Chapter 2

After I finished the surgery instructions, a man in a suit walked into the office. Leroy opened the door for him respectfully and asked everyone else to leave. I got up to leave with the rest of the staff, but he stopped me. "Dr. Corbin, this is Dr. Shaw's husband, Joshua Carver. He is as revered as his wife in this industry, and I think you should talk to him."

With that, Leroy closed the door behind him.

I looked up at Joshua. I knew him better than anyone else here. He was the man behind the country's largest pharmaceutical company, and a man who had held power in his hands for decades.

Joshua was dressed sharply and had a thick emerald ring on his thumb. He had the air of authority about him as he called out to me, "Dr. Corbin." He sat opposite me, looking confident and proud. "I hope you will be able to perform surgery on my son."

As he spoke, he pushed a letter of recommendation toward me. It was for a highly coveted spot in the science academy, and he looked at me with a sort of nonchalant confidence.

I looked up at him instead of the letter. "Mr. Carver, I am already booked for the next surgery. I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do for your son."

Joshua's face fell at my words. It was only then that he finally looked at me and began to contemplate me. "Dr. Corbin, there is no reason to compromise your future. You can help a million people from lower society, and it will not be worth one surgery for my son. I know what you are worried about. I promise you that I will take care of that burn victim."

He spoke casually about the patient, as if the patient were not a fellow human being, but an ant he could crush at any time, just like my father, who died alone on the cold surgery table where no one cared about his death.

His wife had abandoned him for fame and fortune, and in the face of adversity, my father had fought against everything just to give his young son a chance in life.

I laughed softly and asked calmly, "You speak about this so easily, Mr. Carver. I wonder how many people you destroyed just to get where you are today."

Joshua's expression turned grim. He leaned back in his chair and revealed his true colors. "Do you think you got where you are today on your own merits, young man?" I looked back at him calmly. "If my son had not chosen to focus on his family, you would never have become medical director at this hospital with my son's excellent resume and background."

His fingers drummed softly on the table as he scoffed. "You need to know your place. With my family's background and connections, it is easy to deal with you. I do not care how high you managed to climb in life, or what dirty methods you used to become successful, but if you dare play your moral games and talk about principles with me, I will make sure you live to regret it."

I nodded and got up after I finished tidying my patients' files. "My principles will not change, Mr. Carver. You should go. I need to prep for my next surgery."

If I had given in to some temptation or threat from him, I would have let my patients down, especially my father. He suffered through horrible pain just to let me have the only respirator and the only chance at surviving while I lay in a corner. He would never have allowed his son to give in to the enemy.

A cold, violent look flashed in Joshua's eyes. "You should know what is good for you. You will find out soon enough that you made the wrong choice."

He picked up his briefcase and slammed the door behind him.

I trembled, and my back was covered in sweat when I heard the deafening slam, but it was not out of fear. It was out of excitement. I knew that I was about to meet the real murderer who killed my father.