Chapter 2

The front of my car slammed into the unfinished concrete wall.

The airbag deployed and struck me in the face.

I groaned in pain as cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

Then a deep, tearing pain spread through my right forearm and wrist.

I flexed my fingers. I could still move them, but the muscles and soft tissue were badly bruised.

The glass doors to the ER flew open.

Dr. Owen Dace, the ER doctor on duty downstairs, ran out with a few nurses to see what had happened.

Their flashlights swept over the wreckage.

Then they saw me behind the wheel—the doctor who had just gone off duty.

They were stunned.

"Emma! How did this happen?!"

Dr. Dace rushed over and yanked the door open.

My coworkers scrambled to help me out of the driver's seat.

I leaned against the car door, gasping for air.

The translucent comments began racing across my vision again.

[Nice job! Our girl's a total badass!]

[That crash was perfect. Nothing serious, and now she's got the perfect excuse to stay out of the OR!]

[Your coworkers at the hospital all saw it. Those are rock-solid witnesses. Let's see them try to force you into surgery now!]

I read the comments and gave a thin, humorless smile.

Now Anna and my father couldn't force me to do the surgery. Could they?

My coworkers quickly helped me into the treatment room on the first floor.

Looking worried, Dr. Dace sat me down in an exam chair.

He carefully lifted my right hand to examine the injuries to my arm.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

My wrist was already swollen and mottled with ugly purple bruises. The slightest effort made my fingers tremble uncontrollably.

Frowning, Dr. Dace reached for the povidone-iodine and a thick elastic bandage.

He cleaned the scrapes on my arm with practiced hands, wrapped my wrist tightly, and secured my arm in a sling.

When he finished, Dr. Dace gave me a serious look.

"Emma, this is a severe soft tissue injury.

"Your wrist also shows clear signs of a severe sprain. As one doctor to another, I need you to take this seriously.

"You can't put any strain on your right wrist for a while, much less pick up a scalpel for delicate surgery. If you do, you'll suffer permanent damage."

I nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Dr. Dace," I said softly.

Dr. Dace said I was lucky not to have injured my cervical spine or broken any bones.

As he spoke, he pulled his phone out of his white coat pocket to make a call.

"This is serious. I need to call Dr. Hale right away and tell him what happened.

"You're one of our best people. A car accident is no small thing."

My gaze sharpened.

I immediately reached over and pressed my uninjured left hand firmly over his phone.

Dr. Dace froze and looked at me in confusion.

My face was calm, but my voice left no room for argument.

"Don't call him yet.

"He's dealing with a critical situation at the hospital tonight and already has his hands full.

"Don't bother him over something as minor as this. I don't want to distract him."

Dr. Dace hesitated.

"But with your hand this badly hurt, you need time off..."

"I'll tell him myself. Go take care of your other patients," I cut in.

Realizing I wouldn't budge, Dr. Dace put his phone away with a sigh and went to write up my medical report and get me some painkillers.

Even if I told Arthur, he wouldn't believe me.

He'd only think I was making up excuses to get out of the surgery.

Just then, the phone in my pocket started buzzing like crazy. Anna's name flashed on the screen.

I stared coldly at the flashing name and waited several seconds before answering.

The call had barely connected.

Anna was already shrieking in my ear.

"Emma! Where the hell are you?! Why aren't you back yet?!

"The patient's blood pressure keeps dropping. He's not going to hold on much longer!

"Get in here and take over! Or I'm reporting you to Dad, and you can kiss this month's bonus goodbye."

I felt a trace of bitter sadness as my sister accused me. She usually acted like an imperious genius no one could question.

Luckily, the floating comments had warned me what was coming.

I was ready for this.

I replied coldly.

"Got it.

"I'll be in the OR in a minute."

Before she could start screaming again, I hung up.

I took a deep breath, strode out of the treatment room, and headed for the OR.