I spent my last two hundred dollars booking a hotel room for the night.

Nicolas was ruthless. The moment I hung up the phone, he had all my bank accounts frozen. He tried to push me to the brink.

At midnight, Nicolas called again. "Lorna, do you realize your mistake now?"

"Mistake? What mistake?"

"Isn't it hard to live without money?" Nicolas let out a mocking laugh. "Hand over all the recordings and photos you have of me on your phone, and I'll unfreeze your accounts and give you a million dollars for your future life."

I was amused. "Are you really afraid of me exposing your disgrace that much?"

That struck a nerve.

Nicolas held back his anger and said, "Lorna, it won't do you any good to ruin me."

"It's not me ruining you. You did it. Do you know what the essence of a healthcare company's development is?"

Nicolas didn't answer, so I did for him. "Curing patients' illnesses is the forever unshakable foundation of the healthcare industry. You're not focusing on developing technology, but you're caught up in false marketing. Someday, you'll fall from grace."

"I don't need your lessons." Nicolas breathed heavily. "Give me those recordings."

I said to him clearly, "I won't give them to you."

Nicolas was furious. "Then enjoy your poverty life. What threat can you pose to me? You have no money or a job. Lorna, without me, you can't even enter the conference hall. How can you dream of threatening me?"

Nicolas angrily hung up.

He wanted to see me return to him in desperation, but I wouldn't regret my decisions, nor would I stay poor.

I called my friend Julie. "Julie, did you say Nicolas begged me to operate on Gillian?"

"Yes. He went through a lot of connections to find me. But don't worry. I didn't tell him who you are. He's not worthy to know how amazing you are."

"Has he contacted you recently?"

"He pesters me every day. He wishes to contact you for Gillian's surgery through me. It's so annoying. Since you're divorced now, I'm about to block him."

"Wait." I paused for a few seconds and made up my mind. "Tell Nicolas I agree to perform the surgery on Gillian, but I want one hundred million dollars, post-tax. Let him transfer to my account this evening."

Julie was shocked. "You're going to operate on that mistress?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Lorna, no matter what you choose, I support you."

I reopened a bank account I had set up while studying abroad and sent the card number to Julie.

Half an hour later, I received the money.

He really cared about Gillian, transferring the money so quickly.

I stood by the large window and gazed at the bustling lights outside. I felt a chill in my heart.

The phone screen dimmed, and the night was silent.

I rubbed the ring around my finger and suddenly recalled my birthday two years ago. I had ordered his favorite cake and prepared a table full of his favorite dishes, waiting at the restaurant until closing time. He never showed up.

He returned in the early morning of the next day, reeking of alcohol. He simply said, "I couldn't say no to a client."

At that time, I truly believed that he was working hard, and I made him some hangover soup.

Now, thinking back, I realized that his so-called "client" was probably just Gillian.

I was so naive back then.

I took off the ring and tossed it out of the window.

Goodbye, Nicolas.

I contacted the First Affiliated Hospital by phone, reserved a hospital bed and operating room, notified Gillian to transfer there, and arranged for several indicator tests to be done.

The next day, Andres Hayes, the hospital director, called me and asked me to visit his office.

Andres was also my doctoral advisor.

He had once advised me not to relinquish my medical career for Nicolas three years ago.

Back then, I was completely obsessed with Nicolas and didn't heed his advice.

Now, I felt ashamed when I stood in his office.

"Professor, I'm sorry. It was my mistake to make such a choice, which has led to my current situation."

The reprimand I anticipated was absent. Instead, Andres poured me a glass of apple juice. It was my favorite drink from school days.

"Lorna, you've always been my most outstanding student," he said, patting my shoulder. "You must have endured a lot these past few years."

His warm concern broke down my emotional defenses.

The grievances and feigned strength I had been holding onto crumbled under his kind words. Tears started falling uncontrollably.

With a deep sigh, Andres said, "I never liked Nicolas back then. His overly self-serving nature made me strongly oppose your relationship with him."

I sighed, "So you saw his true colors all along."

"If he truly loves you, he wouldn't ask you to give up your career just to serve him. You are such a good doctor," Andres continued.

"I think I understand that now."

True love didn't require sacrificing others or oneself.

"Don't be too upset. It's not a bad thing to end an unhealthy relationship. Let's take a look at the patient you've just admitted." Andres handed me Gillian's test results. "Her condition is extremely complicated, with a high risk of surgical failure. Are you sure you want to proceed with her surgery? This will be a great challenge."

I hadn't anticipated that Gillian's condition would deteriorate so rapidly within a month.

Andres repeatedly asked, "Are you really going to operate on Gillian? You must know that no other doctor is willing to take on this surgery. If the patient dies on the operating table, it could severely damage the doctor's reputation."

Andres gently suggested, saying, "If you need money, I can help you. You're an exceptional doctor, and you can return to work at the hospital anytime you wish."

"But now, this issue isn't about money for me," I replied, looking at Andres. "You just mentioned that no doctor is willing to perform this surgery. If I also back out, Gillian will be dead, won't she?"

Andres nodded and said, "According to her current condition, she has only two months left if surgery isn't performed soon."

"Then I'm willing to take on this challenge," I said firmly and met Andres's gaze. "Regardless of Gillian's identity or how much I dislike her in my life, she's now my patient. You always emphasized treating patients with equal compassion and dedication. A doctor's mission is to heal the patient. Reputation will always come second to me."

Andres looked at me with bright eyes. "Lorna, I'm proud of you."

"Really, Professor? Am I still worthy of your pride?" I said despondently, "I've made a mess of my life and career."

"Lorna, everyone makes mistakes in their youth. It's not something to fear, and there's no need to deny yourself because of it," Andres said seriously. "I'm always confident in you."

I felt reinvigorated.

I spent the night meticulously studying Gillian's test results and medical records and quickly devised a treatment plan.

Two days later, I operated on Gillian.

My assistant surgeon was Jase Wallace, a fellow student and an experienced medical doctor.

Even with the entire team having abundant clinical experience, and despite our lengthy discussions on potential risks and issues before the surgery, the operating room fell silent when I opened Gillian's abdominal cavity.

Gillian's condition was more severe than we had anticipated. A non-viable fetus remained in her abdomen.

Due to her condition and health, the fetus couldn't grow. But it hadn't been expelled. It was actually attached to her like a fibroid.

This rare situation made the surgery extremely complex.

Just then, an assisting nurse urgently shouted, "The patient has lost her heartbeat."

I focused all my attention in an instant. "All hands on deck. Initiate resuscitation now."

Jase had extensive experience and worked seamlessly with me.

It was just like our school days, where a single glance was enough to understand what the other one intended to do.

Three minutes later, Gillian's heartbeat returned, and her blood pressure stabilized.

My mind was clear of distractions. My eyes and my heart were solely focused on successfully completing the surgery.

The operation lasted an exhausting eleven hours. Even Andres sweated nervously.

Fortunately, the surgery concluded successfully.

Gillian was transferred to the ICU for monitoring, and I collapsed in the hospital corridor. I was utterly exhausted.

Jase was also relieved. He removed his mask and sat beside me.

He took out a snack from his pocket. "I just bought this from the convenience store downstairs. After such intense work for hours, you must be feeling dizzy from hunger."

I nodded and indeed felt the effects of low blood sugar.

I took the snack from his hand and took a big bite. He sat beside me, and shared the snack.

Suddenly, I chuckled while holding the snack. "Jase, it feels like our internship days. We sat in the hallway, exhausted and shared quick bites."

"You're much more accomplished than during our internship," he replied.

I turned to look at him and noticed his eyes were full of seriousness and admiration. "Lorna, you completed a surgery that everyone said was doomed to fail."

In the following days, good news kept coming in.

"Dr. Sini, Gillian has shown no signs of infection."

"Dr. Sini, Gillian's vital signs are stable. She can be moved to a regular ward."

The day Gillian was successfully transferred to a regular ward, the office burst into applause and cheers.

Surrounded by the jubilant voices, I felt a long-lost sense of achievement and joy. I hadn't experienced such a feeling since marrying Nicolas.

That afternoon, Andres shared another surprising piece of good news with me.

"Your surgery on Gillian has been recognized as a pioneering case and will be used as an advanced learning experience for major hospitals. The committee has extended a sincere invitation for you to attend the Premier Medical Summit. You will receive an interview there."

The news completely surprised me.

Nicolas would also attend the Premier Medical Summit.

My hands clenched involuntarily.

Andres smiled and continued, "Once you've completed your interview, many major hospitals will compete to recruit you. Whether you choose to stay with us or pursue opportunities at another hospital, I have only one request."

"Professor, please go ahead."

"Continue to maintain the kindness and commitment expected of a doctor."

I nodded solemnly.

Andres gestured for me to prepare for the summit. "Jase is waiting outside for you. Remember to thank him. It was his suggestion to report your surgery as an exemplary case."

As I left the director's office, I encountered Jase.

He was still in his familiar, clean white coat. He smiled and said, "Dr. Sini, congratulations on achieving a medical miracle."

"Jase, I should be thanking you. I know you have many outstanding cases worthy of reporting, but you gave this opportunity to me."

Jase smiled candidly and said, "You misunderstood me. I didn't give it to you. If I had a more exceptional surgical practice, I would have competed with you. But for Gillian's surgery, I wholeheartedly concede to you."

In Jase, I saw an independent and straightforward character.

I looked at him and said, "You deserve credit, too."

I would never forget how complex and challenging that surgery was.

Everyone thought it would fail and that Gillian would die on the operating table.

But during those critical three minutes of emergency resuscitation, Jase remained exceptionally calm. He systematically performed the procedure and repeatedly said to me, "There's still a chance. Lorna, don't give up. There's still hope."

Those few words provided immense psychological support in such a high-pressure, overwhelming atmosphere.