After I left the obstetrics and gynecology department, I went to the cardiovascular department on the twelfth floor.

My mother lay in the hospital bed with a pale face. She was scheduled for a heart valve replacement surgery the day after the next.

“Jensen, the doctor said the surgery has some risks, and I keep feeling uneasy about it,” she said in a worried voice as she held my hand.

“Mom, do not be afraid. The cardio surgery department in this hospital is top‑notch in Jimmyville. The surgeon is very skilled.”

The ward door opened while I spoke. Chelsea walked in with the smart tablet she used for ward rounds.

I was not surprised to see her. Chelsea’s research direction in college had been cardiovascular.

When I ran into her in the corridor earlier, I had guessed that she must be working in this hospital’s cardio surgery department.

My mother paused when she saw Chelsea. “Chelsea? It is really you.”

Chelsea’s tone was gentle. “Madam Scott, it is me. I read your case. I will be the surgeon for your operation the day after the next. Do not worry.”

My mother became excited at once.

When I dated Chelsea, my mother treated her like her own daughter. Every time Chelsea visited our home, my mother prepared a full table of dishes she liked. She even prepared the golden bracelet passed down from my grandmother because she hoped we would get married. Later, when I suddenly broke up with Chelsea, my mother could not believe it and asked many questions. I did not want to upset her, so I only said we were incompatible and never mentioned the infidelity.

My mother glanced between Chelsea and me, unsure of what to say.

“Mom, rest first. I will go out with Dr. Stone to confirm the surgery details.” I stood up and cut off her thoughts.

“I am sorry for what happened three years ago.” Chelsea spoke first as the door closed. “I made a mistake. These past few years…”

I interrupted her in a cold voice. “I called you out not to hear your confession.”

Chelsea frowned.

“My mother’s surgery is the day after the next. I do not care what kind of person you were three years ago. I only hope you will not bring any personal grudges onto the operating table. If anything happens to my mother, I will not spare you.”

Chelsea’s face darkened, as if my attitude stung her.

“Jensen, I am a professional doctor,” she said through gritted teeth.

“You better be.” I turned and opened the door. A white male nurse’s uniform flashed past the corner of the hallway.

The next morning, I went downstairs to buy my mother a bowl of soup.

When I reached the ward door, I heard a man’s laughter inside. “Madam Scott, have some water. I checked the temperature. It is just right.”

My heart tightened. I pushed the door open.

Adam sat beside my mother’s bed with an innocent smile.

I panicked and rushed over to snatch the water glass from his hand. “Adam, what are you doing here? Get out.”

My mother jumped at my reaction and grabbed my arm. “Jensen, why are you so angry? This nurse is very nice. He was chatting with me. What a sweet guy.”

I stared at Adam with a cold voice. “What are you trying to do?”

Adam chuckled, then turned to my mother. “Madam Scott, it is understandable that Jensen is angry with me. You do not know, do you? Jensen broke up with Chelsea because Chelsea got together with me. Jensen caught us red‑handed. We were in his rental house, naked on the bed…”

“Shut up!” I lunged at him and tried to cover his mouth, but it was too late.

My mother’s eyes turned bloodshot. She could not take it. Her mouth opened and closed, but only hoarse gasps came out.

“Mom!” I spun around and saw her collapse onto the hospital bed with her eyes rolled back.

“Doctor! Help! Doctor!”

My fierce screaming echoed through the corridor.

Less than half a minute later, Chelsea rushed in with a group of medical staff. Her expression changed when she saw my unconscious mother on the bed. She made a quick decision.

“Defibrillator. Administer epinephrine. Family members, step aside.”

I stepped back and stood against the wall.

Adam stood in the corner with a pale face as he tried to look calm.

The rescue lasted for twenty minutes. My mother finally escaped danger, although she remained in a deep coma.

Chelsea let out a quiet sigh of relief. She turned around and was about to speak to me.

Slap.

I had already walked toward Adam and struck him across the face.

The sharp sound echoed in the quiet ward.

A red mark spread across half of Adam’s face.

“Jensen, what are you doing?” Chelsea pulled Adam behind her and glared at me.

Adam covered his cheek and gritted his teeth. “Chelsea, I… I did not mean it. Madam Scott kept talking about them, and I did not want her to stay in the dark…”

“Do you believe everything he says?” I looked at Chelsea with a cold expression.

“My mom is about to have surgery, yet he came here on purpose to provoke her. He almost killed her.”

Chelsea looked at my red eyes, and her brows tightened. She glanced at Adam, who hid behind her with resentment in his eyes. “Jensen, calm down. Madam Scott is safe now, and you also slapped Adam. Call it even.”

I stared at her in disbelief. I wondered how she could say that. My mom almost died in her hospital bed, and she wanted me to call it even.

“My mom almost died. I cannot let this go.”

Chelsea’s face darkened. “Jensen, are you trying to use this chance to get revenge on Adam for stealing me from you back then?”

A laugh escaped me. “Chelsea, I never knew you were so full of yourself.”

I wiped the corner of my eye. “Why would I want revenge on a piece of trash and a trash can?”

Chelsea’s face turned pale. “Jensen, do not be so harsh.”

I pointed at my mother, who lay on the bed with tubes attached. “He almost killed my mother, and you think I was harsh?”

Adam snorted behind her. “Chelsea, I really did not… I just thought Madam Scott had the right to know…”

I did not want to listen to this act any longer.

A nurse wheeled out the hospital bed at that moment.

My mother remained unconscious. I pushed Chelsea aside and followed the trolley back to the ward.

Chelsea stood in the corridor with a flicker of pain in her eyes.

I sat on the edge of the bed and held my mother’s cold hand as waves of fear washed over me.

Chelsea pushed open the door and walked in.

“Get out,” I said in a hoarse voice without looking up.

Chelsea paused, then walked to the foot of the bed. Her voice was stiff. “I am here to inform you that Madam Scott was agitated, and her heart rate has not stabilized. Tomorrow’s surgery is canceled. She needs rest and observation.”

I stayed silent and held my mother’s hand even tighter.

Chelsea looked at my pale face and suddenly sneered. “Jensen, where is your wife? Something happened to your mom, yet your wife did not even bother to come.”

I looked up at her with mockery in my eyes. “Dr. Stone, you are meddling too much.”

“I am worried you will get scammed.” Chelsea’s tone softened for a moment. “I will still do my best for Madam Scott’s surgery. Considering the three‑year timeframe, you can come find me anytime if you are not doing well.”

I felt like I had heard a joke. “Chelsea, who do you think you are?”

“You…” Chelsea’s face twisted with anger when a woman’s voice came from behind her.

“Doctor, were you looking for me?”

A clear female voice came from the ward door.

I turned around.

It was my wife, Noelle. A faint tiredness showed on her face as she walked toward me. Her assistant and two bodyguards followed behind her while carrying a briefcase. “Sorry, Jensen. The meeting for the cross‑border merger case took longer. We also got stuck in traffic on the way. I am late.”

I shook my head. “It is fine. You are pregnant. You should rest. Let your assistant handle the work. I can take care of my mom.”

Chelsea stood frozen. Her gaze moved between Noelle and me. The superiority she felt earlier because I had been alone disappeared the moment she saw Noelle.

“Jensen, is this the woman you married?”

Chelsea looked Noelle up and down. Her tone carried open hostility and bitterness. “Madam Scott is still in a coma. Your wife arrived at the perfect time. Anyone who did not know better would think she was extremely busy. She did not even care about her mother‑in‑law’s surgery. What do you want from her?”

Noelle’s assistant stepped forward and handed Chelsea a gold‑embossed business card with both hands. Her expression did not change. “Dr. Stone, correct? This is Ms. Beckett’s business card.”

Chelsea frowned and took it. Her pupils tightened when she read the name.

[Noelle Beckett, Head of Extend Medical Technology Group]

No one in Jimmyville’s medical circle could possibly be unfamiliar with this name. The group controlled a third of the national medical device market and was the controlling shareholder behind this private hospital.

It was fair to say that the cutting‑edge equipment Chelsea used in her surgeries came from Noelle’s company.

Chelsea’s face darkened at once. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the business card.

Noelle looked at her. “Dr. Stone, you do not need to worry about my mother‑in‑law’s surgery anymore. Your hospital’s medical staff lack basic professional ethics. I already arranged for another hospital to take over.”

Chelsea’s throat tightened as she tried to hold on to the last bit of dignity expected from a lead surgeon. “Ms. Beckett, I have been handling Madam Scott’s case myself. Forcing a change of surgeons like this is irresponsible.”

Noelle let out a soft laugh. “You are the irresponsible one. You protect your subordinate. I cannot trust you with my mother‑in‑law’s surgery.”

Two groups of people entered the corridor at that moment.

The hospital director ran ahead, drenched in sweat, followed by a private medical transport team. “Ms. Beckett, I am very sorry. This happened because of our mismanagement.”

The director shot Chelsea a sharp look before bowing with a forced smile.

The head of the transfer team stepped forward. “Ms. Beckett, Mr. Scott, the chartered plane and the nursing home are ready. We can transfer the patient at any time.”

Noelle took my hand and led me out. “Let us go. Mom will get the best care there.”

I nodded and left with her.

Chelsea stood in place, staring at the business card in her hand. Her nails almost dug into her skin.

Adam entered the ward and stood beside her. He asked in a quiet voice, “Chelsea… is Jensen’s wife that influential?”

Chelsea crushed the business card into a ball and sneered through gritted teeth. “So what if she is rich? A woman that rich cannot have any real feelings for him. Jensen is just a kept man of hers. He is a man who married into the family. He must have suffered a lot.”