"I need more time," I said.
"Calla, we've already extended the deadline twice?—"
"I know. And I'm sorry. But things have changed here. I need to figure it out before I can commit to anything."
Daniel went quiet. I could picture him in his office, pinching the bridge of his nose frustratedly.
"How long?" he finally asked.
"A week. Maybe less."
"I can give you until Monday. After that, I have to offer the position to someone else. The board won't wait any longer."
"That's fair. Thank you, Daniel. Really."
"I hope whatever you're figuring out is worth it."
I looked at Cassian again. At his green eyes that were still red-rimmed from tears. At his hand reaching for mine even as I held the phone to my ear.
"It is," I said. "It really is."
I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
"Monday," Cassian said. "That gives us five days to figure out if we're brave enough to do this."
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the hallway. We both turned to see Dr. Patel approaching, her expression impossible to read.
"Reed. Karras." She stopped in front of us, her eyes moving from our joined hands to our tear-stained faces. "The ethics board wants to meet. Now. Conference room three."
My stomach dropped. "Both of us?"
"Both of you." She paused. "Riven will be there as well."
We followed her down the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was it. The investigation. The complaint. Everything we'd been dreading for the past three days was finally coming to a head.
Cassian's hand tightened around mine. And I held on like he was the only solid thing in a building.
The conference room was already full when we arrived.
Dr. Cross and Mr. Webb sat at one end of the table, their folders spread out in front of them like evidence at a trial. Riven stood by the window, his arms crossed, his face giving away nothing. Mireya was beside him, her posture calm, and her dark eyes watchful.
We took seats across from the ethics representatives. I didn't let go of Cassian's hand.
"Drs. Reed and Karras," Dr. Cross began. "We've completed our review of the ethics complaint and the additional investigation into your prior marriage. Given the complexity of your personal history and the nature of the trauma protocol, we need to discuss next steps."
I felt Cassian tense beside me.
"Before you continue," I said, and I was surprised by how steady my voice sounded, "I want to make something clear. Dr. Reed and I have maintained complete professionalism throughout our work on this case. Our personal history has not compromised our medical judgment, our patient care, or the integrity of this project."
"We're not questioning your medical competence?—"
"Then what are you questioning?" I leaned forward, something fierce rising in my chest. "This feels like punishment for being honest. We could have hidden our history and pretended we were strangers. But we chose transparency because we believed this hospital valued integrity over bureaucracy."
"Dr. Karras?—"
"I'm not finished." I cut off. "I understand that hospital policy needs to address potential conflicts of interest. But I also know that personal relationships don't automatically compromise professional judgment. Half the attendings in this building are married to each other. A third of the residents are dating. If romantic history disqualified people from working together, you'd have to fire half your staff."
Mr. Webb opened his mouth to respond, but Riven stepped forward before he could speak.
