Chapter Seventeen
RIVEN
The setting remained exactly the same. I was back in that small office with the same two women, and the artificial scent of vanilla air freshener still made my stomach turn.
Leah Mills from HR sat beside Dr. Norms, but this time they were joined by a new face.
An older woman with sharp, observant eyes and an expensive suit sat at the end of the table.
She was a representative from the hospital board.
They had a thick folder with my name printed on the front.
"Dr. Cross, thank you for coming." Leah folded her hands. "We need to discuss the ethics review that's been initiated."
"I'm aware of the situation." I kept my voice level, my hands still at my sides.
“The formal complaint filed by Dr. Henley alleges inappropriate conduct with a subordinate staff member. It mentions a potential abuse of your position and a violation of professional boundaries.” She opened the folder and began flipping through pages.
“The investigation will closely examine the timeline of your relationship with Miss Rosen. We must determine if your role as an attending physician created an unfair power dynamic and if hospital policy was properly followed.”
Each word she spoke sounded like she was diagnosing a terminal disease rather than discussing my life.
“I understand the process,” I said.
The board representative leaned forward, her jewelry clinking softly. “Dr. Cross, you're a highly valued member of this institution. Your surgical record is exemplary, and we truly want to handle this situation with the utmost care.”
I braced myself because I knew a "but" was coming.
“However,” she continued, her voice turning firm. “The board has a specific recommendation for you. We believe it would be best if you stepped back from your position while this investigation proceeds.”
The room became incredibly quiet as I processed her words.
“Stepped back,” I repeated, my voice dropping an octave.
“It would be a voluntary leave of absence. This is not a formal suspension, but rather a temporary measure while we sort through the details.”
“For how long would I be gone?”
“Until the investigation officially concludes. We expect it to take a few weeks, or perhaps a month.”
“And what happens if I refuse to take this leave?”
Leah’s expression remained perfectly neutral.
“Your continued presence in your current role will only serve to complicate these matters. Every surgery you perform with Miss Rosen will be scrutinized by the board. Every interaction you have will become potential evidence against you. If you truly care about her career, removing yourself from the situation is the most helpful course of action.”
Those words felt like a heavy weight pressing against my chest. They were telling me that if I truly cared about her, I would walk away. To protect her, I would have to step back and let her face this investigation entirely on her own.
“I see what you're saying,” I said.
“We’re not asking you to stop practicing medicine forever. We just want you to take some time off. You could work on your research or consult from home until this is resolved.” The board representative offered a professional, empty smile. “You should think of it as a sabbatical.”
“It sounds more like a forced sabbatical,” I countered.
“We prefer to call it a recommended one.”
I looked among the three of them. They all had reasonable faces and seemed certain they were doing the right thing for the hospital.
“When do you need my final answer?”
"End of the week would be ideal."
“Fine.” I stood, ending the meeting.
I walked out of the room and made it back to my office.
I closed the door and locked it before leaning against the wood, eyes shut.
After a long moment, I pushed off and crossed to the window, trying to focus on my breathing.
This was exactly what I had feared most. This was the disaster I knew would happen if I ever let myself care about another person.
However, this wasn't the kind of tragedy I had expected. This was not a loss due to fate or circumstance; it was a loss due to institutional politics and my own failure to follow the rules. I should’ve disclosed the relationship immediately.
I should’ve requested a different assistant.
I should’ve followed every single protocol to the letter to protect her.
The door handle rattled suddenly, followed by a loud knocking.
“Riv, open the door,” Cassian called out.
I unlocked it and he walked in, taking one look at my expression.
“That bad?”
“They want me to take a leave of absence.”
“Is it voluntary?”
“They’re calling it voluntary, but it feels mandatory to me.”
“How long do they want you gone?”
“Until the investigation is finished.”
Cassian muttered a quiet curse. “What did you tell them?”
“I told them I would give an answer by the end of the week. What choice do I really have? If I stay, I only make things more difficult for Mireya. Every surgery we work together becomes a piece of evidence. Every time we speak, someone will be watching.” I turned back toward the window.
“If I leave, at least she has a fair chance.”
“A chance to do what? To fight this mess alone? To watch her career get ruined while you sit at home?”
“I'm not hiding, Cassian. I'm trying to protect her.”
“You’re running away, Riven. It's what you always do.”
I turned around to face him, my jaw tight. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you have been running from your life for nine months. You ignore your father’s estate and your family obligations.
You refuse to acknowledge the inheritance that’s waiting for you.
” Cassian crossed his arms over his chest. “You have been a coward about everything except for your feelings for Mireya.
And now you're being a coward about this situation too.”
“I'm only trying to protect her future.”
“By accepting whatever the board decides for you? By stepping back and just hoping it all works out?” He shook his head in frustration. “You have options that you're refusing to see because you're too busy being self-destructive.”
“What options are you talking about?”
“The estate includes the actual ownership of Obsidian Hospital. You have known that for years, Riven.”
I stared at him, the pieces clicking into place.
“That’s different,” I argued.
“How is it any different?”
“That’s my father’s legacy. It's not mine.”
“Your father is dead. The estate is just property and responsibility now.” Cassian’s voice turned hard.
“You could claim what belongs to you. You could have the actual power to protect Mireya instead of accepting these board decisions. But that would require you to face your grief. You would have to confront everything you have been avoiding.”
“The inheritance is tied to a man who was never a real father to me.”
“So what?”
“Claiming it feels like I'm saying our relationship was okay.”
“Your father is gone,” Cassian repeated. “He does not care if you claim the estate or not. The only person punishing you for his failures is yourself.”
“You don't understand—”
“You’re letting your pride cost you everything that matters to you.
” He moved closer to me. “That includes Mireya.
While you sit here being noble, she's fighting for a career that could be destroyed.
You have the power to change her situation, but you won't do it.
You won't do it because it means dealing with your father.”
“It's not that simple, Cassian.”
“It's exactly that simple. The question isn’t whether your father deserved to give you the inheritance. The question is whether you deserve to let your pride cost you the woman you love.”
The word "love" seemed to echo in the small office. I recalled how she said it when we were lying in bed in the hotel room.
I do love her.
Cassian walked toward the door but stopped before leaving. “Think about what matters more to you. Is it your anger at a dead man, or is it your future with someone who is still here?”
He left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The city stretched out below my window, and the traffic moved just as it always did.
While the world remained unchanged, my life was falling apart.
I thought about Mireya facing the investigators alone.
I pictured her answering questions about our relationship and having her integrity questioned because of my actions.
I thought about he estate lawyer's phone number that I had saved and never called.
My father’s legacy was right there. His hospitals, his money, and his power were all waiting for me to claim them. I had refused for nine months because taking it felt like accepting him. An absent, distant father who cared more about his reputation than his own children.
But he was dead now. The inheritance was just a collection of buildings and assets. It was a responsibility, nothing more. Cassian was right; I had been using my anger as an excuse to hide from my grief. And Mireya was the one paying the price for it.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled to the contact I had avoided for so long. Sebastian Cole, the estate attorney. My finger hovered over the call button for a long time. This was the moment I had to stop running. I had to stop letting the past control my life.
I pressed the button and listened to the phone ring.
“Riven?” Sebastian's voice carried genuine surprise. “Is that really you calling?”
“It's me, Sebastian.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks.”
“I know you have. I'm sorry for that.”
“Don't apologize to me. Just tell me what you need.”
“I want to discuss the inheritance and the transfer of ownership for the estate.” My voice held steady, though my hand gripped the phone too tight. “I'm finally ready to do this.”
There was a long silence on the other end. “You’re serious about this?”
“Yes, I’m serious.”
“What changed your mind?”
Everything had changed, and yet nothing had. A woman had made me want to be braver than I had ever been before. “I need to deal with this properly. No more avoiding it.”
“Okay,” he said, sounding relieved. “When can you meet with me?”
“As soon as possible.”
“How about the day after tomorrow? My office at ten AM.”
“I’ll be there,” I promised.
“Riven, this is a good move. Your father would have wanted—”
“This is not about my father,” I interrupted. “This is about me and what I need to do for my future.”
“Understood. I’ll see you on Thursday.”
I ended the call and sat at my desk, staring at the phone. I had just committed to facing everything I had been running from. I was going to claim my father’s legacy because Mireya needed me to be brave. I couldn't protect her by walking away.
My phone buzzed with a message from Emma. She asked when I was coming home and mentioned she had made pasta. I smiled despite the stress of the day and told her I needed to talk to her about something important.
“Ominous,” she replied. “Should I be worried?”
“No,” I wrote back. “We just need to discuss some family things.”
I put the phone down and looked at Mireya’s contact name. I wanted to tell her everything, but I couldn’t do it yet. I needed her to trust me without knowing the full plan.
Riven
Trust me. Please.
I sent the message and watched for her reply.
Mireya
I trust you.
Those three words made my chest ache. She trusted me even after everything that had happened. She trusted me even though this investigation could ruin her. I promised myself I would not let her down.
I gathered my things and headed home. Emma was waiting for me with pasta and garlic bread on the table.
“Okay, tell me everything.” She dropped into her chair and pulled her plate closer. “What’s the important family thing?”
I took a deep breath. “I'm claiming the inheritance. I'm taking over Dad’s estate and the hospitals.”
Her fork stopped in mid-air. “What made you change your mind?”
“I’ve been avoiding it for too long. I need to deal with his legacy instead of pretending it doesn't exist. Someone I care about is in trouble, and I have the power to help her, but only if I stop being afraid of the past.”
Emma set down her fork and looked at me. “You’re doing this for Mireya.”
“I'm doing this for all of us. I should’ve done it months ago.”
She nodded slowly, like she was piecing something together in real time. “You’re scared,” she said quietly, not as an accusation but as a fact. “But you’re doing it anyway.”
A slow, knowing smile spread across her face. “You love her, don't you?”
I couldn't deny the truth anymore. “Yes,” I said quietly. “I love her.”
Emma didn’t smile right away this time. She just looked at me for a second, like she was measuring the weight of those words, then gave a small nod—approval, but also understanding of what it would cost.
“It’s about time you admitted that to yourself.”
We finished our dinner and talked about what claiming the estate would mean for our lives. For the first time in a long time, I didn't run from the conversation.
Later that night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. In two days, I would walk into that lawyer’s office and change everything. My pulse wouldn't settle, but the idea of losing Mireya cut deeper than any fear. I would face my father’s ghost and become the person I needed to be.
Because she was worth the risk. We were worth the risk.
My phone buzzed one last time before I fell asleep.
Mireya
Whatever you're planning, please be careful.
Riven
Always. Get some sleep. We will figure this out.
Mireya
Together?
Riven
Together.
I put the phone down and closed my eyes.
In two days, everything would be different. I just had to be brave enough to let the change happen.