Chapter 3

Corey pulled out his phone and rapidly dialed a number. "James? It's Corey. Get security down to the ER entrance immediately. I've got a rogue driver here who nearly ran us into a ditch. We need to handle this strictly."

After hanging up, he gave me a triumphant look. "Matthew, your career is over."

I didn't even look at him. My eyes were locked on the road ahead.

As long as I got the patient to the hospital, I didn't care if I lost my job.

Right then, Teresa's hysterical sobbing drifted from the back. "Matthew… She's stopped breathing…"

"Get the adrenaline ready! Start CPR! Now!" I roared at the rearview mirror. My foot was practically snapping the gas pedal in half.

Teresa's hands shook as she tore open the medical kit. Her tears splashed onto the woman's pale face.

"It's no use, Matthew! I can't stop the bleeding. The gauze is soaked through!"

Corey sat in the passenger seat. His brow was furrowed but not out of concern for the patient. He was busy using a tissue to meticulously brush potato chip crumbs off his shirt.

"What's the panic? If she's dead, take her to the morgue. It happens."

That casual remark made me want to punch him in the face.

Ten minutes later, the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of Ashvale Hospital's emergency department.

The moment the doors swung open, medical staff rushed forward with a gurney.

James Walker, the chief of ER, approached Corey with a sycophantic grin. "Dr. Johnston! You shouldn't have troubled yourself with a routine transport like this."

Corey instantly put on a mask of deep sorrow. He straightened his coat and sighed while pointing at the woman in the back. "It's tragic. Her condition was dire, and I did everything in my power. Unfortunately, our driver here is incompetent."

He suddenly turned his attack directly toward me. "He insisted on stopping at a service station for a smoke and took the wrong exit. We were delayed for 40 minutes. If it weren't for his sheer negligence, this patient would have arrived ages ago."

James' expression hardened instantly. He turned on me, stabbing a finger toward my face. "Matthew! Who the hell do you think you are, playing games with a patient's life? Security! Arrest this irresponsible bastard!"

Several burly guards lunged forward, pinning my arms behind my back.

I thrashed against them and glared at Corey's hypocritical face. "That's a lie! You forced me to stop to buy snacks for your daughter! You even pulled the plug on the radio! You're the murderer here!"

A crowd of bystanders and family members began to gather, whispering and pointing.

"What a scumbag. Delaying a patient just to have a smoke."

"He should be in prison."

"Dr. Johnston is such a saint, overseeing the transport himself. It's a shame he had to deal with a lowlife like that."

As Corey listened to the praise, a faint smirk touched his lips.

He stepped closer to me and lowered his voice, so only I could hear. "You want to go up against me? Take a look in the mirror, you nobody."

He straightened up and waved a dismissive hand at James. "Lock him in the security office. Once we've handled the patient, turn him over to the police."

Teresa climbed out of the ambulance, drenched in blood. Trembling, she tried to defend me. "Dr. Walker, that's not what happened. Matthew didn't—"

Corey shot her a chilling look. "Teresa, you're still an intern, aren't you? You should think very carefully before you speak. If you choose to back up his delusions, your permanent contract might just disappear."

Teresa trembled in fear, tears welling up in her eyes. She forced herself to swallow the rest of her words.