Charlotte rushed over, tears brimming. "It's all my fault. I'll take responsibility, okay? Don't make things hard for Raymond..."

I rolled my eyes and let out a cold laugh. "If this sample is positive, can you take responsibility for the infection risk?"

"Nursing isn't playing house. That uniform isn't a costume for your little victim act."

Raymond James was hauled away by security, half-escorted, half-shoved out the door.

Charlotte Cooley ran crying toward the doctors' offices.

I knew exactly who she was going to find.

Sure enough, within five minutes, Kevin Dickerson stood in front of me, furious.

"Brooklyn, what did you do to Charlotte? She's crying so hard she can barely breathe!"

I didn't even look up. "She broke an HIV patient's blood sample. I told her to follow protocol and write an incident report. Is there a problem?"

"You could've been gentler! Charlotte just started her internship—of course she's scared of you!"

"It wasn't easy for her to test her way out of a small town. Her parents are farmers. They went into massive debt to pay for her schooling…"

I cut him off. "A hard background doesn't mean she gets to ignore hospital regulations."

Kevin choked on that. His expression darkened.

"Brooklyn, I'm starting to realize you've become cold-blooded."

He looked at me with disappointment. "Charlotte is just a simple, brave girl. Why do you have to target her?"

I looked at this man I once loved, the one I thought I'd spend my whole life with, and said softly:

"Kevin, if one day Charlotte causes someone's death—will you help collect her body, or take the fall for her?"

He frowned. "What nonsense is that? Don't curse her!"

He took a deep breath, like he'd made up his mind.

"Brooklyn, if you keep making things hard for her—"

"Then there's no need for our engagement to continue."

For an intern, he was threatening me at work.

How ridiculous.

In my last life, hearing this would've shattered me.

Now, I only felt relieved.

"Fine. Since you brought it up, I'll give you an official answer."

"I'm not marrying you."

Kevin froze. Clearly not the reaction he expected.

"Brooklyn, don't be impulsive. I was just saying that in the heat of the moment…"

I took off the engagement ring I'd worn for three years and held it out to him.

"I'm serious."

"I'm returning the ring. Tomorrow I'll sort out the bride price and return it to your family."

"Starting today, we're just coworkers. Nothing more."