The first thing you lose isn’t your vision. It’s your rhythm. I’m standing in the middle of the St. Jude’s gala, and my heart is skipping beats like a broken clock. Suddenly, it feels like I’m breathing through a cocktail straw. The world begins to tilt. I try to catch the edge of a table, but my hand slides off, taking a tray of crystal glasses with me.

"Someone help her! She’s not breathing!"

Then, I hear the boots. Heavy, confident, and rhythmic. The crowd parts, and a shadow falls over me. The voice hits me like a physical blow—the voice of the man who beat me for valedictorian and stole the Chief Residency I worked myself to the bone for. Dr. Liam Thorne.

He drops to his knees beside me. "Anaphylaxis," he mutters, his fingers flying to my pulse point. "Liam..." I wheeze. It’s a pathetic, broken sound.

"Liam, you can't do a cricothyrotomy with a pen!" someone gasps.

"I’m not losing her to a lack of equipment," Liam roars. He looks me right in the eye. "June. I need you to stay with me. You are not allowed to die before I get my rematch. Fight me, June!"

I feel the cold metal of the pen tip against my skin. "Forgive me for this," he whispers. Then, there is a sharp pop. And suddenly... a rush of cold, sweet, glorious air. Liam stays hovering over me, his forehead dropping to touch mine. "Breathe for me, June. Just keep breathing."

🫁 "Breathe for me, June..." 🥺 Who else is swooning over Liam dropping his rivalry to save her life? Let us know if you think the Chief Residency is still the only thing standing between them! 💬 Hit that ❤️ if you're ready for them to call a truce, and share this dramatic premiere with a romance-loving friend. 🖤 #RomanticAudioClub