Chapter 4
Charles said, [Dr. Grant, I heard the Quinn Family needs a minimally invasive coronary procedure.
[If you're interested, we've got a state-of-the-art operating room open at our hospital this Friday,] Charles messaged.
I replied, [Mr. Goodman, you really are well-connected.]
He shot back, [The medical world is a small place. Need a hand?]
[No need. But I'll take you up on that OR,] I replied.
[Anytime. I'll send you the address,] he said.
This guy.
I'd only met him once.
But he sure was generous.
Thursday.
I made up my mind.
I was going to do the surgery myself.
No middlemen, and the Quinn Family would never know I was the surgeon.
The surgery was set for Friday morning in the VIP operating room at Harmony Health Affiliated Hospital.
I told Mandy to have Jonathan go to Harmony Health Affiliated Hospital on Friday.
"Just say I arranged it. Don't tell anyone else in the Quinn Family," I said.
"Got it," Mandy replied.
"And especially don't tell Lily or Michael," I added.
"Relax, I won't," Mandy said.
Friday.
I got to the hospital at 5 a.m.
I changed into my scrubs, put on my mask and cap.
My surgical team was already there, ready to go.
At 7:30, Mr. Quinn was wheeled into the pre-op room.
Mandy was with him.
He lay on the bed, looking a lot thinner than he did three years ago.
"Mandy," Mr. Quinn said weakly, "you said the doctor operating on me today is the best?"
"Yes, Grandpa. Don't worry," Mandy replied.
"Better than the one that Lily found?" he asked.
"A hundred times better," Mandy replied.
Jonathan smiled.
Mandy spotted me standing at the end of the hallway.
I gave her a signal, keep quiet.
She nodded.
8 o'clock sharp.
The surgery began.
Four hours.
Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass.
Three-vessel disease, each vessel fixed individually.
The calcified section of the aorta was treated with my signature balloon dilation and wall apposition technique.
Every cut was precise to the millimeter.
My assistant handed me the instruments, silent the whole time, no unnecessary words, just focus.
12:15 p.m.
I put in the last stitch.
"Surgery complete," I announced.
Jonathan's vitals were steady on the monitor.
I stepped out of the OR and pulled off my mask.
Nina was waiting outside.
"Dr. Grant, the surgery was a success," she said.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Should we let the Quinn family know?" she asked.
"Just tell the hospital to inform them the surgery went well. Don't disclose who performed it," I said.
"Got it," she replied.
I changed back into my regular clothes and slipped out through the hospital's back door.
In the car, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes for a moment.
It was done.
Everything's been settled.
From now on, I was finally free.
My phone buzzed.
It was a message from Charles.
"Surgery go well?" he asked.
"Yeah, thanks for getting the OR ready," I replied.
"No problem. Are you free tonight? Want to discuss a new project?" Charles said.
"What kind of project?" I asked.
"Second-gen minimally invasive coronary devices. The Harmony Group wants to put in more money," he replied.
"Send me the proposal. I'll check it out," I said.
"OK," he replied.
I set my phone down.
A new life, a fresh start.
'I'm done with the Quinn family,' I thought to myself.
But I knew some things wouldn't end so easily.
Lily's lie was bound to come out sooner or later.
When the Quinn family found out who really saved Jonathan.
That's when the real fun would begin.
The day after the surgery, the Quinn family was in an uproar.