Chapter 1

Tags: Hidden Surgery Schedule, Stealing the Lead Surgeon Spot, Scheming Golden Boy, Instant Karma

When the hospital director's mother was admitted in critical condition, my wife intentionally hid the surgery schedule from me just so her golden boy could steal the spotlight.

When I finally rushed over, the director barred me from the OR, screaming that I had no medical ethics.

Seeing right through my wife's petty scheme, I handed the lead surgeon badge to her darling boy without hesitation.

"Since you're so eager to shine, make sure you put on a good show."

The nurses whispered, begging me not to act on impulse, reminding me that this was the golden ticket to impress the top brass.

None of them knew that in the entire country, I was the only cardiothoracic specialist capable of performing this rare valve repair.

Even if that rookie pumped the patient full of emergency stimulants to create a fake rebound, without my diagnosis and surgical technique, the procedure was doomed to fail. A catastrophic malpractice suit was waiting for him.

And my wife's blind loyalty would soon cost her everything.

The hospital director's mother needed emergency open-heart surgery.

Yet thirty minutes before the scheduled time, my wife, Chloe, who was also my surgical assistant, called me. She claimed there was an error in the patient's chart and that the director needed me in his office immediately to discuss sudden complications.

I waited in his office for nearly an hour, but she never showed up.

Growing uneasy, I hurried toward the OR to check on the situation, only to find Director Vance pacing outside, his face dark with fury.

The second he saw me, he stormed over and grabbed me by the collar.

"I trusted you with my mother's life! And this is how you repay me? You're the lead surgeon, yet you show up an hour late like it's nothing! Where the hell is your medical ethics?"

I froze in shock. Just then, the OR doors slid open, and Chloe stepped out.

Our eyes met. Instead of guilt, she put on a look of sheer disbelief and turned on me, her tone dripping with accusation.

"Ethan, where on earth have you been?"

"The scheduled time came, and nobody could find you! We were worried sick! How could you just forget a surgery this critical?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

What did she just say? Forget?

Wasn't she the one who sent me to the director's office in the first place?

I opened my mouth to explain, but Chloe cut me off sharply.

"You're careless at home, fine! But mixing up surgery times when nobody's holding your hand? How can you even call yourself a surgeon?"

"Thank God Austin was on standby. He stepped in and took over for you. This procedure couldn't afford a single second of delay, let alone whatever careless mistake you would've made."

I stood there, feeling the cold reality sink in.

All that running around... this was her endgame all along.

Everyone in the hospital knew the patient's identity. Everyone knew saving the director's mother was a one-way ticket to a promotion.

Every surgeon and resident had been fighting tooth and nail for the spot.

Yet Director Vance had personally handpicked me.

I still remembered the day the surgical team was announced. Chloe had sneered at me in disgust.

"Aren't you being selfish? Can't you leave a few opportunities for the new guys?"

"You always claim you don't care about climbing the ladder, yet you grab every chance you get. You're such a hypocrite."

Back then, I didn't realize who she meant by 'the new guy.'

Now, the truth was staring me right in the face.

Chloe had deliberately lied to me about the meeting and made me miss the operation, all so Austin could take my credit and play the hero.

Just then, the double doors swung open, and Austin walked out, pulling off his surgical mask.

Director Vance shot me a venomous glare before rushing over to him. "How is she?"

"The surgery was a complete success, Director. Your mother is out of danger," Austin said with a modest smile. "We'll transfer her to the general ward for a week of observation. If all goes well, she'll be discharged soon."

After giving his update, Austin walked up to me, eyes brimming with false pity.

"Dr. Miller, were you held up by something personal? Still, with a high-stakes case like this, you really shouldn't have been so reckless."

I stared at his smug face in icy silence.

Why hadn't I made it on time? Did he really think I didn't know?

Austin turned back to Director Vance, looking appropriately bashful.

"I only stepped in because it was an emergency and I didn't want the patient to wait. I violated protocol by leading the surgery as a mere resident. Normally, someone with my credentials wouldn't even be allowed in the room."

Chloe stepped beside him, completely disregarding my presence as she gently stroked his arm.

"You did the right thing, Austin. When a life is on the line, ranks don't matter. A dedicated doctor is what makes a true healer."