Chapter 2

After texting back, I decided to swing by the office to grab my laptop.

When I reached the department doors, I froze.

The access card scanner glowed a solid red.

My access had been revoked.

Through the glass, I could see Dante lounging in my desk chair.

I knocked on the glass.

Dante looked up. When he spotted me, he opened the door just enough and stood there blocking the doorway.

"Don't take this personally, Dr. Carver. Chief Hardy put me in charge of department inventory. I've got to show some results," he said.

"And your idea of showing results is reporting me?"

"I wouldn't put it like that," he said, tilting his head. "If you did nothing wrong, a report won't hurt, right?"

"Dante, do you even know who this hospital—"

He cut me off impatiently. "Enough, Dr. Carver. You're on the verge of losing your license. Do you really think you own the hospital? Save the performance for Chief Hardy.

"It's precisely this arrogance of yours that made me revoke your access. You should remember that you're not above the rest of us."

Anger surged in my chest, but arguing was pointless right now.

"My floor rounds logbook is still in there," I said, reining in my temper.

Dante smirked. "I'm keeping it safe for you."

"I need it right now."

He let out a cold snort. "Dr. Carver, it's not that I won't let you in. But if you step inside and something else goes missing from the inventory, you might not be able to explain yourself. I'm just looking out for you."

Just then, Sofia walked over and stood right behind Dante. "Dr. Carver, you should just go home for now. Let the Medical Affairs Office clear things up first."

"Sofia," I said, locking eyes with her. "That patient in bed 12 last week had major blood pressure swings. I told you to adjust her antihypertensive dose. Did you?"

Her eyes flicked away. "Dante said your standards were too strict. As long as the pressure stays near the threshold, it's fine."

Dante jumped back in. "Dr. Carver, can't we make things a little more relaxed around here? You run this place like a high school boot camp. Everyone's exhausted."

The other doctors behind them nodded along.

"Seriously, Dr. Carver. Your standards are way too high."

"No other department is this rigid."

"Promotions come down to your connection with Chief Hardy anyway. Just make sure the charts are good enough, and you're set."

I stood there, stunned. They had never said a word of this to my face.

"Sofia, half of your board exam study notes were—"

"I know!"

She cut me off, her voice suddenly spiking in volume. "I know you helped me a lot! But Dr. Carver, you can't hold that over my head forever! I have my own clinical judgment. I don't need to follow your orders blindly!"

A few quiet voices chimed in from behind her.

"Yeah, all he does at handoff meetings is criticize us. He treats us like little kids."

"He takes the lead on every complex case. We're stuck as first and second assistants forever."

"Well, he's Chief Hardy's star student after all."

The corners of my mouth twitched into a bitter smile. I had been feeding a pack of ungrateful snakes.

Dante gave me a smug look. "Don't worry, Dr. Carver. I'll make sure your VIP patients are well taken care of."

"What are you talking about?"

"Chief Hardy already approved it. Your high-priority cases are being transferred to me."

A loud ring sounded in my head.

I had spent over six months researching the treatment protocol for that rare pathology.

Chief Hardy had specifically said I was the only one allowed to handle this patient.

"You're lying," I said.

Dante shrugged. "Check the group chat yourself."

I looked down and opened my phone.

Five minutes ago, Chief Hardy had posted a notice. "Effective immediately, all high-priority patients under Dr. Rowan Carver will be reassigned to Dante. All relevant staff, please assist with the handoff."

My heart sank instantly.

How could Chief Hardy hand those patients to Dante?

He had been in the department for barely a month. He barely knew how to change a dressing properly, let alone manage complex cases.

I opened my mouth to demand an explanation, but Dante had already turned around and walked back inside.

Just then, I got a call from Grandma's assistant, David Doyle.

"Mr. Carver, why aren't you and Chief Hardy at the symposium? Mrs. Carver Senior personally secured that spot for Chief Hardy and specifically asked her to bring you along."

I froze.

The symposium?

Chief Hardy had never mentioned a word about my attendance.

Why did she lie to me?