Chapter 3

3

The next morning, when I arrived at the ward, Trevor was already sitting at my desk with a smug grin.

"Dr. Ward, you've been placed on administrative leave. Chief Hayes reassigned all your cases to me."

I stared at him with cold detachment.

"You're the ones who broke medical regulations. What does that have to do with me?"

Trevor chuckled and opened the digital surgical log on his monitor.

"Look closely, Dr. Ward. The lead surgeon on yesterday's record is clearly you. I was merely there to observe."

I stared at the screen, disbelief washing over me.

To frame me, Mallory had actually gone so far as to falsify the hospital's official records.

My jaw clenched as I took a step forward, and Trevor instantly let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his face and stumbling backward.

"Dr. Ward, why are you hitting me?"

Mallory, who had just reached the doorway, hurled the hot ceramic mug in her hand straight at my face.

"Gavin! How dare you lay a hand on him!"

"Apologize to Trevor right now!"

The nearby staff rushed over, staring at me in shock.

The scalding tea burned my left cheek, mixing with the blood dripping from the gash on my forehead.

The physical pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my chest.

Mallory didn't even glance at my injuries, fussing over Trevor instead, who didn't have a scratch on him.

"Your incompetence killed a patient and now you won't even own up to it? The record shows you were the lead surgeon! Stop dragging Trevor into your mess!"

How pathetic. This was the woman I had once loved with all my soul.

"Chief Hayes, if I'm so incompetent, how on earth did you get that promotion to department head in the first place?"

Her face flushed with rage, her eyes practically spitting fire.

She gritted her teeth. "Gavin! While I still have an ounce of patience left for you, you'd better back off!"

I gave a cold, dry smile.

"Talking about feelings now? Don't you think it's a bit too late? I already―"

"Enough!"

Chief Bennett stormed into the office, his face thunderous.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, making a scene in front of patients? Do none of you want your jobs anymore?"

Terrified of being fired, the surrounding staff scrambled out of the room.

Chief Bennett stared at Mallory and me for several long seconds before pointing an accusing finger at me.

"Dr. Ward, as the primary surgeon, your gross negligence led to the death of a patient. You are suspended pending an official investigation!"

"Once the investigation concludes, you will be terminated, and we will determine whether to press criminal charges."

I stared at Chief Bennett in sheer disbelief.

He knew better than anyone who had actually held the scalpel that night.

Before I could speak, Mallory and the rest of the department chimed in, praising the hospital's decision.

They claimed an unethical doctor like me belonged behind bars.

Trevor smirked, puffed up with triumph, and gestured toward the door.

"This isn't your office anymore, Dr. Ward. What are you still doing here?"

Mallory didn't stop him; instead, she reached out, ripped my ID badge from my coat, threw it onto the floor, and ground it beneath her heel.

I took one last, long look at my wife and the colleagues I had once treated with genuine care.

Then, numbly, I turned and walked away.