Nora’s POV I remarked as l dressed, “ it will be more problematic for me if the patient dies, when there is a qualified Dr who could have saved her.” I gave his grumpy face a quick kiss and rushed out of the bedroom.I removed my gloves, threw them in the waste bin, extended my arms and a runner took off my gown. My first surgery after coming back to my country took a lot from me, it was long and tedious, but the problem was not the long surgery hours but the patient. How ironic, my first patient happened to be my love rival’s mother. Me and my assistant Daniel Ross, headed to the washing station. I eyed him sideways as we washed our hands.“Ross, l have a favour to ask, can you please attend to the Shaman family?.”Ross studied me suspiciously. “ Why? You are the surgeon, l'm just an assistant.” I fluttered my eyes lashes at him, “please Ross, l will owe you one.” Ross shook his head vigorously, “ no Dr, l need more than that, what's going on?.” I sighed tiredly, “ Ross, the pat

Max's POV Nora and I came to a stop just inside the kitchen. She complained, “ why are we stopping? We have to sit down for this.”“Oh, is it that serious?.” “Very.”We mounted the tall kitchen stools, side by side.“Spill.”Nora got down, opened the fridge and brought the juice pitcher and glasses to the island. She poured for both of us and sat down again. So much hedging, what happened at the hotel? “Let me tell you what happened. Your father and Caesar Shaman interrupted us as we were about to have dinner. They invited us to their private dining room. They didn't waste any time before they tore into my abilities as a Dr. Your father and his friend threatened my job. They started by claiming i'm incompetent at my job. They told me clearly that if Mrs Shaman complicates, l can forget about working.”l jumped from the chair so fast i almost toppled it, “ tell me you are joking, if you aren't, my father won't escape my wrath. That man is using you to get to me, l will not allow it.

Patrick Ratliff moved around the living room aimlessly, avoiding the glass shards. He touched the broad petals of a green flower and ended up at the window. He tweaked the curtain aside and watched as his son zoomed out of the gates.His anger mounted. His son disrespected him today. The battle lines were drawn. Max's lesson would commence soon. He found a weakness in his armour. He swore to capitalise on it.Soft hands rubbed his exposed neck, “relax, your son is spirited like you. He will come around.”Pat closed the curtain and moved from the irritating hands of his wife. Marylin petted him only when she wanted something. He guessed her gentle gesture was to dilute his wrath against her dear son. It would not work.He circled the bar, bent down, searched for a moment and brought out a new decanter. He filled it with whiskey and topped his glass. He drank it neat. His throat burned, tears filled his eyes, he coughed so much Marylin rushed over and thumped his back. She took the gla

Max's POVI stood at the window watching the traffic below when i heard a knock, somebody came in without permission. “Sorry Max for badging in your office without permission but things are bad, you are being made a fool of. I can't stand it.” I turned around at the voice of my sister. What was this instigator doing in my office? When the shit hit the fan, she chose her side, our father’s side.Her action came as no surprise, my father always took her side in my altercations with her. My eyes tracked her as she came across the room towards me.“Who is making a fool out of me?."Her eyes glinted with an unnamed emotion. She flushed down to her neck. “It's painful for me to see you in this situation but it had to be done to protect you. Your wife is the gutter rat we warned you against.”My anger was instant. “Get out. From today onwards never set your feet in my office again..”l barked at her, she walked backwards, the fear in her eyes warring with defiance. As she put one foot b

Max's POV “You look terrible, aren't you supposed to be at work?.”My mum fired at me as soon as I entered her office. I plonked myself on her couch, my arm over my eyes. “I feel terrible, my world as i know it has vanished.”I heard the chair screech against the floor, then the couch sank under my mum's weight. She removed my arm from my face, “ you are scaring me, what happened?.” I sighed and peered at her through my lashes, a headache hammered my skull mercilessly. “Your beloved daughter in law hurt me so badly l doubt i will recover.” My mum slapped my thigh, “ Maxwell Ratliff, speak up. My blood pressure is rising, why are you doing this?.”I sat up and took her hand in mine, “ sorry mum. It's hard for me to talk about it, let me show you instead.”I fished in my sweater pockets, l found my two phones, the third was missing. “Dammit, l forgot the phone at home.” “It doesn't matter, what exactly is in that phone?.” “Mum, that phone contains your son's heartbreak. Nora and