Chapter 4

After a torrent of complaints, even Victoria had to remove Hugo from clinical duties and assign him to clerical work.

Hugo responded by crying again. He sobbed and protested, "I know everyone looks down on me because of how clumsy I am, Madam Director, but I sincerely want to improve. It has always been my dream to become a great medical professional."

His social media told a different story.

[Call me the Medical Fiend for being such a clumsy silly-billy! I'm clearly not cut out for this whole adulting and working thing, but I've got the director herself protecting and encouraging me. She said she wants to protect my beautiful innocence, whatever the cost! Ngaww. Thank you! You're the sweetest and the prettiest!]

…

One day, the cardiology department received an important patient. It was one of our longest-standing board members, Oswell Blackadder. Despite his advanced age, his condition had been stable for years. He was only here for a routine checkup.

Victoria assigned Hugo to his medical team so he could learn on the job, at least in theory.

That afternoon, the shrill tone of a flatline and Hugo's scream rang out from Oswell's room.

I had been sitting with my mother in the ward next door, so I rushed in at once.

"Mr. Blackadder! Are you okay?" I called as I stepped inside.

His face had turned deathly pale. His heart had stopped. Hugo sat on the floor nearby, screaming uncontrollably.

I moved in immediately and began CPR. At the same time, I demanded, "What happened? Mr. Blackadder's condition was stable. He was supposed to be fine."

Hugo only cried harder. A nurse, just as shaken, forced herself to speak. "H-He said that Madam Director ordered him to i-inject some vitamin into his vein to help his heart… B-But then t-this happened…"

I quickly examined the drug. It was a highly concentrated potassium salt. Hugo had injected it directly into a hypokalemic patient without diluting it.

"Who the hell allowed this?" I roared. "This drug belongs in a different cabinet!"

"B-But Madam Director told me he needed potassium salt for his condition. This is it, isn't it?" he protested weakly.

My blood boiled. "That does not mean injecting concentrated potassium straight into someone's vein, you idiot. Lives are at stake in this job, Hugo. Does that ever cross your mind?"

My attempt to save him failed. Oswell died.

His son, the city's real estate mogul, arrived at the hospital as soon as he heard the news. The cause of his father's death was as devastating as it was unacceptable.

In his grief and rage, he grabbed Victoria by the collar and shouted, "Explain this. Explain it to me right now. He came in for a routine check. How did someone like him just… die like that?"

Victoria's first move was to pull a sobbing, nearly collapsing Hugo into her arms. Then she shot me a sharp glare.

"It was Dr. Benfort. He gave the lethal instruction without verifying the drug or its concentration. He is responsible for this tragedy," she declared. "Mark my words. We will investigate this thoroughly and punish him for malpractice. You and your family deserve nothing less."

Hugo knew exactly what to say to protect himself. As expected, he seized on Victoria's claim. "It's… It's true… Dr. Benfort told me to get this drug… He said this was the one… I shouldn't have trusted him just because he was my supervisor… And now this happened. It's all my fault…"

Marcus Blackadder glared at me. "You? You're supposed to be the expert, yet you killed my father. You're going to rot in jail for this. Do you hear me?"

He called the police. They arrived quickly. I stood there, on the verge of being taken away.

I knew I should have felt anger. Instead, I found myself looking at Hugo and Victoria with pity.