After being banned by my biological father, I started a new lifeChapter 1

I studied for eight years. Eight years to finally land a spot at my father's hospital.

But on my first day, the HR staff frowned at her screen and said there'd been a mistake. The position wasn't mine after all—it had gone to my father's star student, Chloe Dawson.

I left in a daze, convinced I'd somehow failed him. That I wasn't good enough.

Then I overheard two senior residents talking in the hallway.

"Did you hear? Professor Gilbert pulled strings to give his daughter's slot to Chloe Dawson. His own kid, and he just—handed it over."

I whipped around. "That's ridiculous. My father has always been fair. Chloe must have outscored me."

The senior gave me a long look, then sighed and pressed a crumpled transcript into my hands.

"Found this in your dad's trash. Your combined interview and written scores were forty-eight points higher than hers."

I stared at the paper. My name sat at the top—crossed out with a thick red X. Below it, in my father's unmistakable handwriting:

"To avoid conflict of interest, this candidate will never be hired."

Never.

My hands started shaking.