Jennifer didn't respond, but Donald's words eased some of the tension in her heart and gave her a deeper understanding of Teresa.

“Moms always have a soft spot,” Donald said. “Jennifer, I’m sure you’ll be an amazing mom when we have kids someday.” Suddenly, Jennifer looked at him as if he were a lunatic. “Have you lost your mind?”

Thinking she was shy, Donald chuckled and grabbed her hand. “Dr. Nelson, you kissed me. Don't think you can just pretend it didn't happen.”

Jennifer impatiently shook off his hand. “Nonsense. You were the one who kissed me that day.”

“Yeah, right, it was me. So what? You like me, don’t you?” Donald replied.

“No, I don’t like you. How many times do I have to spell it out for you?” Jennifer snapped.

She stood up and walked away, but Donald trailed after her. Watching her go, a lopsided grin on his face, he shook his head helplessly.

Unexpectedly, during lunch, Donald heard from a colleague that the department head had a private conversation with Jennifer earlier that day. Rumors were spreading among the staff that Jennifer might be transferring to another hospital, most likely Nareigh General Hospital. The smile on Donald’s face disappeared instantly, replaced by disbelief.

As Jennifer was preparing to leave work, Donald knocked on her office door. Having received permission to enter, he strode in hurriedly and asked, “Is it true? Are you really transferring? Everyone’s talking about it.”

Jennifer calmly removed her white coat and changed into her own clothes. “Yeah,” she replied.

Donald said anxiously, “Jennifer, how can you just leave like this? If you transfer, what am I supposed to do? You—”

“I told you there’s no future for us. How many times do I have to say it?” Jennifer cut him off coldly. “That night on your birthday, we were both drunk. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“But I did,” Donald said, his voice softening as he reached for her hand. “You invited me to dinner, bought me a cake, and even got me flowers. I thought you liked me. That’s why I kissed you. I want to be with you.”

Jennifer frowned. “It was your sister Cheryl who asked me to celebrate your birthday. I only agreed because of her.”

Disbelief etched itself onto Donald’s face. “Would you do something for someone else’s sake? Jennifer, you never care about anyone’s opinion.”

Jennifer took a deep breath. Looking at his warm, earnest eyes, she thought, ‘No, this has to end. I finally waited for Teresa to be ready to leave. Everything needs to come to a close now.’ Jennifer felt her feelings for Donald were absurd.

She said, “You know what? I come from a broken home. I don’t trust men, or love, or marriage. I don’t want to waste your time. You deserve better. Forget about me.”

Donald let out a bitter laugh. “Jennifer, you always push me away. Why?”

“You act so aloof, but deep down, it’s because you don’t believe you’re worthy of love,” Jennifer said. Her gaze turned icy. She clenched her fists tightly.

Donald seemed to see right through her defenses. His gaze was filled with both pain and helplessness.

He said, “You’re incredible, Jennifer, but you keep your heart locked away. I know it’s because you grew up without love from your family, and now you don’t believe anyone could truly love you.”

“Whatever,” Jennifer said, her throat tightening as she forced the words out. “Consider you’re right, but this is who I am—a cold, indifferent person. I don’t need love, and I’m not seeking it.”

“Is that so? You really don’t care? Fine then,” Donald replied.

The next moment, Donald said something that left Jennifer utterly stunned.

“Whatever. I’ll leave with you. Wherever you go, I’ll be right behind you, even if it’s out of Nareigh,” Donald said.

“Are you crazy?” Jennifer couldn’t help but lash out. She frowned and said, “I don’t need you to do this.”

Donald smiled faintly. “That’s just because I like you. Maybe I’ve fallen for you.”

Jennifer’s heart trembled violently. Emotions that had been rippling for so long suddenly surged into a storm, leaving her unable to calm down.

Jennifer almost said “okay,” but flashes of her childhood trauma and the guilt she felt toward Donald stopped her.

She said, “Don’t do this. What you like is just the version of me you see. The real me isn’t as great as you think.”

Donald replied, “Then show me the real you. I’ll love that version even more.”

Jennifer thought to herself, ‘No, you won’t.’ She knew that if Donald found out she had swapped Jonathan’s DNA test sample, he would be shocked, disappointed, and think of her as despicable and deceitful. She knew that Donald had placed her on a pedestal, imagining her to be perfect, pure, and noble. But after all the hardships she’d endured over the years, she couldn’t still be as innocent as a child. He simply didn’t understand her.

Jennifer steadied herself, maintaining her usual cold and distant demeanor.

She said, “I won’t change my pace for anyone. I hope you can find your own path.”

Donald claimed, “My path is following yours. Without you, life feels meaningless.”

Without waiting for her response, Donald leaned in and kissed her. His movements were clumsy and inexperienced as he forced her lips apart. Jennifer struggled but couldn’t break free. Finally, she slapped him hard across the face, snapping him back to reality.