After My Divorce, His Enemy Claimed Me.

Unexpected confession

(Sloane)

I walked back into the hospital, my mind still replaying Kieran's words over and over.

*I want you, Sloane. I've wanted you since the day I met you.*

I should have been shocked. I should have told him it was too soon, that I was still married, that I needed time.

But I didn't.

Because part of me had known. Part of me had felt it every time he looked at me, every time he stepped in to protect me from Vaughn, every time he said my name like it meant something.

I went straight to the locker room and changed back into my scrubs. I had a surgery in an hour, and I needed to focus. But my mind wouldn't let go of lunch.

The way Kieran had looked at me when he said it. Like he'd been holding it in for months and finally couldn't anymore.

The way his hand had felt when he reached across the table and took mine.

The way I hadn't wanted to pull away.

I splashed cold water on my face and stared at myself in the mirror.

What was I doing?

I was still married. Legally, at least. The divorce wasn't final. Vaughn was still calling me from random numbers, still cornering me in hallways, still acting like he had some kind of claim on me.

And here I was, thinking about Kieran Ashford.

The man who just told me he wanted me.

I dried my face and headed to the surgical floor. I needed to clear my head. Surgery always helped. When I was in the OR, nothing else mattered. Not Vaughn. Not the divorce. Not Kieran.

Just the patient and the work.

I scrubbed in and entered the operating room. My team was already prepped, the patient under anesthesia. An aortic dissection repair. High risk, technically demanding, and exactly the kind of surgery that required every ounce of my concentration.

Perfect.

For the next three hours, I lost myself in the surgery. Every incision, every stitch, every decision. The delicate work of repairing the tear in the aortic wall, replacing the damaged section with a synthetic graft, making sure blood flow was restored properly. It was the only place I felt completely in control.

When I finished and closed the patient up, I felt better. Calmer.

But the second I stepped out of the OR, reality came rushing back.

Kieran was standing in the hallway, waiting for me.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"Good. Patient's stable. The repair looks solid."

"That's good. Aortic dissections are tricky."

"They are."

We stood there for a moment, neither of us saying anything. The air felt different now. Charged.

"Sloane," he started, but I cut him off.

"Not here. Not now."

He nodded. "Later then."

"Maybe."

I walked past him toward the scrub room, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire way.

What was I supposed to say to him? That I felt it too? That I'd been thinking about him more than I should have been? That every time Vaughn tried to talk to me, I wished it was Kieran instead?

I couldn't say any of that. Not yet.

I changed out of my scrubs and grabbed my phone. Three missed calls from an unknown number. Vaughn.

I deleted the notifications and shoved my phone back in my locker.

I was done dealing with him today.

As I walked back to my office, I ran into Mara. She was coming out of the ER, looking exhausted.

"Hey," she said. "You okay? You look like you're thinking too hard."

"I'm fine."

"Sloane, come on. I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you."

I sighed. "It's complicated."

"Isn't it always?"

We walked together toward the cafeteria. I needed coffee. And maybe someone to talk to who wasn't involved in all of this.

We got our drinks and sat down at a table in the corner, away from everyone else.

"So," Mara said, taking a sip of her coffee. "What's going on?"

"Kieran told me he wants me."

She choked on her coffee. "What?"

"At lunch today. He said he's wanted me since the day he met me."

"Oh my God."

"Yeah."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. The waitress came back with our food, and the moment was gone."

Mara leaned back in her chair, staring at me. "Okay. So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Do you like him?"

I hesitated. "I don't know. Maybe. I mean, he's been really good to me since everything with Vaughn happened. He's protective, supportive, and he makes me feel like I'm not going through this alone."

"But?"

"But I'm still married. And people are already talking about us. If I start something with Kieran now, it's going to look like I was cheating on Vaughn with him."

"Who cares what people think?"

"I do. I've worked too hard to build my reputation here. I don't want people thinking I'm the kind of woman who jumps from one man to another."

Mara reached across the table and took my hand. "Sloane, you caught your husband cheating. You kicked him out. You filed for divorce. You didn't do anything wrong. If you want to move on with Kieran, that's your choice. And anyone who judges you for it can go to hell."

I smiled. "When did you get so wise?"

"I've always been wise. You just never listen to me."

We both laughed, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe.

"So," Mara said, leaning forward. "Are you going to tell Kieran how you feel?"

"I don't know how I feel yet."

"Yes, you do."

I looked at her, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Fine," I admitted. "I like him. I think. But it's too soon. I need time to figure out what I want."

"Then take your time. But don't wait too long. Men like Kieran don't stay single forever."

I thought about that as I finished my coffee. Mara was right. Kieran was successful, attractive, powerful. He could have any woman he wanted.

And for some reason, he wanted me.

The thought made my chest feel warm.

We finished our coffee and headed back to work. I had paperwork to catch up on, and Mara had another shift in the ER.

As I walked down the hallway toward my office, I saw Vaughn coming toward me from the opposite direction.

Great.

I kept walking, hoping he'd just pass by. But of course he didn't.

"Sloane," he said, stopping in front of me.

"Move."

"We need to talk."

"No, we don't."

"Yes, we do. You can't keep ignoring me."

"Watch me."

I tried to step around him, but he moved to block my path.

"I'm not signing the divorce papers," he said.

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not. You're my wife, Sloane. And I'm not letting you go that easily."

"You don't have a choice."

"Yes, I do. I can drag this out for months. Years, even. And there's nothing you can do about it."

I stared at him, my anger rising. "You're pathetic."

"I'm pathetic? You're the one who's already running to Kieran Ashford. How long have you been with him, Sloane? Did you start before or after you caught me?"

"I'm not with Kieran."

"Bullshit. I saw you leave with him at lunch. I know where you went."

My stomach turned. He'd been watching me.

"You need to get out of my way."

"Or what? You'll call security? Go ahead. I work here too. I have every right to be in this hallway."

He was right. And that made it worse.

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Is there a problem here?"

I turned to see Kieran walking toward us, his expression dark.

Vaughn's face turned red. "This is a private conversation, Ashford."

"It doesn't look private. It looks like harassment."

"I'm talking to my wife. That's not harassment."

"She clearly doesn't want to talk to you."

Vaughn took a step toward Kieran. "You think you can just take her from me? You think she's going to want you after she finds out what kind of man you really are?"

Kieran didn't flinch. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't you?"

There was something in Vaughn's voice that made me pause. Something that sounded like he knew something.

But Kieran just smiled. "If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, step aside and let Dr. Reid get back to work."

Vaughn glared at both of us. For a second, I thought he might actually throw a punch.

But then he stepped aside.

"This isn't over," he said, looking at me.

Then he walked away.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Kieran turned to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thank you. Again."

"He's getting worse."

"I know."

"You need to file a restraining order."

"I can't. We work at the same hospital. How would that even work?"

"We'll figure it out. But you need to document everything. Every time he corners you, every phone call, every text. Your lawyer will need it for the divorce."

"I will."

Kieran looked like he wanted to say something else, but he didn't. Instead, he just stood there, watching me.

"What did he mean?" I asked. "When he said I'd find out what kind of man you really are?"

Kieran's expression didn't change. "Vaughn's desperate. He'll say anything to get under your skin."

"Is there something I should know?"

"No."

But there was something in his eyes. Something I couldn't quite read.

"Okay," I said, even though I wasn't sure I believed him.

"Go home when your shift ends. Don't stay late. And call me if Vaughn bothers you again."

"I will."

He walked away, and I watched him go.

Part of me wanted to believe him. To trust that Vaughn was just making things up.

But another part of me wondered if there was more to Kieran than he was letting on.

I went to my office and closed the door. I had paperwork to finish, but I couldn't focus.

Kieran wanted me. Vaughn was losing his mind. And I was caught in the middle of something I didn't fully understand.

But one thing was clear.

My life was never going to be the same.

I pulled out my phone and texted Rebecca.

*Vaughn says he's not signing the papers. What do we do?*

She responded almost immediately.

*We force him. I'll file a motion. He can't stop the divorce, just delay it.*

*How long?*

*Could be a few months. Depends on the judge.*

I put my phone down and stared at the ceiling.

A few months. A few months of Vaughn harassing me, of people gossiping, of being stuck in limbo.

I didn't know if I could handle it.

But I didn't have a choice.

I finished my paperwork and left the hospital. The parking lot was dark, and I walked quickly to my car, looking around to make sure Vaughn wasn't following me.

He wasn't.

I got in my car, locked the doors, and drove home.

When I pulled into my driveway, I sat there for a moment, staring at my house.

It felt empty now. Lonely.

But it was mine. And that was enough.

For now.