Chapter 36
SOPHIA’S POV
Tiffany was the next person to turn back.
Her face had changed completely. First it went pale, like all the blood had drained out of it. Then it flushed red.
She looked angry, her hands clenching tightly in her lap. I noticed her fingers digging into her skin until her knuckles turned white. I could see her jaw moving as she leaned closer to Damien and whispered something in his ear.
Whatever she said Damien didn’t answer her. He didn’t even turn his head. He just sat stiff and straight. His eyes stayed fixed forward, but I knew he wasn’t really looking at the stage anymore.
Tiffany slowly turned around in her seat then her eyes locked onto mine.
There was no attempt to hide it this time. There was no fake smile. No polite mask. In her eyes, I saw raw hatred and jealousy.
I looked her straight without flinching.
Anyways my heart was still racing from answering Professor Rio’s questions, but it wasn’t from fear anymore. It was adrenaline. I felt proud of myself. For once in my life, I knew without doubt that I belonged in that room. I had earned my seat. I had earned the applause.
Tiffany hadn’t. She was only there because Damien had paid for her place.
I was sure of it.
The guests around me leaned closer to congratulate me and asked me even more questions.
An older surgeon behind me tapped my shoulder lightly.
“That was a brilliant response,” he said sincerely. “Very clear thinking p>
“Thank you,” I replied with a smile.
Another woman leaned across.
“Where do you practice?” she asked. “Your reasoning was excellent. What did you major in p>
“I practice in a hospital in town,” I said honestly. “My training was in internal medicine and cardiology p>
She nodded, looking impressed. “It shows p>
More people smiled at me. A few introduced themselves. Someone shook my hand. The attention felt strange, almost unreal, but with every conversation, my confidence grew a little stronger.
Lance leaned closer to me and whispered, “You were incredible, Sophia. Truly p>
I let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Thank you p>
He smiled.
Professor Rio returned to the microphone and cleared his throat.
“Before we conclude,” he said, “we’ll take a short break. When we return, we’ll have a discussion session. You’ll partner up, review a case study, and present your approach together. I’ll be moving around to listen and give feedback p>
The room immediately buzzed with excitement.
People stood, stretched, and began turning toward one another. The energy in the room shifted as people started to partner up.
Several people approached me to partner with them but I politely declined.
Then I felt it. My wolf caught a bitter presence in the air and I looked up.
Tiffany had stood from the front row.
She said something to Damien, then turned and started walking toward me. Her chin was lifted too high.
My stomach tightened.
She stopped in front of us but not in front of me. She completely ignored me.
Instead, she turned to Lance with a bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Dr. Chen,” she said sweetly, extending her hand. “I’m Tiffany Blackwood p>
Lance stood politely and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you p>
“I’ve heard so much about your work,” Tiffany continued. “Your research is very well known. Several colleagues have mentioned you p>
“That’s kind of them,” Lance replied calmly.
She laughed lightly and glanced around.
“It looks like we’ll need partners for the discussion session,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if we worked together p>
As she spoke, she reached out and touched his arm. Her fingers stayed there longer than necessary.
I felt a cold twist in my chest. I knew what she was doing. This wasn’t about some collaboration. This was a display, a challenge. Tiffany wanted to prove something.
I shook my head internally.
Such a drama queen.
Lance gently removed her hand from his arm.
“I’m already partnered,” he said. He gestured to me. “To Sophia p>
The room seemed to pause. Tiffany’s smile froze.
She looked at me then back at Lance. I swore that I could see her eye twitch. Her smile looked like it was frozen in place.
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t realize you two were… together p>
The implication in her tone was insulting but Lance didn’t even acknowledge it.
“We are. I mean who wouldn’t want to be with Dr. Sophia. She is an excellent physician,” he said clearly. “I’d be fortunate to partner with her. It’s an honor really p>
The words were calm but it hit the spot. Tiffany wasn’t used to rejection. She forced out a laugh.
“Of course. How silly of me p>
Her face burned red with embarrassment.
“I’ll find another partner,” she said quickly.
She turned and walked away.
Professor Rio returned to the stage and called everyone back to order. Case study packets were handed out. Lance and I leaned closer together as we reviewed the material.
“This patient has overlapping cardiac and renal failure,” Lance said quietly.
“Yes,” I replied. “We need to prioritize stabilization before intervention p>
We spoke easily, naturally, building on each other’s ideas. There was no competition or ego. Just shared focus and respect. My wolf felt calm and safe in that space.
This – this was what I had been missing for so long.
I glanced around briefly.
Tiffany sat beside an older surgeon, nodding while he did all the talking. She barely contributed. Her eyes kept drifting toward us. Her eyes burned with jealousy.
Damien sat alone in the front row. He wasn’t pretending to participate anymore. His eyes stayed fixed on me.
I could feel his wolf now. How restless and conflicted it was. I didn’t care.
Professor Rio stopped at our table. He listened as we explained our approach.
“Good,” he said. “Very good p>
He looked at me. “Your reasoning is sound p>
I couldn’t help but smile widely.
“You have real talent,” he added quietly.
Tears burned behind my eyes.
When the lecture ended, people applauded. Lance suggested we leave before the crowd formed. I agreed and gathered my notebook.
As I stood, I felt eyes on me again.
Damien.
He was standing now. Our eyes met across the lecture hall.
The air between us felt thick. His expression was a mix of anger and confusion.
I lifted my chin as I looked at him for a long moment then looked away.
I wasn’t the woman he had ignored anymore.