Chapter 4

At eight o'clock, the meeting kicked off.

The auditorium was packed, and three hundred people squeezed in.

Susan stood on stage, navy suit sharp, full of energy. "I have two things to announce today."

The crowd quieted.

"Firstly, congrats to Mr. Carter for being named deputy director."

Everyone clapped.

Leo stood up. His face was red from grinning.

Susan's voice echoed. "Mr. Carter is young, but he has huge potential. I trust he'll bring new life to our hospital."

I sat in the front row and kept a straight face.

Susan's eyes swept the crowd and landed on me, pausing for a second.

She went on. "Secondly, let's honor Dr. Shaw, the highest surgical volume for five years straight."

Applause again, louder than before.

I got up and walked onto the stage.

Susan handed me a trophy, and whispered, "Don't be so stiff. Give us a smile."

I didn't smile.

I took the trophy and stepped up to the mic.

The room fell silent.

Everyone was waiting for me to give a speech, to thank the administration and my team.

I looked down at the trophy. Then I started to speak, "I've gotten this trophy five years in a row."

Someone laughed below.

I said, "This year, I want to say something new."

Susan frowned a little beside me.

I looked out at the crowd. "Thanks to everyone for trusting me all these years. And thanks to the leadership for letting me operate so much. I also want to thank Deputy Director Leo."

Leo froze.

I added, "Thank you for showing me that skills don't matter. Connections are everything."

The whole place went dead silent.

Susan's face instantly turned pale.

Leo's suit was blinding under the lights.

I set down the trophy. "That's all I have to say."

I walked off the stage.

No applause, and everyone stared at me.

Susan caught up, grabbed my arm, voice low. "Andrew, what are you saying in front of everyone?"

I shook her off. "I spoke the truth."

"You—"

I interrupted, "Dr. Miller, the meeting is over."

I walked out of the auditorium.

Behind me, people started whispering like crazy.

At the end of the hallway, Leo rushed out after me. "Andrew, Andrew. What do you mean by that?"

I stopped. "I don't mean anything by it. I'm just done with this."

Leo's face went red, then pale. "Are you leaving?"

I looked at him. "Take a guess."

Leo panicked.

He yanked out his phone, and tried to call someone.

I said, "Don't bother."

He replied, "You—"

"Leo," I said, staring at him, "Who wrote your presentation materials?"

Leo's hand shook. "I—I wrote them myself."

"Really? Then how come I saw the exact same file on Susan's computer?"

All color drained from Leo's face.

His mouth opened, not a word coming out.

I let go. "You read that script pretty smooth."

I turned and headed toward the operating room.

"Andrew, Andrew, listen to me," Leo shouted.

I didn't look back.

Today, I had one last surgery left.

Once it was done, I was out of here.

The OR door closed behind me.

The overhead lamps came on.

I picked up the scalpel.

The blade flashed in the lights.

It was five years.

These hands had saved 5,300 lives. Today, one last operation.

A nurse whispered beside me, "Dr. Shaw, are you okay today—"

I replied, "Focus. Suture, third stitch."

Her hand paused. Then kept going.

The operating room was as quiet as could be, just the sound of machines and the scalpel slicing through tissue.

The surgery took four hours. It was a smooth, uncomplicated procedure.

When I stepped down, the head nurse handed me a cup of water. "Dr. Shaw, are you leaving us today?"

I didn't answer.

"The whole hospital's rumor mill exploded," she whispered. "Word is you called out Leo in front of everyone—"

"Let them talk. Cup is yours." I drained the water.

The head nurse was stunned.

I took off my white coat and hung it in the locker. I took off my badge and set it on the top shelf.

My phone rang, and it was Charles.

He said, "The car is at the hospital entrance. Did you bring luggage?"

I replied, "No luggage. All I've got is my skills."

Charles laughed on the other end. "That's what I wanted to hear."

I walked out of the locker room.

A few doctors saw me in the hall and stopped, surprised.

One of them asked, "Dr. Shaw, what's this—"

I replied, "I'm clocking out."

"But it's still early—"

"I'm clocked out. For good." I stepped outside the hospital doors.

The sunlight was blinding.

A black business van waited at the curb.

The driver opened the door for me.

I was about to get in when I heard Susan's voice from behind.

She hurried out, heels clicking fast. "Andrew, where are you going?"

I turned around. "Dr. Miller. I'm quitting."

Susan was stunned. "Q-Quitting?"

"I signed the contract with Harmony Medical Center as the deputy director."

All the color drained from Susan's face. "W-When did you—"

"Three days ago. The day you asked me to help Leo with his presentation."

Susan's mouth hung open, but no words came out.

"Andrew, you can't leave. The hospital needs you." She took a step closer.

I laughed, "Needs me? Then why did you give Leo the spot?"

"I—" Susan stammered.

I looked her in the eye. "Susan, what am I to you?"

Her eyes reddened. "Come back. I'll give you the spot. I'll change the list right now."

"Too late."

"Andrew."

I looked at her. "Susan, remember today."

"What?"

"You personally handed a five-year, zero-incident lead surgeon to the competition." I turned and got in the car.

The door closed.

Through the window, I saw Susan standing there.

Her lips moved.

She was saying, "Andrew, don't do this."

The car started up.

In the rearview mirror, Susan's figure got smaller and smaller.

I looked away.

My phone rang, and it was Leo again.

I declined the call.