Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever-Chapter 96 Public Apology

SOPHIA’S POV

Lance stared at his bandaged hands for what felt like hours.

Finally, he looked up at me. "I’m going to do the surgery."

My heart stopped. "Lance, you don’t have to-"

"I know I don’t have to," he said calmly. "That’s why I’m choosing to. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do."

"But your hands-"

"Will either hold up or they won’t." He gave me a sad smile. "The surgeons here say I have about a seventy percent chance of getting through the operation without permanent damage. Those are decent odds."

"Seventy percent isn’t a guarantee," I said. "What if you’re in that other thirty percent? What if this destroys what’s left of your career?"

"Then at least I’ll know I tried to save a life instead of letting someone die out of spite. I became a doctor to help people, Sophia, all people. Even the ones related to men who hurt me."

Tears burned in my eyes. "You’re too good for this world."

"No, I’m just trying to be the person I want to be instead of the person Simon tried to turn me into." He reached out with one bandaged hand, and I took it gently. "But I need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Don’t let this affect you anymore. Don’t let it interfere with your doctoral program or your work. Don’t carry guilt over my choices." He squeezed my hand "I’m doing this for me, not for you or Damien or anyone else. This is my decision and my responsibility."

"Lance-"

"Promise me, Sophia."

I nodded. I couldn’t even speak past the lump in my throat.

"Good." He leaned back against his pillows "Now stop looking at me like I’m going to my execution. I’m actually pretty good at brain surgery, you know. Mrs. Stone is in excellent hands. Well, slightly broken but healing hands."

The joke was so unexpected that I actually laughed "That’s not funny."

"It’s a little funny," Lance said with a grin.

I shook my head "You’re ridiculous."

"I prefer ’charmingly optimistic in the face of adversity.’" Lance squeezed my hand again. "Now get out of here. You’ve got things to do."

"You’re sure about this?"

"I’m sure."

I stood up, gathering the now-empty food containers. My wolf was still uneasy. She was worried for this kind man who’d shown me nothing but support. But Lance had made his choice, and I had to respect it.

I was almost at the door when a familiar scent hit me. My wolf immediately went on alert.

I opened the door and nearly walked straight into Damien.

He was leaning against the wall across from Lance’s room with his arms crossed. His wolf’s presence was strong enough that other people walking by gave him space without knowing why.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, keeping my voice low so Lance wouldn’t hear.

"I came to see if the rumors were true," Damien said quietly. "That Lance agreed to do the surgery."

"You were listening?" my blood boiled with anger. "You were eavesdropping on a private conversation?"

"The door was open. I couldn’t help but hear." His eyes searched my face. "He’s really doing it?"

I didn’t want to make a scene. So, I moved past Damien, heading toward the elevator. "Move-”

"Wait." Damien followed me "There must be something he wants."

I stopped and turned to face him. I felt my wolf pushing at my control. "You want to give Lance something? Fine. Here’s what he deserves."

Damien raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Simon apologizes publicly....i front of the entire medical community." I stepped closer to him. "He admits what he did—the lies, the vandalism, the attack. He clears Lance’s name and restores his reputation."

Damien’s jaw tightened. "Simon won’t agree to that."

"Then I guess Simon doesn’t care that much about his mother." I turned back toward the elevator.

"Sophia-"

"Those are the terms, Damien. Lance is risking his barely-healed hands to save a woman whose son tried to cripple him. The least Simon can do is admit what he did and apologize." I pressed the elevator button. "And if you can’t make that happen, then what kind of alpha are you?"

Damien’s eyes flashed gold.

"Simon has pride," he said carefully. "A public apology would humiliate him in front of the pack."

"Good. Maybe he’ll learn something about consequences."

"It’s not that simple-"

"Yes, it is!" I raised my voice. "Simon destroyed a man’s life for fun yet Lance still wants to save. The least Simon can do is say he’s sorry."

The elevator dinged. The doors opened. I stepped inside and turned to face Damien.

"Make it happen," I said.

The doors started to close. At the last second, Damien’s hand shot out, stopping them.

"Fine," he said. "I’ll talk to Simon”

"Good."

The doors closed

-

Two days later, I was doing rounds at Moonstone Hospital when my phone buzzed with a news alert.

Simon Jones Issues Public Apology to Dr. Lance Chen

I opened the article. There was a photo of Simon standing at a podium, looking embarrassed. Damien stood close to him.

The statement was everything I’d asked for. Simon admitted to spreading false information about Lance’s professional conduct. He admitted to arranging the vandalism of Lance’s property.

He apologized for the harm caused to Lance’s reputation and career. He promised to fix the damages and he stated clearly that all previous allegations against Dr. Lance Chen were false.

It wasn’t perfect but it was enough.

My phone rang. It was Lance.

"Did you see?" I asked immediately.

"I saw." He sounded relieved. "The hospital board just called. They’re reviewing my case and will likely reinstate me within the week. The medical board is dropping their investigation based on Simon’s statement."

"That’s wonderful!" tears burned my eyes. "Lance, I’m so happy for you."

"It’s because of you," he said softly. "You fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself."

"You fought for me too."

"How did the surgery go?" I asked, though I’d been checking the news obsessively for updates.

"Successfully. Mrs. Stone came through without complications. She’s in recovery now, and the prognosis is good." Lance paused. "Simon actually came to see me afterward. He didn’t say much, just... nodded. I think that was his way of saying thank you."

"That’s more than I expected from him." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Me too." Lance was quiet for a moment. "Sophia, I’m coming back to Moonstone Hospital. The director called and offered me my old position back, plus a raise as an apology for the suspension."

I sighed in relief. My wolf wagged her tail happily inside me.

I smiled widely "So, you’ll be close by again."

"Hell yeah."

We talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. I stood in the hospital hallway and my heart felt lighter than it had in months.

Lance was safe. His reputation was restored. Simon had been forced to face consequences for his actions. And I had stood up to Damien and won.

For the first time in years, I felt like maybe - just maybe - things were starting to go my way.