57 Don't Ever Take What's Already Mine

Towards the end of the shift, Dr. Grace caught up with Jim at the cath lab while he was checking on echo images for preliminary readings. He simply took a quick glance at her and said a soft, "Hi."

"Are you done with it? "Dr. Grace asked while looking at the paper stacks in front of him.

"Almost." He turned to her shortly then proceeded back to the monitor.

"I can help."

"Thanks but I'll be over with this as soon as Jia will arrive."

"So, you're waiting for her? Jim, how about sparing her the trouble of picking you up. I can drop you off on my way home every after duty.

"Thanks but.. " He politely denied her offer.

"Jim, are you avoiding me? "She said straightforwardly while holding her gaze at him.

Jim hesitated. The question was such a surprise! " Why should I? "He lied, choosing not to hurt her. Or else, he thought, he might be inviting further trouble.

"Jim, I'll make it plain. I know you understood that I have been chasing you around eversince we knew each other." She did not blink nor feel awkward when she said this.

"Jim, what have you seen in her? She does not qualify at all.. Am I that difficult to accept? "

Jim stopped his scanning abruptly. What made this woman brave enough to say this shamelessly?

" And who gives the standard for you to weigh who's qualified or not?"

His eyes glowered as he turned to face her.

"It's about your reputation, Dr. Jim! Do you think you will be more proud of her when your elite society looks at her with contempt? "She stared back at her sardonically.

"I don't care about that reputation you seem to be so cautious about.Remember this, no one and nothing will stop me from whoever I

choose! " He slammed the papers on the table and quickly left.

Her eyes widened as she saw that he was angered. But this was not the time to retract. She had started fueling the fire, thus, she would proceed to lighting it!

She ran to caught up with up him and she caught him by the arm.

"I am sorry, Dr. Jim. It's because I... I love you! Forgive me for being so irrational..."

She no longer hesitated. Anyway, that woman must have flirted with him and it was more inconsiderable than telling him her feelings.

Jim paused for a while to shake off her hand and said, "I'm sorry! "

He took his strides faster until he reached the parking lot but Dr. Grace was running behind him. Finally, she caught him up when he stopped to wait for Jia to pull up.

Dr. Grace was sobbing already in frustration and rejection. She held onto his arm while gasping for breath.

"Jim, I deserved you better, can't you see? " She spoke in between her sobs.

She slowly lowered down her grasp in his arm and slid it down to his thigh as she slowly let herself fall down at his feet.

"Stand up! " He demanded. His eyes were already flaming in derision over her shameful act.

However, she did not move so he stooped down and pick her up. As cunning as she was, she got the chance this time. She quickly throw her arms around his neck and forcefully press her lips against his!

He quickly pushed her face away while holding on to her shoulders.

"Is this the reputation you are so proud of? You're stripping yourself from it! "

Jia found a vacant space so she decided to park in. She tried to call him up but he was not picking up. So she alighted from the driver's seat and decided to find him inside.

From afar, she saw someone familiar. Even if the lights were dim inside the parking lot, she knew she was not mistaken. It's him! And Dr. Grace was holding him..

She stopped and froze! She suddenly felt a pricking pain inside. Was Jim only lying when he claimed that he loved her? Were all those caring thoughts and display of his affection just a pretense?

Jim... am I going to lose you now?

She only realized his full worth now that somebody was threatening to take him away. Her heart was in a mess.. but no, she could not be wrong.

No! She was so sure he was not lying. What if this woman was just making her chasing advances on him? The first time she saw her, she was already uncomfortable with her.

If this woman was indeed a trouble-maker just as she predicted, then she would just not stand helpless in a corner!

With her courage and pain deep inside, she walked straight towards them. She composed herself and acted strong. This woman should not see the weakness she harbored deep inside or else she would intensify the battle against her.

"Sweetheart... " She called him 'sweerheart'. Just the same way he would exactly do in this kind of scene.

Startled and afraid she would misunderstood, he pushed Dr. Grace hardly that she stepped staggering backwards.

"Let's go. "Jia calmly said as she held onto Jim's arm. Her eyes were on her. Soft but unreadable.

As they walked ahead, she glanced over her back and said,

"Do not ever try to take what is already mine. "

Dr. Grace turned pale in anger and frustration. "I have never ever fail to get anything I want! Watch out."

Back in the car, she slid into the driver seat. She slammed into the acceleration pedal and drove swiftly out. Tears slid into her face and she quickly brushed it away. She was still panting due to her effort in supressing her emotion.

"Sweetheart. Let me drive. We're not joining in a race! " Jim placed his arm over her waist tenderly. Sooner or later, their car would tumble down if she would go on like this.

Having gathered her wits, she pulled to a stop at the side of the road. And then she bent her head on the steering wheel and cried her heart out!

"I'm sorry, Jim! I am never good at this.."

"You're not mad at me? "