Chapter 3

Inhaling the faint scent of blooming roses around me, I couldn't help but smile.

The nurse stepped away to grab a fresh set of dressings and told me to wait for her.

I nodded.

A few minutes later, a sudden commotion broke out around me.

"Serena, what are you doing here?"

"It really is you. Are you hiding from the police? They're looking for you all over the hospital. How dare you show your face out here?"

I frowned.

"I haven't done anything wrong. Why would the police be looking for me?"

Suddenly, someone yanked me up by my arm.

"Serena, there you are. Come with me to turn yourself in."

Recognizing Lucas's voice, I violently shook him off.

"Are you insane? Turn myself in for what?"

Chloe suddenly grabbed me, her voice dripping with artificial concern. "Stop running, Serena. A patient died on the operating table because of you. You need to own up to it. If you confess now, we'll all plead for leniency on your behalf."

I shoved Chloe away.

"What total nonsense are you talking about? I didn't perform any surgery, so what responsibility do I have to take?"

Suddenly, a hand gripped my collar tightly.

"Are you the butcher who botched the operation and killed my father? You monster! He was in perfect health, and you killed him! You destroyed my family. I want an eye for an eye!"

I was slammed hard onto the pavement, every bone in my body aching.

I tried to explain, "You have the wrong person. I've been a patient here all day and haven't touched a scalpel. I even reported my ID badge stolen this morning."

The man saw my hospital gown and hesitated.

Chloe immediately chimed in, "Serena, I know your family has enough pull to forge medical records for you, but a human life was lost! How can you still deny it?"

Lucas pointed accusingly at me and shouted, "You killed a man, Serena! How can you stand there acting completely innocent? I can testify. I heard her say she wanted to bypass safety protocols and perform a high-risk procedure way above her clearance level just to show off. She thought her family's status would shield her from any real consequences. I tried to stop her, but she did it anyway!"

The surrounding crowd burned with rage, throwing trash and water bottles at me.

"How can anyone be so heartless? She killed a patient and still acts so arrogant!"

"You wealthy elites treat ordinary lives like trash. You deserve to rot in hell!"

The victim's son squeezed my throat tightly, roaring, "You think you can just pay your way out of taking a life? You're going to pay for this with your blood!"

The blare of police sirens cut through the air, and officers rushed forward, yelling at the man.

"Sir, step back! Let her go!"

The man roared back through tears, "I just want justice for my father! Why does a murderer get to walk free?"

An officer quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, the law will hold her accountable."

The man released his grip, and the police immediately slapped cold handcuffs on my wrists.

I rasped out through my hoarse throat, "Officers, there’s been a mistake. I've been in surgery myself today. I couldn't have operated on anyone."

The officer glared at me with sheer disgust.

"Dr. Serena Vance, do you realize that because you fled the OR after severing his artery, the patient bled out before anyone could save him?"

I demanded, "What proof do you have? I didn't perform any operation today. It wasn't me!"

The officer sighed, his tone filled with contempt.

"The victim was operated on using your smart ID badge, and the OR surveillance footage clearly shows you making the fatal incision. Multiple staff members identified you at the scene."

I froze. I was never in that operating room, so how could that be?

"Confessing now is your only chance at a lighter sentence."

Suddenly, a voice asked from the crowd, "What's going on over there?"

Someone replied angrily, "That doctor botched a surgery, killed a patient, and tried to run away. The cops are arresting her."

In the chaos, someone roughly grabbed my arm, accidentally tearing away the gauze bandages covering my eyes.