Chapter 3

Three days later, I returned to Avermont for the first time.

Not to work.

I was there for the hospital's internal review of Daniel's death.

As soon as my car reached the hospital entrance, I saw a crowd packed outside the ER.

Protest signs whipped in the wind.

[JUSTICE FOR OUR FATHER.]

[STOP PRACTICING ON PATIENTS.]

[AVERMONT MUST TELL THE TRUTH.]

Daniel's wife, Laura Morris, sat on the ground, her voice hoarse from crying.

Daniel's mother stood nearby, supported by relatives and clutching a framed photo of him. She looked completely hollowed out.

A man in his early thirties stood at the front of the crowd, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the hospital entrance.

That was Daniel's younger brother, Ryan Morris.

The warning messages had told me he was the one who would attack me with a knife.

The moment I stepped out of the car, more than a dozen phones swung toward me.

"There she is!"

"That's Jessica Caldwell!"

"She got a patient killed and still has the nerve to show her face!"

The crowd surged toward me.

Hospital security quickly formed a line in front of me.

Ryan shoved one of the security officers aside.

"Why did you operate on my brother?"

His voice cracked as he shouted.

"They told us it was a routine gallbladder surgery! How did he end up dead? Did you use him to pad your resume for a promotion?"

One of the livestreamers seized on the moment.

"Guys, here she is. The heartless doctor.

"Look at her. Not a trace of guilt.

"How is someone like her even allowed to practice medicine?"

Before I could say anything, Elise rushed out from behind the crowd.

Her eyes were red, and in her white coat, she looked like she might collapse at any second.

"Please, calm down. Jessica didn't mean for this to happen..."

With one simple "didn't mean to," she'd already made me sound guilty.

Laura jerked her head up.

"Dr. Parker, if she didn't mean to do it, then you're saying she did do it, right?"

Elise bit her lip as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I... I was only the assistant. I couldn't go against a senior surgeon."

She turned to me, her voice trembling.

"Jessica, I know you're afraid of taking the blame, but Mr. Morris is dead. You can't make me take the fall alone."

She played the innocent victim to perfection.

Every word sounded helpless.

Every word was meant to destroy me.

Grant walked out next.

He stepped in front of the cameras, his expression grave.

"Everyone, I'm Jessica Caldwell's husband, and I also work in Medical Affairs here at Avermont."

The crowd went quiet for a moment.

He looked at me with exactly the right amount of pain in his eyes.

"Jessica, the chart, the surgical schedule, and the badge-access records are all right there. Why did you suddenly change the plan that night?"

I stared coldly at him.

"I wasn't at Avermont."

Grant closed his eyes briefly.

"I wish that were true. But wishing doesn't change the evidence."

The crowd erupted.

"Even her husband admits it!"

"If her own husband won't defend her, she must be guilty!"

"A patient died because of her, and she's still lying!"

Ryan lunged forward again.

"Give me my brother back!"

Security held him back.

I could clearly make out a hard shape bulging in his coat pocket.

A chill ran down my spine.

The scene from the warning messages flashed before my eyes.

The crowd.

The cameras.

The curses.

The glint of a blade.

I didn't step back.

I looked straight at Grant.

"Are you really going to stand here and pass off fabricated evidence as the truth?"

His expression stiffened for a split second.

Elise immediately cried out.

"Jessica, how can you accuse Grant of falsifying evidence? He's spent the past few days trying to smooth things over for you. He's barely slept. You can't turn on him too!"

The crowd started shouting again.

I pulled out my phone and raised my voice above the noise.

"If everyone wants the truth, I'll show you the evidence."