The six-year-old son of the most powerful man in Chicago fired five doctors before breakfast.

Six months later.

The nightmare that had haunted the Sterling family was finally over. The trial of Evelyn Sterling and Dr. Vance had dominated the national news, but Gabriel’s vast legal team and the undeniable evidence ensured swift justice. Evelyn was sentenced to life without parole, ensuring she would never hurt anyone again.

The dark clouds that had hung over the Sterling empire cleared, giving way to a bright, vibrant spring.

I had taken a sabbatical from the pediatric emergency department to oversee Oliver’s complete physical and emotional rehabilitation. The secure estate had been converted back into a warm, welcoming home, free of the toxic memories of the past.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining brightly over the estate's rolling garden lawns.

I was sitting on a cozy lounge chair on the patio, reading a medical journal, when a pair of small hands suddenly covered my eyes from behind.

"Guess who!" a high-pitched, giggling voice demanded.

I pretended to think hard. "Hmm... is it a mischievous monster?"

"No!"

"Is it the world's worst soccer player?"

"No!" Oliver shouted, jumping around to the front, giggling wildly. "It's me!"

I laughed, pulling Oliver into a hug. He looked completely different than the pale, terrified boy I had met in Room 314 six months ago. His cheeks were rosy, his dark hair was wildly tossed from playing, and his blue eyes were shining with health and happiness.

"You got me again," I smiled, pinching his nose gently. "How's the heart feeling today, champion?"

"Super fast!" Oliver said proudly, tapping his chest. "Like a race car! But the good kind!"

"That's because you just ran three laps around the fountain," Gabriel’s voice smooth and warm, joined us as he stepped out onto the patio.

He had swapped his business suits for casual clothes—a charcoal fitting henley and jeans. He held two plates of fresh strawberry shortcake.

"Cake before dinner?" I raised an eyebrow playfully at Gabriel. "What kind of doctor permits this?"

"The kind of father who knows when to bargain," Gabriel smiled, handing me a plate and setting Oliver's down on the small table.

Oliver immediately dug into his cake with pure joy.

Gabriel sat down on the edge of my lounge chair, taking my hand in his. His thumb gently stroked the back of my hand, a habit he had developed over the past few months whenever we were together.

"I talked to the chief of medicine at the hospital today," Gabriel said softly.

My heart gave a small flutter. "Oh? What did Dr. Evans say?"

"He said your sabbatical request is expiring next month," Gabriel said, looking into my eyes. "He wants to know if you're returning to the ER full-time, or if you're accepting the offer to head the new Sterling Pediatric Arrhythmia Foundation."

I looked at Gabriel, then over at Oliver, who was currently covering his nose with whipped cream.

Over the past six months, my life had completely transformed. I had entered Room 314 as a guarded, independent emergency physician who swore off personal attachments to patients. Now, I couldn't imagine a single morning without hearing Oliver’s footsteps running down the hallway, or a single night without Gabriel’s arms wrapped securely around me in bed.

"I think..." I said slowly, a smile growing on my face, "...I want to head the foundation. I can save thousands of kids like Oliver, and still have time to be home for dinner."

Gabriel’s eyes lit up with profound joy. He leaned down and pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to my lips. "That is the best news I’ve heard all year."