Chapter 3

Gabriel's expression darkened the moment he saw the leave request. "Cody, what is this supposed to mean?"

He slammed the paper onto my face. "The department needs hands right now! Are you taking this many days off to go against me?"

His voice dropped, full of threat. "Don't think that just because you're a resident you're safe. You still have a long career ahead of you. If you cross me, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can't last in this field! Keep this up, and it won't just be a demotion. I can fire you right now."

I said nothing. I pulled the medical checkup report I'd just done a few days ago from my pocket and set it on his desk.

"Dr. Robinson, I've been experiencing arrhythmia recently. My doctor recommended some rest," I said evenly.

"Long-term high-pressure work isn't good for the heart. You're my senior. You should understand that better than I do."

He picked up the report and scanned it. His face turned ashen and then flushed with rage. In the end, he couldn't find any argument.

"Hmph!"

He snorted, grabbed a pen, and signed my leave form.

I was about to turn and leave when Scarlett appeared.

She looped her arm through Lewis' and said with a mocking tone, "Well, well, Dr. Parker. A little setback, and you're already running?"

Lewis grinned and added, "Some people lack the skill, but their mental fortitude is even worse. Back where I practiced abroad, they would have been weeded out years ago."

"Don't think the department will collapse without you. Lewis here is way better than you. He's the real elite," Scarlett said.

Ignoring them, I walked straight out of the office.

At the end of the hall, the head nurse, Kaia Acevedo, called after me, "Dr. Parker."

She handed me an apple. "Remember that female patient you saved a few days ago?"

I nodded.

"She's the only daughter of Mr. Jabari Dodson, Crestfield Group's chairman. Mr. Dodson sent people to inquire about you, so he could thank you."

Kaia sighed. "But Dr. Gabriel blocked it. He credited the entire department, saying it was all thanks to Dr. Lewis' exceptional leadership. You're just too honest. You don't know how to fight for yourself."

I just nodded and thought that they weren't capable of handling this gratitude.

I boarded the high-speed train back home.

As soon as it started moving, my phone rang. It was Oscar. His voice was thick with panic, and he sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

"Dr. Parker! This is bad! Really bad! Crestfield Group's chairman just had an acute heart attack. He's been rushed to our hospital!"

My stomach dropped.

Oscar continued, "Lewis is the attending physician. He looked at the ECG and diagnosed an acute myocardial infarction, but the patient has special drug allergies, so he's afraid to use standard thrombolytics!

"He spent forever looking things up on his tablet, muttering about evidence-based medicine, but wouldn't make a decision! He's too scared to perform an emergency surgery, so he's asking the family to sign a transfer consent!"

Oscar's voice cracked. "Dr. Parker, this is an acute heart attack! Every minute counts! How can he even think about transferring him?"

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated and signaled Gabriel's number.

I hung up on Oscar and answered.

Gabriel's roar came through the line. "Cody! You get your ass back here immediately! If anything happens to Mr. Dodson, you'll regret it!"

I held the phone away, letting him blow off steam.

Then, I spoke calmly. "Dr. Robinson, first, I'm officially on leave. Second, I'm just a resident. I don't have the authority or the ability to handle a patient at this level. Isn't that overseas-trained prodigy, Dr. Lewis, supposed to be the expert in handling these complicated cases?"

With that, I hung up.