Chapter 3

I dropped to my knees with a thud.

"Officers, the liquid in the bag is just alcohol. I accept the penalty! Confiscate the alcohol, lock me up afterward if you want!"

"But can you please let me board the plane first? I'm a doctor. The neighboring state hospital urgently needs me for surgery. They're already calling me!"

"If you don't let me board, it'll be too late!!"

The police officer's eyes changed.

He immediately picked up his radio. "Command center, verify the suspect's identity. If this is a misunderstanding, requesting assistance..."

Hearing this, Bella sat in a chair to the side, crossed her legs, and laughed outright.

"Officer, let me tell you the truth. She's not going to the neighboring state for any emergency surgery. She's fleeing to escape punishment."

The officer's hand tightened on the radio, his eyes instantly becoming sharp.

"Fleeing? Explain yourself!"

Bella's face showed mockery.

"Chloe just killed someone on the operating table yesterday. The family members are causing a scene at the hospital right now."

"The hospital issued a notice this morning—suspended pending investigation, medical license to be revoked."

"She's afraid of going to jail, so she made up an excuse to run away to another place and lay low."

After speaking, she covered her mouth with exaggerated surprise as she looked at me.

"Chloe, I didn't want to expose you. After all, we've been colleagues. Several friends even specifically asked me to represent them in seeing you off this time."

"But you can't use these kind officers' goodwill as a tool."

As she finished, the security team leader's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Is what she said true?"

Of course Bella was lying.

And it was the kind of outrageous lie that could destroy a doctor's entire career!

I stared hard at Bella's face, trembling with rage.

"Bella, I've always treated you well—helped you publish papers, shielded you from complaints. Why are you trying to destroy me like this?!"

The smile vanished from Bella's face instantly.

She suddenly leaned close to me, grinding her teeth as she spoke in a low voice.

"Treated me well?"

"Chloe, stop pretending to be a saint!"

"Last week when that rich kid from the VIP ward added me on Twitter, why did you confiscate my phone in front of the head nurse?"

"And you called me out at the morning meeting, saying I dressed provocatively and didn't meet medical staff standards?"

"You made me lose face, made me unable to hold my head up in front of those interns!"

She grew more agitated as she spoke, the malice in her eyes almost overflowing.

"You're the director, so what? You're an expert, big deal?"

"Today I'm going to make sure you can't leave!"

So the reason was this absurd.

Simply because I stopped her from flirting with a patient's family member in a sterile ward, simply because I wanted to maintain departmental discipline.

She was willing to sacrifice a seven-year-old child's life at this critical moment!

I laughed bitterly, about to retort.

The security team leader's sharp shout interrupted our confrontation.

He had obviously been influenced by Bella's words, looking at me with eyes full of scrutiny.

"Enough! If this involves medical malpractice and fleeing, the situation has changed."

"Confiscate her bag, detain her first, and notify the district police station and Health Bureau to pick her up."

Two female officers immediately stepped forward, gripping my shoulders from left and right.

At that moment, the clock on the wall jumped forward.

Six minutes left. The boarding gate was about to close!

I was losing my mind.

Because once the gate closed, even if I could prove my innocence, I wouldn't make this flight—the only one available.

And that child couldn't wait for the next flight!

"I'm not lying! I didn't kill anyone!"

I struggled desperately. "I have evidence! I have proof!"

"Let me get my phone! Please let me get my phone!"

The security team leader frowned, seemingly impatient with my resistance.

"Settle down! You'll get your chance to talk at the police station!"

"There's no time! It's a life at stake!"

Tears and mucus covered my face. I had completely lost the dignity of a chief physician.

"I need my phone! Let me look at my phone! Just one look!"

"If it's fake, you can shoot me right here!"