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.

I thought that after Gillian's surgery was successfully completed, I would have fulfilled my obligation to Nicolas for the billion he paid, and there would be no further ties between him and me.

But to my surprise, Nicolas got my work number under the name Dr. Sini and added me to his contacts. He relentlessly bombarded me with messages every day.

"Dr. Sini, I admire you so much. You are the most dazzling woman in the world. Do you have time to grab a meal? I'd like to thank you personally."

I deliberately replied, "Will you thank me for saving your lover?"

Nicolas responded instantly, "Gillian and I are just ordinary colleagues."

I raised my eyebrows and asked, "Didn't you say your wife was gravely ill and always stayed by your side?"

A minute later, Nicolas replied again, "She passed away a month ago. I'm single now. I just felt sorry for Gillian and wanted you to treat her out of kindness."

Nicolas still feigned deep affection. "You know what? You remind me so much of my late wife. You are both so smart and brave."

I felt sick to my stomach.

It seemed that in Nicolas's eyes, Dr. Sini was now more valuable than Gillian.

How ironic it was that he had no idea I was the "deceased" wife he spoke of.

Nicolas persistently bought me flowers and asked me out to dinner. I refused him every time.

He didn't know I was preparing a "surprise" for him at the Premier Medical Summit.

In the days leading up to the summit, a nurse told me that Gillian refused to cooperate with her treatment.

I donned my white coat and went to her hospital room. "If you don't cooperate with your follow-up treatment, even the most perfect surgery won't save your life."

Gillian was hostile towards me. "How do I know if you're here to save me or harm me?"

The nurse defended me, saying, "Dr. Sini would never harm you."

I stopped the nurse from arguing with Gillian and asked the nurse to leave the room so I could speak with Gillian privately.

Gillian proudly raised her head. "Dr. Sini, I recognized you. You are Nicolas's wife, Lorna. I never thought you were Sini."

"Yes, it's me."

"I don't trust your treatment plan. I want a different attending physician. You're jealous that I have Nicolas's love, and you'll kill me."

I stood calmly by her bedside and said, "Don't be foolish."

She glared at me.

"If I wanted to harm you, you wouldn't have survived the operating table."

"I..."

"Do you not understand how dangerous your condition is? Do you know why Nicolas was willing to spend a billion to save you?"

"Of course. He loves me. No matter how sick I am, he won't leave me."

I bluntly laid out the harsh reality. "It's because your father holds the key to a lucrative new project."

Gillian shouted at me in anger, "No way. He loves me."

"Really? Do you know why your condition suddenly worsened?" I tossed her surgery records at her. "Because you were pregnant."

Gillian looked at her report in shock.

"Nicolas knew your health couldn't bear a baby, yet he couldn't control his desires. Does he love you?"

"He is..."

"What is he? Now you have no more use for him. He's moved on to a new target. If I'm not mistaken, he hasn't visited you in a long time, has he?"

Gillian bit her lip, and her face turned grim. "I don't believe it."

I showed Gillian the chat logs on my phone, filled with Nicolas's confessions and praises for me.

"There are also voice messages. Want to hear them?" I casually played a few, and Nicolas's voice was unmistakably clear.

"Sini, I think I'm in love with you."

"It's strange that we haven't even met, but I'm already in love with you. You're so enchanting."

"Gillian and I are just very ordinary colleagues. I would never marry a wife with an illness."

The room fell into a deafening silence.

Gillian clutched the bed sheets tightly. Then she suddenly broke down. She covered her face and burst into tears.

I took a seat beside her hospital bed. "Gillian, I have to say that I really dislike you privately, but as your doctor, I hope you cherish your life."

I described how perilous she was on her surgery day. "Your life was snatched back from death's grip after eleven hours by the medical staff. We sincerely hope you live on, so please value your life and cooperate with the treatment. Only by staying alive can you witness Nicolas receiving the punishment he deserves."

I said those words were for her, but also for myself.

Gillian looked up at me, and her eyes looked vulnerable, like a lost kitten's.

Gillian agreed to the follow-up treatment plan, and her recovery was stable.

The day before the Premier Medical Summit, Jase suddenly called me and told me that Gillian wanted to see me.

In the hospital room, Gillian looked much better. She asked, "Tomorrow, you're going to expose Nicolas's true colors to everyone, aren't you?"

I affirmed it. "Yes."

Gillian retrieved a special appointment certificate from under her pillow and handed it to me. "If you're willing, I will recommend you as a special consultant for the Ford Pharmaceutical Group. You must know the position was originally meant for Nicolas."

I was surprised.

Gillian seemed to have grown wiser overnight. "Dr. Norris, I've already told my father to cancel the plan to hire Nicolas. He deceived me. So I don't want to hire him."

Gillian looked at me solemnly. "Dr. Norris, as the heiress of the Ford Pharmaceutical Group, I give you the offer. Would you be willing to become our special consultant?"