Chapter 217

A hushed murmur broke the silence. "I see," someone whispered.

Another voice piped up, "Dr. Hartley, you're so young and already an attending physician at Grandview General Hospital. That's truly remarkable!"

Dylan scoffed, leaning forward with a sneer. "Remarkable? Hardly. Winning some flashy virtual surgery competition doesn’t prove anything. It’s laughable that Sebastian promoted you over it, Evelyn. Has he lost his grip on reality? Simulations aren’t the same as real surgeries. Just because you aced a fake operation doesn’t mean you won’t crack under pressure in a real one."

He let the words linger before adding mockingly, "Sure, you passed the entrance exam. Congratulations. But the real test is in the OR. When you start botching real procedures, Sebastian will regret his impulsive decision."

Tension thickened in the air. No one rushed to Evelyn’s defense. Many silently agreed with Dylan—virtual surgeries, no matter how advanced, couldn’t replicate the stakes of real life.

Nathan watched from the sidelines, his expression unreadable. Even he couldn’t deny the challenges Evelyn would face.

But Evelyn remained unshaken. She met Dylan’s gaze with a cool, cutting smile. "Mr. Reeves, perhaps you should worry about your own affairs. If you have time to spare, remind your uncle Dominic to settle his debt soon."

Dylan’s face darkened instantly, fury flashing in his eyes. Because of Evelyn’s victory, Dominic had lost a fortune—his year-end bonus and a month’s salary. The thought alone made Dylan’s blood boil.

Dominic was even angrier, but there was nothing he could do.

Before the tension could escalate, Alexander smoothly intervened. "Alright, enough of this. Let’s lighten the mood. How about a game?"

"Truth or Dare!" someone suggested eagerly. "With new rules to make it interesting!"

The group quickly agreed, the atmosphere shifting as the game began.

At first, the dares were harmless—playful challenges like push-ups over someone lying on the floor or an impromptu dance performance. Laughter filled the room, and the mood stayed light.

But as the night wore on, the dares grew bolder. Kissing for a full minute. A striptease in front of everyone.

In one round, two men were dared to kiss. The unlucky participant immediately forfeited, downing three shots of whiskey instead while the group cheered.

"Who’s the King this round?" someone called out.

Theodore grinned, mischief in his eyes. "That would be me."