Chapter 3

I put on a stern face and adopted a businesslike attitude.

"As her attending physician, I'm only responsible for treating and saving patients. I have no obligation to help her raise money for surgery."

But Pedro didn't take my words to heart.

He waved his hand impatiently.

"You want to buy a house, Lydia wants to sell a house. It's a win-win situation. Why are you making such a fuss? You even insist she list with an agency."

"You're just petty, always scheming against your own people."

Watching his complaining expression, I was dazed for a moment.

In my previous life when Lydia complained about me, he had the same impatient look.

"I've known Lydia for over ten years. She never lies. You should just admit it."

"Apologize to Lydia and give her back the house. Consider the purchase money as compensation for her, and she'll definitely forgive you."

"Sacrificing a little benefit is better than losing your job."

He defended Lydia at every turn and never believed me even a little.

A surge of impulse rose in my chest, and I couldn't help but speak.

"Pedro, let's break..."

But before I could finish, Pedro pulled out a set of keys from behind and showed them off to me.

"Good thing Lydia said she wanted to surprise you and already transferred the house to me, otherwise you would have lost your house!"

He casually tossed the keys on my desk without another glance at me, instead urging me to transfer the money quickly.

All color drained from my face.

My mouth opened and closed several times before I finally found my voice, asking Pedro with a trembling voice.

"You bought Lydia's house?"

Pedro nodded nonchalantly.

I quickly threw the keys back.

"I don't want this house. Since you love being charitable, you keep it and live there!"

Pedro's face turned from green to white.

After a long pause, he squeezed out a sentence.

"We're going to get married eventually. Can't we just use it as our wedding house? Besides, I'm just helping a friend. Can you not be so petty?"

"Hurry up and transfer the money to Lydia. Don't delay her surgery!"

I didn't speak for a long time.

Lydia dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud, raising her voice.

"Dr. Betty, please give me the money! I'm waiting for this money to save my life!"

"You can look down on my house, but you can't refuse to pay after the house has been transferred! I'm waiting for this money for surgery!"

Pedro chimed in, every word implying I was untrustworthy and unrighteous.

The patients who had been waiting outside the door heard this and began accusing me one after another.

"I don't dare let a doctor without basic human morality treat me. Who knows if she'll also try to take my money?"

"Exactly. She can refuse to pay now. Who knows if next time, if we ask too many questions, she might deliberately prescribe the wrong medicine and kill us!"

"With this kind of doctor in the hospital, I don't dare come here for treatment anymore! Who knows if the hospital will cover for her too!"

As soon as this was said, the commotion grew louder, demanding the hospital fire me.

The smile on Lydia's face gradually became smug.

She held her phone in front of me, chin slightly raised, signaling me to pay.

I straightened my clothes and calmly opened the recording on my phone.

"From beginning to end, I never agreed to your request to buy the house, nor did I say I would buy it. Why should I pay?"

"Just because your family is poor doesn't mean you can morally blackmail people here, right? If everyone else follows your example, wouldn't I have to buy everyone's house?"

The noisy hallway suddenly fell silent.