Chapter 3

The surgery finally ended.

The mayor slowly woke up. Joe walked forward with Melissa on his arm, his face full of joy.

"Mr. Carter, you're finally awake!"

The entire department crowded into the hospital room, everyone wanting to leave a good impression on Richard.

Melissa once again transformed into an award-winning actress, looking at the mayor with tears in her eyes.

"Sir, this was my first time as lead surgeon, and it was for someone as important as you. I was so nervous, but fortunately everything went smoothly with the surgery."

The mayor looked at her and smiled weakly.

"I never would have thought... someone so young could have such advanced medical skills. I owe you, my life."

Joe wrapped his arm around Melissa's shoulder at just the right moment, his tone proud as he spoke to the mayor.

"Mr. Carter, Melissa was my direct junior at medical school. She's been at the hospital for less than six months. Being able to operate on you is her honor, and the honor of our entire department!"

The mayor surveyed everyone in the room and nodded with satisfaction.

"Young people today are truly impressive. Once I recover and leave the hospital, I must properly reward talented young people like you!"

I watched the smiles on everyone's faces, my heart ice-cold.

They had all conspired together, sacrificing everything just to make Melissa the mayor's savior and cement her place in the medical field.

What deep colleague loyalty indeed.

"Mr. Carter, people with talent like Melissa are exactly who our hospital should be cultivating. Unlike certain people who don't deserve their positions, who only became directors through family connections, and couldn't help at all during your surgery!"

Joe continued to embellish the story in front of the mayor while throwing me under the bus. Everyone turned their gazes toward me, each pair of eyes full of disgust.

Just then, the hospital room door burst open. Richard's wife and daughter rushed in with a group of officials.

Richard's wife, Jane Herbert, threw herself onto the mayor, tears streaming down her face.

"Honey, you nearly scared us to death! What would we do if something happened to you?"

The mayor patted his wife's shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm fine, aren't I? I have to thank Dr. Melissa Cross for her dedicated treatment. She saved my life."

Jane and the officials all turned to look at Melissa, thanking her profusely.

Melissa pretended to be humble as she thanked the mayor's wife, but the look she shot me was full of smug provocation.

I stood to the side, expressionless, watching everything unfold in the hospital room.

Jane immediately ordered someone to make a banner to send to the hospital to properly thank Melissa for saving the mayor's life. She even wanted to take Melissa as her goddaughter and treat her like her own child from now on.

Just as the entire hospital room was filled with a joyful atmosphere, Richard's six-year-old daughter, Emma, suddenly pulled back his blanket.

Emma immediately burst into tears.

"Daddy, your legs... where did your legs go?"

Everyone followed the little girl's cry and looked toward the mayor's legs.

Beneath the blanket, where the mayor's legs should have been, there was nothing but thick layers of gauze.