Chapter 3

Today was my shift. But as soon as I entered the hospital, people were pointing and whispering about me.

Even some patients looked at me strangely.

I was puzzled. When I opened the office door, I found the deputy director standing there with a grim expression.

Next to him was someone I never expected to see - Lucas!

"...Uncle Lucas?" How could he be here? Before I could react, the deputy director walked towards me.

"Aria Collins, you've disappointed me greatly!"

"Why did you remove the patient's entire stomach and install an artificial one during gastric surgery? Don't you know the patient died from infection after the artificial stomach replacement?!"

I was stunned, frozen in place.

"Deputy Director, this is my fault. I couldn't change Aria's decision,"

Wendy spoke up before I could respond.

"Aria is still young and didn't know the consequences of her actions. As her family and superior, I'm willing to apologize to the deceased's family with Aria and take responsibility!"

Wendy bowed to the deputy director, her face full of remorse.

I stared at Wendy in disbelief.

How could she lie so convincingly? It wasn't me at all!

"Deputy Director, removing the patient's stomach and installing an artificial one wasn't my decision or my surgery!"

The injustice overwhelmed me as I choked out,

"It was Dr. Johnson who pushed me aside and performed the surgery following Wendy's instructions. I didn't even touch the patient!"

"What nonsense are you saying?!" Dr. Johnson spoke up to refute me, but I didn't miss the flicker of evasion in his eyes.

"Dr. Sinclair clearly called your name to perform the surgery. I saw it all. How can you make up such lies?"

My blood ran cold as realization dawned. So that's how it was...

This Dr. Johnson didn't actually have the skills to perform surgery, but Wendy called him in to do it.

No wonder he was allowed in the operating room. They had conspired together!

"Aria Collins, this is a serious violation of protocol!" The deputy director grew even more severe.

His gaze towards me became increasingly fierce.

"I didn't do it!" I insisted firmly. "I swear on my integrity and career that I raised objections before the incident."

"But Wendy didn't listen to me at all. Deputy Director, you can't trust Wendy's one-sided account!"

"Then can you prove what you're saying now? Do you have any evidence?!" The deputy director roared.

That angry shout left me stunned once again.

That's right... Wendy had turned off the surveillance cameras in the operating room before the surgery...

There was no way to prove what really happened. I was helpless to defend myself.

"Enough!" The deputy director waved his hand, the anger on his face undiminished.

"Dr. Sinclair, you must take Aria Collins to apologize to the deceased's family and discuss compensation!"

The deputy director turned and left, not giving me any chance to explain.

I turned to find Lucas looking at me, his eyes filled with unconcealed disappointment and contempt.

It made my blood run cold all over again.