Chapter 53

Stella was slumped over her desk, her eyes rimmed with exhaustion. She’d been on night shift again, a patient had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and she hadn’t slept a wink. The scent of coffee and disinfectant clung to her scrubs, and her shoulders sagged from fatigue. But the moment she saw Sloane walk in, bright-eyed and freshly pressed, something in her seemed to jolt awake. Her lips curved into a cold, brittle smile. “On time again, huh?” she drawled. “Some people really do live charmed lives. Must be nice to clock in and clock out without a care in the world.” Sloane met her gaze evenly. Once, she might have winced under that passive-aggressive tone, back when guilt had gnawed at her for leaving work on time instead of staying to help. But now, after learning about Stella’s little “favor” with the transfer form, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Life was too short to keep bowing to someone else’s bitterness. Sloane tilted her head and smiled. “It’s normal to envy people who