I unlocked it and he walked in, taking one look at my expression.
“That bad?”
“They want me to take a leave of absence.”
“Is it voluntary?”
“They’re calling it voluntary, but it feels mandatory to me.”
“How long do they want you gone?”
“Until the investigation is finished.”
Cassian muttered a quiet curse. “What did you tell them?”
“I told them I would give an answer by the end of the week. What choice do I really have? If I stay, I only make things more difficult for Mireya. Every surgery we work together becomes a piece of evidence. Every time we speak, someone will be watching.” I turned back toward the window. “If I leave, at least she has a fair chance.”
“A chance to do what? To fight this mess alone? To watch her career get ruined while you sit at home?”
“I'm not hiding, Cassian. I'm trying to protect her.”
“You’re running away, Riven. It's what you always do.”
I turned around to face him, my jaw tight. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you have been running from your life for nine months. You ignore your father’s estate and your family obligations. You refuse to acknowledge the inheritance that’s waiting for you.” Cassian crossed his arms over his chest. “You have been a coward about everything except for your feelings for Mireya. And now you're being a coward about this situation too.”
“I'm only trying to protect her future.”
“By accepting whatever the board decides for you? By stepping back and just hoping it all works out?” He shook his head in frustration. “You have options that you're refusing to see because you're too busy being self-destructive.”
“What options are you talking about?”
“The estate includes the actual ownership of Obsidian Hospital. You have known that for years, Riven.”
I stared at him, the pieces clicking into place.
“That’s different,” I argued.
“How is it any different?”
“That’s my father’s legacy. It's not mine.”
“Your father is dead. The estate is just property and responsibility now.” Cassian’s voice turned hard. “You could claim what belongs to you. You could have the actual power to protect Mireya instead of accepting these board decisions. But that would require you to face your grief. You would have to confront everything you have been avoiding.”
“The inheritance is tied to a man who was never a real father to me.”
“So what?”
“Claiming it feels like I'm saying our relationship was okay.”
“Your father is gone,” Cassian repeated. “He does not care if you claim the estate or not. The only person punishing you for his failures is yourself.”
“You don't understand?—”
“You’re letting your pride cost you everything that matters to you.” He moved closer to me. “That includes Mireya. While you sit here being noble, she's fighting for a career that could be destroyed. You have the power to change her situation, but you won't do it. You won't do it because it means dealing with your father.”
“It's not that simple, Cassian.”
