Sloane wanted to play games, fine. I'd show everyone at the hospital that I was the victim here. That she was the cold, heartless wife who'd thrown me out over one mistake.

People would understand. They always did.

When I walked into Seattle Grace Memorial, I could feel the stares immediately. Whispers followed me down the hallway. I kept my head up, acting like nothing was wrong.

But I knew. They all knew.

I went straight to my office and closed the door. I needed to figure out my next move. Sloane wouldn't answer my calls, wouldn't talk to me, wouldn't even give me a chance to explain.

But maybe I didn't need her to.

Maybe I just needed other people to see things my way.

I pulled out my phone and texted a few of the other surgeons. Guys I played golf with, guys who understood what it was like to have a wife who cared more about work than her marriage.

*Sloane kicked me out. Over one mistake. Can you believe that?*

The responses came back quickly.

*Damn, man. That's rough.*

*Women, right? They never forgive anything.*

*You should fight for her. Show her you're serious.*

I smiled. Good. They were on my side.

Around nine, I headed to the surgical floor. I had a consult scheduled, and I needed to act normal. Professional. Like my life wasn't falling apart.

But as I walked past the nurse's station, I heard it.

"Did you hear about Dr. Reid?"

"Which one?"

"Vaughn. He got caught cheating. In his office."

"No way. With who?"

"Some blonde nurse. I heard his wife walked in on them."

I stopped walking, my hands balling into fists.

"That's insane. Dr. Reid seemed so nice."

"Sloane Reid? She is nice. I feel bad for her."

"I heard she's filing for divorce."

"Good for her. She deserves better."

I turned and glared at the nurses. They stopped talking immediately, their faces going red.

"Don't you have work to do?" I snapped.

They scattered.

I kept walking, my anger building with every step. This was exactly what I was afraid of. Everyone was going to take her side. Everyone was going to act like I was the bad guy.

And Kieran. That smug bastard was probably loving this. He'd been waiting for me to screw up, and now he had the perfect excuse to destroy me.

I made it to my office and slammed the door behind me. I needed to do something. I couldn't just sit here and let Sloane ruin my reputation.

That's when my phone rang. Unknown number.

I answered. "Hello?"

"Dr. Reid, this is Amanda from HR. We need to speak with you about an incident that was reported."

My stomach turned. "What incident?"

"It's regarding inappropriate conduct in your office. Can you come to HR at two PM today?"

"This is ridiculous. It was a private matter."

"Nevertheless, it occurred on hospital premises during work hours. We need to discuss it. Two PM."

She hung up.

I stared at my phone, my hands shaking. HR. They were getting HR involved.

This was Sloane's doing. Or Kieran's. Maybe both.

I spent the rest of the morning trying to focus on work, but I couldn't. Every time I walked past someone, I felt them staring at me. Judging me.

At lunch, I went to the cafeteria. Big mistake.

The second I walked in, the room got quieter. Not silent, but quieter. Like everyone was trying not to look at me but couldn't help it.

I grabbed a tray and got in line. That's when I saw them.

Sloane and Kieran. Sitting at a table together. Laughing.

Laughing.

She looked happy. Relaxed. Like she didn't have a care in the world.

And Kieran was looking at her like he wanted to take her right there on the table.

My grip on the tray got tighter.

They didn't see me. Or maybe they did and didn't care.

I wanted to march over there and tell Kieran to stay away from my wife. But I couldn't. Not with everyone watching.

Instead, I left the cafeteria without getting food.

At two PM, I showed up at HR. Amanda was waiting for me, along with another woman I didn't recognize.

"Dr. Reid, thank you for coming," Amanda said, motioning for me to sit. "We've received a complaint regarding inappropriate conduct in your office."

"Who filed the complaint?"

"That's confidential."

"This is insane. What happened in my office was between me and my wife. It has nothing to do with the hospital."

"Actually, it does. You engaged in s****l activity on hospital property, during work hours, with a hospital employee. That violates our code of conduct."

"It was one time!"

"We have reason to believe it wasn't just one time."

I stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

The other woman leaned forward. "We've spoken to several nurses who have reported seeing you in compromising situations with various staff members over the past year."

My heart started racing. "They're lying."

"Are they?"

I didn't answer.

Amanda sighed. "Dr. Reid, we're not here to destroy your career. But we do need to address this. You're being placed on a formal warning. Any further incidents of inappropriate conduct will result in suspension or termination. Do you understand?"

"This is because of Kieran, isn't it? He's trying to get rid of me."

"Dr. Ashford has nothing to do with this investigation."

"Bullshit."

"Dr. Reid, I suggest you watch your tone."

I stood up. "Are we done here?"

"Yes. But I strongly suggest you take this warning seriously."

I left without another word.

By the time I got back to my office, I was seeing red. This was all falling apart. My marriage, my reputation, my career. Everything.

And it was all because of Sloane.

No. It was because of Kieran.

He was the one turning her against me. He was the one spreading rumors. He was the one trying to destroy me.

I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer.

"I need you to do something," I said when he answered.

"What?"

"I need you to dig up dirt on Kieran Ashford. Anything. I don't care what it is. I need something I can use against him."

"Vaughn, I'm a divorce lawyer, not a private investigator."

"Then find me someone who is. I'll pay whatever it costs."

There was a pause. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I'll make some calls."

I hung up and leaned back in my chair.

Kieran thought he could take everything from me? My wife, my job, my life?

He had no idea who he was messing with.

Sloane wanted a war? Fine. I'd give her one.

And when I was done, she'd come crawling back, begging me to take her back.

They all did eventually.

I just had to be patient.

And make sure Kieran Ashford paid for every second he spent with my wife.

I opened my desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of whiskey I kept hidden there. I poured myself a glass and drank it in one gulp.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

Sloane was still my wife. Legally. And until those divorce papers were signed, she belonged to me.

Kieran could play hero all he wanted. But at the end of the day, Sloane would realize she'd made a mistake.

And when she did, I'd be waiting.

I poured another glass and stared at my computer screen.

Time to start playing dirty.