Chapter 2

Harrison chuckled through the speaker. "My bad, princess. How can I make it up to you?"

Leah held the phone, looking mortified. The heart monitor flatlined.

"Prep for an emergency thoracotomy!" I barked. "If anyone asks, this is entirely on me!"

I operated in the red zone for four straight hours.

The second I threw the last stitch, my legs gave out.

I slumped against the cold tile wall, drenched in sweat.

The sliding doors burst open.

Carter, Harrison, and Mia finally strolled into the ER.

I felt a surge of relief.

The waiting room was still overflowing with crash victims. We desperately needed the backup.

I leaned on the wall to stand up, but Harrison marched over, practically spitting mad.

"Who gave you the authority to bypass protocol and operate unsupervised?" he yelled. "I am reporting this to the Chief of Staff!"

Emily, flustered, stepped between us. "Dr. Sterling, she saved his life! His airway was compromised!"

The patient's wife, standing by the doors, nodded vigorously. "She is right. If she hadn't acted, my husband would be dead!"

Carter sneered at me. "You are already getting kicked down to a community clinic because you don't know your limits.

"You really cracked a chest open solo? You just want to stay at this hospital so badly you gambled with a man's life."

The ER went dead silent.

The wife's face shifted from gratitude to sheer horror.

"You used my husband as a guinea pig?!" she shrieked. "You psycho! I will sue you for everything you have!"

She hurled her heavy coffee mug at me.

Harrison frowned and stepped in front of me, catching the ceramic mug with his forearm.

It hit hard, instantly leaving a massive bruise.

"Harrison!" Mia shrieked.

Carter rushed to check his arm.

"You are a liability," Carter spat.

The three of them walked into the trauma bay without a second glance, leaving me alone with the furious family.

I hid in the dark on-call room, my whole body aching.

Less than an hour later, an official disciplinary notice went out on the staff portal, publicly reprimanding me.

My phone lit up with a text from Harrison.

Harrison: [Because of your stunt, we can't even get you into the community clinic.

[Hand in your resignation tomorrow.

[We will get married and you can just be a stay-at-home wife. I make enough for both of us.]

I stared at the screen, my eyes burning.

A memory hit me from the summer I turned eighteen. A boy leaning against his bike, eyes bright.

*****

I dozed off until the on-call room door banged open. Blinding fluorescent lights flickered on.

Harrison stood there, scowling. "Stop throwing a tantrum, Nat. The wedding is still on.

"Mia already found us a planner. She even tried on bridal gowns so you wouldn't have to deal with the fittings.

"Just resign tomorrow and focus on the wedding."

I stared at his arrogant face. The whole thing was completely absurd.

"I am not marrying you. Go marry Mia. You guys act like a couple anyway," I said, my voice steady but cold.

His expression darkened. "Are you out of your mind? Mia and I are completely platonic.

"I look out for her like a sister. Stop acting crazy."

We glared at each other in silence.

Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and reached out to pull me into a hug.

The door swung open again.

Emily rushed in, out of breath. "Dr. Sterling, OB/GYN has an emergency C-section. They desperately need Dr. Bennett to scrub in as first assist."

I laughed coldly. "I can't. I am resigning, remember?"

Harrison grabbed my wrist, gripping it so hard it hurt. "Go.

"Get Mia through this surgery, and I will make sure you keep your spot at the community clinic."

I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but Emily looked desperate. "Dr. Bennett, the mother is crashing."

I shut my eyes. Taking a breath, I stood up and followed her to the OR.

When Mia saw me, she practically threw herself at me. "Nat, thank God! The case is too complicated.

"I am terrified to make the first cut. Please do it for me?"

I checked the monitors. The fetal heart rate was decelerating fast.

"Mia, you are the lead surgeon. You have to make the incision," I said.

"This is a matter of life and death!" Carter yelled through the OR intercom. "Are you really going to be petty right now?

"It is her first solo C-section. Just help her!"

"She is listed as the primary. If she botches this, whose license is on the line?" I fired back.

Harrison stepped up to the glass, glaring. "I will sign off as attending. I will take the heat if it goes sideways.

"Now get in there and do the damn surgery."

I couldn't just let the patient die.

I bumped Mia out of the way. I moved fast, making the incision, clamping off bleeders, and getting the baby out safely.

Within minutes, the mother's vitals stabilized.

I let out a breath and started closing her up.

Suddenly, Mia gasped. The Mayo scissors in her shaky hand slipped and sliced straight through an artery.

"I didn't mean to! I was just trying to cut the suture thread," she blurted out, her voice trembling with panic.