Forbidden Love [COMPLETED]

Chapter 4

Freen stood before the towering structure of Bangkok General Hospital, its vast wall of gleaming windows reflecting the morning sun in a way that always made her pause. The silver letters spelling out the hospital's name above the entrance shimmered with authority—bold, unshakable, like the institution itself. It was a fortress of healing, of discipline, of impossible expectations.

No matter how many times she walked through those glass doors, it still hit her. She worked here. Not just as any doctor, but as one of the best.

It hadn't been easy getting here. To stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest in the field. To be recognized, not just as good, but exceptional. She had come from nothing. No money. No luxuries. Not even the security of a stable home. Parents? Nonexistent. All she ever had was her grandmother. And that had been enough.

She had clawed her way through med school, juggling multiple jobs, barely affording food, surviving on sheer will. Every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every moment of doubt had been worth it. She had made it.

A car door slammed shut behind her, yanking her out of her thoughts.

"Ugh, why is it so bright out here?"

Nam, her best friend and the head of pediatrics, leaned against her car, oversized black sunglasses shielding her eyes.

"Probably because you didn't come home until two in the morning," Freen said, crossing her arms. Unlike Nam, she had stayed in last night and gotten a full eight hours of sleep.

They lived together—not because they couldn't afford separate apartments, but because somewhere along the way, they had become family. It wasn't just the two of them. Heng, Noey, and Kade completed their makeshift family. All doctors. All bonded by something deeper than blood.

"Even though you knew we had a morning shift," she added.

"Blah, blah, blah." Nam waved a hand dismissively. "Just because you're all work and no play doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer."

Freen didn't bother responding. She just started walking toward the hospital. Nam groaned but followed.

It wasn't that Freen wasn't interested in relationships. She just hadn't found anyone worth the effort. She had, once. It hadn't ended well. And she refused to put her heart on the line again. When she cared about something, she gave it her all. She never did anything half-heartedly. If she ever let someone in, they would get all of her.

That had all changed the night she met Becky.

Nam had practically dragged her to that bar, insisting she needed a break. Freen had gone just to shut her up. And then, she had met Becky. And everything shifted.

The butterflies. The emotions she thought she had buried. It all came rushing back.

"Freen, hey!"

A familiar voice called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

A tall brunette shut her car door and walked toward them.

"Hi, Nita," Freen said, offering a polite smile. She could feel Nam's eyes burning into the back of her head.

Nita brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I haven't seen you in a while. Want to grab dinner later?"

Freen's smile faltered. "Oh. I actually have plans tonight. Rain check?"

"Sure thing." Nita grinned. "Well, I better get inside. Being chief is no easy job. For future reference." She shot Freen a wink before heading toward the hospital.

The moment she was out of earshot, Nam let out a low whistle.

"Since when do you have plans on a Wednesday night? You, Freen Sarocha Chankimha, never make plans on a workday. You could easily go on a date with the chief and secure your position as the next one in line. No more competition with little Richard Armstrong."