Chapter 7

John was left speechless, cornered and stunned.

He looked like he was about to collapse.

Michael stared at me, his eyes full of despair.

Maybe he finally got it. I wasn't joking. I didn't want anything anymore. Not his love, not my future, and not the prince's life.

Michael suddenly rushed over and grabbed my shoulders.

He shook me hard. "Claire. Have you lost your mind? You can't do this. This is someone's life."

I let him shake me, not resisting at all, like a lifeless puppet.

I stared at him, my eyes cold and emotionless. "Let go. Michael, touch me again, and I'll call the police for harassment."

He let go as if I'd burned him.

Then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. The caller ID showed it was from Seraphis.

Right in front of everyone, I picked up and put it on speaker for everyone to hear.

A calm, steady voice came through the line. "Hello, is this Dr. Claire Sutton?"

I looked at Michael and John. The color drained from their faces in an instant.

I replied slowly, my voice clear and steady. "Yes. This is Claire Sutton speaking."

The man on the other end was Dr. Klaus Richter, the chief medical advisor to the royal family of Seraphis.

He asked me several key technical questions about the Sutton Suture Technique.

I answered each one. My answers were fluent, precise, and without the slightest hesitation.

The Medical Records was so quiet that anyone could hear a pin drop.

My voice was the only thing breaking the silence.

John, Michael, and the department heads stood there like statues, as if they'd been hit with a freeze spell. They didn't move a muscle.

Their expressions shifted from shock to confusion, to total blankness.

They probably never realized it. My medical knowledge was always incredibly solid. But Michael was so sharp, so I used to dumb it down around him and pretend I wasn't as good.

So he'd feel like he was better than me. But now, I didn't have to do that anymore.

Klaus couldn't help but praise me over the phone. "Wonderful, Dr. Sutton. Your understanding of this technique goes deeper than what's written in the literature."

I said, "My grandfather taught me everything himself. And I've made some improvements of my own."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Klaus's voice came back, now practically bursting with excitement. "Improved? God, this is the best news I've heard all week.

"Dr. Sutton, on behalf of the royal family, I would like to formally invite you to take full charge of His Highness's surgery."

I glanced at Michael. His knuckles were white from how hard he was clenching his fists.

I said, "Dr. Richter, I accept your invitation. But I have several conditions."

John looked nervous and stepped closer.

He was trying to make sure he didn't miss a single word of what I was about to say.

Klaus said, "Please speak."

I said, "Firstly, during the entire treatment period, I have the highest authority. No one, including the hospital management, can interfere with my medical decisions."

"Of course."

"Second, I need a dedicated team. The members of the team will be chosen by me personally."

"No problem."

"Third, I need all of my grandfather's original surgical notes, research data, and video materials. I need them immediately, complete and untampered with."

"We will communicate this to the hospital immediately."

John's face was thunderous, as if he'd been hit with the worst news imaginable.

Every condition I laid out was completely undermining his and the hospital's authority.

I was now the queen of my own independent kingdom. And they had no choice but to obey.

I added, "That's all for now. Please send me the patient's complete medical records within an hour. I will give you a preliminary plan in three hours."

Klaus sounded genuinely pleased. "Efficient and professional. I look forward to working with you, Dr. Sutton."

I hung up.

The Medical Records was so quiet that it was almost scary.

I set my phone down on the table and looked at John. "John, you heard everything. So, what are you going to do about the royal family's demands?"