Chapter 3

Brianna

The truth was, my teammates' anger wasn't hard to understand. Compared to the other medical students who'd applied, I was woefully short on experience.

Ronaldode's football team was elite—one of the best in the state, arguably in the entire country. After Cole became its captain, the team's popularity soared to a whole new peak. That meant they had to keep their bodies in flawless condition at all times. They would never tolerate some fledgling as their team physician. They owed it to themselves, to the glory of their team, and above all to the fans who stood behind them.

But thank God—whatever the reason—Cole had hired me. And I was determined to do the job well.

The onboarding went smoothly, and I even received a probationary salary specially approved by Holden. It was just enough to cover my mother's hospital bill for the month.

Yet when I rushed to her ward, her ventilator had already been switched off. My father sat slumped to one side. Nurses crowded the room.

I shoved through them, desperate to throw myself at my mother's side—but a pair of hands seized me firmly. The head nurse. As cutting as ever.

"Brianna Hill, I made myself perfectly clear. No money, get out."

"We have other patients here who need treatment."

I held up the card in my hand, right in front of her face. "I have money."

But somehow, even though I clearly had enough to pay, the laughter around me only grew louder.

I recognized the intern leading them—Kate, a third-year medical student. Just moments ago she'd also interviewed to be the football team's physician. Rumor had it she idolized Cole; she'd founded his fan club at school and ruthlessly kept the other girls away from him. Once she learned the team was choosing a physician, she'd thrown herself at the chance—only to be passed over.

Kate looked at the card in my hand and sneered. "A Caesar family card? You're the physician Cole picked?"

I gave a small nod.

The head nurse stared at me in disbelief. "You? You're telling me Kate wasn't chosen, and Cole picked you—some rookie fresh out of high school?"

Kate laughed coldly. "Oh, please. I've seen plenty of vain little liars like you. Anything to stay in the hospital—so you claim Cole chose you and forge a card! I'll have you know I'm the president of Cole's fan club. I know exactly what kind of person he'd pick. And someone like you—if you can't pay, then get out and stop hogging our resources."

I met her eyes and said coolly, "Swipe it. Then you'll know."

My firm tone froze the contemptuous smile on the head nurse's face. Everyone knew Cole Caesar's temper and his background. If I really was his newly chosen physician, they couldn't afford to cross me.

Kate hesitated too. Stammering, she stepped forward and took my card. But the very next second, the machine chimed: payment declined.

Instantly her face twisted with disgust. She threw the card down at my feet.

"You clearly have no idea what happens to someone who impersonates the physician of Cole's team. He despises phonies like you!"

The head nurse stood beside her, glaring at me. "I'm going to tell Cole we caught someone forging a Caesar family card. He's bound to reward me for it—maybe even a big commission!"

The words had barely left her mouth when Cole's voice came from behind me.

"Who forged a Caesar family card?"

Cole?

How was he here?

Before I could react, Kate's ecstatic shriek tore through the entire ward—joined by screams from the other rooms. Cole was simply that famous.

"It's Cole Caesar!"

"It's really him!"

The screaming rolled through the ward in waves, until my head throbbed. Men and women alike went wild at his arrival. After all, Cole was the captain of the state's star football team. Because of him, they'd taken the national collegiate championship last year. Before Cole, the team had never once made the tournament shortlist—let alone represented the state in the college football league. His arrival was the great fortune of the entire Ronaldode team, and the pride of the whole state.

So when Cole walked in, chaos erupted. The head nurse—who should have been the one restoring order—was instead striking a pose, angling for an autograph.

I tried to intervene, but the next moment a man slammed into me and I toppled backward, straight into Cole's chest. It was hard as a wall; the impact left me dizzy. As I began to fall back, Cole's powerful hands caught me by the waist and pulled me against him.

He lowered his head and murmured into my ear. "Steady."

Maybe it was the dizziness—but his voice was too sexy, and my knees went weak. I stumbled, and Kate caught the whole scene.

She surged through the crowd and wedged herself between us. "Cole, that's her! She forged the card!"

Every eye in the room swung to me. Their scrutinizing gazes crawled over me, and I squirmed under them.

The head nurse chimed in from the side. "Yes, yes, exactly! It's her! I'm the one who caught her first!"

Cole glanced at the head nurse, then at Kate. "You're saying she forged my card?"

His voice carried such authority that the clamoring ward fell silent at once.

Kate sidled up beside him, a flush rising unbidden to her cheeks. "Cole, it's her! I'm the one who found out!" Then she turned to me, her eyes vicious. "You're finished."

At her words, I instinctively took a step back—but Cole yanked me forcefully to him again.

He looked down at Kate. "Kate, Brianna is my physician. I gave her that card. The payment failed because I've already arranged to transfer her mother to another hospital. I'll be covering all of her treatment from here on."

Kate stared at him, stunned. "Wh—what?"

She couldn't believe her ears, and the look she shot me brimmed with resentment and shock. Then came the roar.

"Cole! Have you lost your mind? Does she have the experience? The skill? She just graduated high school! I'm a third-year medical student—and the president of your fan club!"

Cole looked at her, irritation flickering in his eyes, though he kept his tone as gentle as he could. "Kate, I make my own choices."

"Cole! I can't accept this! Why? What can she even do? Tell me! I'm an intern at Radiance Hospital—you know how hard that position is to earn!"

Cole gave an easy nod, put some distance between himself and Kate, then leaned in close to me. He seemed to be breathing in my scent, searching for something. Then he straightened. The irritation in his eyes vanished, replaced by a strange calm.

"Kate, I don't think your position gives you the standing to question my choices."

Kate opened her mouth, then only ground her teeth and glared at me.

Just then a rough male voice came from the doorway—the teammate who'd stormed out that afternoon. The moment he saw me, his eyes filled with fury. He planted himself behind Kate.

"Cole, I won't accept some rookie as our physician! Kate is obviously the right person! If you insist on this rookie, then I say we disband the team right here!"

"That's right!"

In an instant, every member of the Ronaldode team crowded into the ward, all of them lining up behind Kate.

Kate looked at me, triumph in her eyes—the posture of a victor.

Cole stood in front of me, his gaze unwavering. "Are you sure about this?"

They clearly hadn't expected that answer. Two of the younger players shook their heads faintly. It was plain they'd only meant to pressure Cole into swapping me out for someone they trusted more. Everyone knew the Ronaldode team owed everything to Cole. Put bluntly, he could drag a team of rookies onto the tournament roster. Without him, they were nothing.

But once a team tastes success, there's always someone who believes he's the one who really turned the tide. Someone like Jess.

"Cole! I'll give you one last chance—make Kate the physician! Otherwise, as vice-captain, I walk. Right now."

Cole nodded at Jess, as if approving. "Fine. Go ahead. Anyone else leaving?"

A restless murmur ran through the team. Kate's eyes gleamed with smug calculation. She looked at me and mouthed the words: Serves you right.

The players were on the verge of walking out. Then Cole suddenly turned to me with a cold smile.

"How long do you plan to keep hiding, doctor?"