Chapter 2

I instantly opened my husband, Dr. Brandon Miller’s, SnapChat.

“Brandon Miller, get to the hospital. Chloe Davis is trying to suspend me.”

Chloe glanced at me, then burst into a shrill, mocking laugh. She grabbed the surgical plan I’d just laid down and, with a vicious tear, ripped it in two. My eyes narrowed, watching her arrogant display. That plan was for the mayor’s pre-op tomorrow. Brandon himself had emphasized its critical importance.

What truly baffled me was the reaction of the surrounding medical staff. Not only did no one intervene, but someone even eagerly offered her a paper shredder. My brow furrowed. Had I been away from the hospital for so long that Brandon's strict protocols had become utterly meaningless? No way. I knew him. He never compromised on patient safety.

Chloe savored my expression, a sneer on her face, and triumphantly scattered the shredded paper onto my face.

“What’s wrong, Dr. Hayes? Surprised?”

She sank into a nearby chair, idly playing with her manicured nails. “Your era is over,” she declared, her voice booming.

“Brandon said that effective today, the VIP wing is entirely under my command. As for you, you’re relegated to night shift nurse duty.”

The head nurse standing nearby immediately chimed in.

“Exactly! Dr. Davis is a specially approved international talent, brought in by the Director himself!”

“Some people occupy a Head of Department position for two years without doing any real work. How dare she show her face back here?”

It was clear. In the past two years, this hospital had lost its way.

I snatched a patient file she was about to pull away. “Chloe Davis, listen up. I am Brandon Miller’s legal wife, and a lifetime honorary professor at this hospital!”

“Professor?” She burst out laughing, turning to the bewildered crowd.

“Do you know how she got that professor title?”

She roughly tore down my specialist profile photo from the hallway display. “A glorified trophy wife who got her title by clinging to her Director husband? She thinks she can pull rank on me?!”

Chloe straightened her spine proudly. “I, on the other hand, am a Harvard Medical School Ph.D. personally mentored by Brandon! He used a special talent fund, dropped millions to poach me as a cardiothoracic specialist!”

Suddenly, she grabbed the instrument cart a nurse was pushing, sweeping my dedicated surgical instruments to the floor with a loud clang.

“Now, get on your knees and pick these up.”

“Are you insane?” I stared at the scattered precision instruments for heart surgery. “These are sterile…”

“Kneel! And! Pick!” She enunciated each word, her eyes gleaming with contempt and malice.

The people around us suddenly erupted.

“Kneel already! Why act so high and mighty?!”

“Does she really think she’s still the legendary heart surgeon? Dr. Davis has been carrying this department for the past two years!”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my skin.

“For the past five years, 87% of all heart transplant surgeries in this hospital were performed by me. That’s verifiable data.”

“Without those successful cases, this hospital would never have been accredited as a National Center of Excellence, let alone acquired the latest medical equipment.”

A young doctor I had personally mentored stepped forward. A warmth spread through me. Someone still remembered.

But the next second, he brutally stomped on my stethoscope, crushing it.

“Professor Hayes, don’t push your luck!”

“Dr. Davis is being merciful by telling you to kneel!”

“Exactly! Kneel! Now!”

The shouts around me grew louder and louder.

Just then, the fire exit door burst open.

I saw Brandon Miller’s figure, and a tiny sigh of relief escaped me. He arrived faster than I expected. Amid Chloe’s triumphant smirk, I looked at Brandon and said, “Brandon, Chloe said…”