A Diamond in Her Own Right

Laura and Five Years Ago

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Tanner."

I chucked my mask into a nearby medical waste bin as I calmly spoke.

"Not only am I not dead, but I'm also doing very well."

Laura scanned me up and down with venomous eyes. "Doing well? You're just a doctor in this place. How is that doing well? Evelyn, did you come here to cheat us because you heard Dean was in a car crash?"

She crossed her arms, acting as arrogant as ever.

She had worn that exact same expression when she cried to Dean about how I broke her fingers five years ago.

It did not matter if the security footage showed she reached out and slammed the piano cover over her hands.

After all, Dean did not even bother to glance at the footage before he sentenced me.

"Laura's hands are meant for playing the piano. Can you even afford to compensate her? Go to Loasia. You can only return when you finally learn to behave."

The past flashed through my mind.

A wave of absurdity crashed into me as I looked at Laura, who hadn't changed one bit.

"Ms. Tanner, this is a hospital. Please lower your voice. The patient just came out of an operation and requires rest."

I turned to leave, having no interest in wasting time chatting with her.

However, Laura persistently grabbed my coat.

"Stop! Since you're the lead surgeon, what about Dean's leg? I'll make sure you pay if there's a scar or any lasting effects!"

I stopped and turned to look at her.

"It was a comminuted fracture. He's lucky he still has a leg. As for lasting effects..."

I paused and looked down at her healthy and straight fingers.

"Recovery would have to depend on his rehabilitation after this. It's just like your fingers. No matter how well the treatment is, broken fingers can never play as well as before. Isn't that right?"

Laura's face twisted in anger. "How dare you curse me, Evelyn!"

She raised her hand to slap me.

"Stop."

Just then, a deep and weak voice called out.

Dean woke up sometime during our conversation. He was craning his neck to look at us.

"Dean, you're awake!"

Laura immediately transformed into an upset and sobbing woman, flinging herself to sit by his bed.

"Evelyn was bullying me! She cursed me, saying my hands will be useless. She even said your leg would never heal! She did it on purpose! She's a useless doctor and is here for revenge!"

He ignored her complaints. His dark eyes were fixed on me.

"Eve, come here."

He was ordering me around.

He sounded no different from when he had ordered me to grovel and apologize to Laura five years ago.

I remained exactly where I was, coldly staring back at him. "Mr. Blake, I'm a doctor, not your servant. If you don't feel well, please use the call bell."

His brows became furrowed in visible displeasure at my attitude.

"Are you done with your tantrum?" He sighed, impatience ringing in his voice.

"I know you suffered in Loasia, so you're mad. Still, Laura is innocent. You were in the wrong back then. I've been looking for you for five whole years. As long as you apologize and return to my side, I won't hold today's rude behavior against you."

He looked at me as though he was doing me a huge favor.

"I can even make you the lead medical consultant of the Blake Group. It's much better than being overworked in a ratty hospital like this."

I burst out laughing upon hearing that.

I couldn't help but wonder what gave Dean that confidence to think that I could not survive without him.

"Dean," I began, taking a step closer to his bed. "Did the crash make you crazy? My hourly salary is now 10 times the pay of that consultant role. Also, this is not a mere tantrum. I'm serious. I don't ever want to see you two nauseating lovebirds again."