Chapter 105

Victor Sterling seemed determined to make her life a living hell. Evelyn Hartley knew that to him, only Lila Sinclair mattered. Whether she found happiness or drowned in misery was of no consequence to him.

When Nathan Black noticed the bitterness in Evelyn’s expression, his brows furrowed slightly. His tone was calm but firm. "My father wrote them a check for five hundred thousand. Medical expenses and a bribe to keep their mouths shut about the matter."

Evelyn’s eyes widened. "He did?"

She hadn’t expected Leonard Grant to do that. For a moment, she was speechless. The icy weight she had carried since the incident began to thaw. Warmth spread through her, softening the edges of her hardened heart.

Seeing the subtle curve of her lips, Nathan scoffed in disdain.

Her emotions were so damn fickle.

The Next Day

Grand Ins General Hospital, Cardiac Surgery Department

Every doctor in the department had been summoned for an emergency meeting. The night before, a high-risk elderly patient had been admitted, and now, the team gathered to assess the case and determine their next steps.

Dr. Dominic Pierce, the head of Cardiac Surgery, began his briefing with measured precision. "The patient, Walter Kingsley, is 85 years old. A year ago, during a routine check-up, he was diagnosed with Type B aortic dissection. We performed surgery at the time, sealing the tear with a stent. However, early this morning, he was rushed back in with severe chest pain. His blood pressure had spiked to 190, and further tests confirmed the dissection has progressed toward the heart—now a Type A aortic dissection."

He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in before continuing. "The CT scan shows involvement of the ascending aorta and the entire aortic arch. Additionally, a 5-centimeter aneurysm has formed. Given its rapid growth, the risk of rupture and sudden death is imminent. Surgery is non-negotiable."

A heavy silence settled over the room. The doctors exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to speak. Type A aortic dissection was notorious—a death sentence, even under the best circumstances. For an 85-year-old with hypertension and other complications, the odds were even more daunting.

The silence stretched until Vivian Cross finally spoke up. "Dr. Pierce, if you were to perform the surgery, what would the success rate be?"

Dominic’s frown deepened. The question clearly irritated him, but seeing the expectant stares, he reluctantly answered, "Thirty... No, forty percent." He had started to say thirty but adjusted, unwilling to admit just how dire the situation was.

The number did little to ease the tension. Forty percent was abysmal for a procedure of this magnitude.

"Dr. Pierce, don’t you think forty percent is too low?" Evelyn’s voice cut through the room, calm but unyielding.

Dominic’s sharp gaze snapped to her. He knew she was new—brought in under unusual circumstances. Rumor had it she had connections. She hadn’t gone through the standard examination process, yet Sebastian Holloway had assigned her directly to their team as a full-staff resident. That hadn’t escaped his notice.

Before Dominic could respond, Lila interjected, "Evelyn, Dr. Pierce is the best surgeon in this department. This surgery is incredibly complex. A forty percent success rate is already remarkable. Most wouldn’t even come close."