Chapter 1

The woman looked stunned, unable to believe what she had heard. "What did you just say? My husband is in critical condition, and you're the best surgeon in the country. Why can't you save him?!"

I turned to look at the patient lying in bed.

The man was deathly pale, and he breathed weakly. His eyes, nose, and even the small mole beneath one eye looked exactly like that person.

I looked away from the patient and flipped the roster list in my hand. "A burn victim was admitted before you arrived, and is waiting in the surgery room right now. I will have to operate on him first."

My department head, Leroy Gibbs, rushed in through the door, and he smiled and nodded at the woman before he came quickly to my side and whispered, "Do you know who that person in front of you is? She is the heiress of a renowned pharmaceutical company in the city that does a lot of business with this hospital.

"Her husband is the son of Dr. Patricia Shaw, who had been in medicine for 50 years, and had many accolades to her name. She is the country's most honored medical academician. You know that, do you not?"

He paused for a moment before he continued grimly, "They have personally asked that you lead the surgery. That says a lot about how much they trust your technique. Push the surgery for that ordinary burn victim. I will arrange for another surgeon for him."

Leroy said this loudly enough for the other two to hear in order to smooth things over.

The woman's expression eased at his words, and an arrogant look flashed across her face. I remained calm, as their background did not scare me at all. My voice became startlingly clear in the silent room. "This is a public hospital, Dr. Gibbs."

My rejection was clear. Leroy had not been prepared for how I refused to give in, and it made him anxious. "You need to learn to be more flexible, Dr. Corbin!"

His words made me pause and clench my fists. "This is a hospital, and we are supposed to help patients. We are not a private clinic that favors the rich and powerful. I am the hospital's medical director, and it is important to have ethics in this field."

A tense atmosphere hung in the air over my words, and the woman's face fell. She sniggered. "Are you kidding me, Dr. Corbin? The Lovelaces have been donating equipment and sponsoring numerous research projects in this hospital. We've been generous with the hospital all this time, and we can't even ask for a prioritization when my husband's life is in danger? Does that make any sense, Dr. Corbin?"

I did not even look up as I tidied some patients' files. "Donations are made based on corporate decisions. As for your wealth and background…" I shook my head. "It is not above my principles."

The woman was rendered speechless by my reply, and she stared at me with rage. "Fine. Draw the line between us if you want." She clenched her teeth and said coldly, "You will regret this, Dr. Corbin." With that, she turned to leave.

Leroy glared at me for being stubborn. "Have you any idea who you had just offended? If they decide to take action against you, you will never make it in this field. I will sedate Madam Lovelace's husband. You should apologize after you calm down, and prep for the surgery."

I looked up at him slowly. "I will prep for the surgery." I paused before I continued, "But it will not be his surgery."

Leroy gritted his teeth when I made the decision, and he hurried toward the man. "You are finished, Dr. Corbin."

He believed I was done for because I had offended powerful people, but he had no idea that I had been waiting for this day for a long time.