"No need." Leanne's voice was slightly nasal as she spoke, "I've already submitted my resignation."
The Dean felt a wave of relief washed over him. Having Dr. Curtis with unparalleled status leave the hospital might not be such a bad thing after all. It would save them the trouble of constantly having to appease him.
He offered a half-hearted consolation, "We'll definitely consider disciplinary action for Sandra's case and bring you justice. Please don't resign on a whim. You're one of our most promising ophthalmologists. Losing you would be a huge loss for our hospital."
Leanne didn't bite. She neatly folded her lab coat, placed her ID badge on top, and handed them over to him.
Her resolve was clear.
The Dean reached out to take them, attempting to put on a show of concern, but Curtis didn't give him the chance, swiftly closing the car door behind him.
Standing with his back to the car window, Curtis' tall frame blocked Leanne's view.
She couldn't hear what Curtis said to the Dean, only catching a glimpse of his aged and wrinkled face, now a shade of iron grey, as Curtis walked away from the car and got in on the other side. Back at Leanne's Castle, Curtis escorted her to the bedroom, "Go take a shower."
Leanne's sleeves had gathered dust from the windowsill. After showering and changing, she emerged not finding Curtis around.
Had he left again?
She shuffled out of the bedroom, her slippers scuffing the floor, her cat trailing behind.
The dining table was set with a feast of steaming dishes such as braised beef in red wine, lemon-seared salmon, a mixed vegetable dish and a small plate of minced meat cooked especially for the cat. Curtis was just bringing the final touch, a fig and prosciutto salad, to the table. He chuckled upon seeing her, "Got a nose for good food, huh?"
Leanne approached, saying, "I was afraid you'd left again."
Her eyes were slightly swollen from crying too hard, her nose tinged red, and her hair hastily dried so that dampness lingered, giving her a pitiful look.
"I won't leave."
Curtis fetched a hairdryer, asking her to sit while he personally dried her hair, then joined her for dinner.
Leanne had been eating poorly these past days, hardly touching her food. After dinner, Curtis held her on the couch. Fiddling with her slender fingers, Curtis asked, "What are your plans after resigning?" "I'm thinking of going for my PhD." Leanne leaned into him.
She had always toyed with the idea, especially during college when she was eager to break away from the Richardson family and stand on her own. But her plans were delayed when Curtis fell into depression just as she was finishing her master's degree.
Now, with both time and resources at her disposal, she felt free to pursue whatever she wanted.
"Which school are you considering, Dr. Castillo?"
Leanne hadn't thought that far ahead, her resignation being a rather spontaneous decision. She was likely to aim for one of the top institutions in Emberland Country.
"Definitely not Brightwood University," she mused, watching Curtis play with her fingers, their elegance reminiscent of fine fan bones.
Curtis chuckled, soothingly saying, "Then we won't consider it. There are plenty of better schools out there."
The well-fed cat jumped up, finding a comfortable spot to settle down as the couple's casual conversation faded into silence.
A gentle glow enveloped them, quietly and tenderly embracing each other.
They both tacitly avoided mentioning that incident.
As if, even on the brink of the world's end, they wished to spend this day, peacefully and lovingly, together.
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