Chapter 40
SOPHIA’S POV
My phone rang suddenly in my hand, making me flinch.
When I looked down and saw Lance’s name on the screen, I sighed in relief.
I answered immediately.
“Lance!” I shrieked “Are you okay? Where are you p>
“I’m at home,” he said. His voice sounded tired but calm, “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner p>
The tension in my chest broke, and tears burned behind my eyes.
“I just heard what happened,” I said “Lance, I’m so sorry p>
“It’s not your fault, Sophia,” he cut in gently. “I knew there might be consequences p>
“Consequences for what?” I demanded. “For being my friend p>
He was quiet for a moment. I could almost hear him choosing his words carefully.
“Your husband has a lot of power,” he said finally. “I was warned this morning to stay away from you p>
Anger flared hot inside me, making my wolf growl softly in my chest.
“Warned?” I repeated. “Who warned you p>
“It doesn’t matter,” Lance replied. “What matters is what happened next p>
“Tell me”
“Security came to my office at eight this morning. They told me I had ten minutes to collect my personal items p>
My hand curled into a fist. “Ten minutes p>
“Yes,” he said. “They didn’t give me any explanation. Just ‘board decision.’ My hospital credentials were deactivated immediately. My access card stopped working while I was still packing p>
My vision blurred. I could imagine it too clearly – Lance standing there, feeling confused, humiliated, watched like a criminal.
“I wasn’t allowed to say goodbye to my patients,” he continued quietly. “I wasn’t allowed to finish charts. They escorted me out p>
Each word felt like someone stabbed a knife deep into my chest. My wolf whined softly inside me.
“I should have seen it coming,” Lance admitted. “After the lecture and the confrontation with Damien. He’s the Alpha after all p>
My voice broke completely. “This isn’t fair p>
He laughed bitterly “Fair doesn’t factor into men like Damien p>
“But p>
“He saw a threat,” Lance continued, “and eliminated it p>
“This is my fault,” I sobbed. “You lost your career because of me p>
“Sophia,” Lance sighed. “Listen to me p>
I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to breathe.
“I made my choice,” he said. “I would make it again, knowing the cost p>
My chest ached painfully. I felt so guilty. This was all my fault and I didn’t know how to stop it. Lance just got this job. He didn’t even get the chance to settle in.
“You deserve support,” he continued. “Not isolation p>
His words only made the guilt worse. Everywhere I went, people got hurt. My wolf felt heavy with shame.
Then Lance cleared his throat.
“There’s something else,” he said. His tone got a bit brighter now. “Something good p>
I wiped my eyes, confused. “Good p>
“Professor Rio contacted me this morning,” Lance said. “He wants to formally admit you into his PhD program as soon as possible. Have you gotten an answer to his offer yet p>
“No p>
“Then you have to immediately.” Lance explained everything carefully. “The terms include full funding,” he said. “Tuition covered. You’ll be given a stipend as well as a flexible schedule so you can still do clinical work. Start date in three months p>
I listened in silence.
“How can I accept this,” I whispered, “when you just lost everything p>
“You accept it because you earned it,” Lance said firmly.
Then he paused. “There’s something else you should know p>
My body tensed immediately. My wolf went alert again. What else could it be?
“Tiffany is one of his students,” Lance said.
The name hit me like ice water.
“Tiffany?” I breathed. “So she’ll be in the program with me,” I said.
“Yes. Although Rio mentioned she’s struggled academically and he isn’t sure she’ll last long p>
The pieces clicked together painfully fast.
Damien paid for Tiffany’s place. At the lecture, Lance ignored her completely. He chose me instead. Rio praised me. Tiffany was humiliated.
“This is about the lecture,” I said slowly. “You sided with me instead of Tiffany p>
Lance didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
“Damien punished you for embarrassing his woman,” I said. “He couldn’t stand that you chose me over her p>
“It’s more than that,” Lance said quietly. “He sees me as competition p>
I started to protest, but he continued.
“I’m the one who encourages your dreams. Who shows you that you’re capable of more than he allows p>
My stomach twisted. He was right.
“That makes me a threat,” Lance finished. “And now he’s intent on trampling me p>
“How bad is it?” I asked.
There was a long pause.
“I’ve been blacklisted,” Lance said honestly.
“Affiliated hospitals won’t hire me. My references are being blocked p>
“What will you do now?” I whispered.
“I have options,” he said, trying to sound calm. “Boston. California. I could go into research work p>
I could hear the strain beneath his optimism. He was losing everything here. It was all because of me.
“I have to fix this,” I said urgently.
“Sophia,” Lance said seriously. “Damien did this to isolate you. To show you what happens when someone supports you. If you go to him now,” he continued, “you prove it worked. That he got to you like he wanted p>
I understood the trap. But the guilt inside me was unbearable.
“So I just let you suffer?” I cried.
“You live your life,” Lance insisted. “Accept Rio’s offer. Don’t let Damien take that from you too p>
“But Tiffany will be there,” I said weakly. “She’ll make it miserable p>
“Don’t let her p>
I closed my eyes.
What do I do?