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Adrian Duran froze. "What did you just say?"

I closed the medical records and slid the file across the table back to him.

"I will not accept this patient."

The entire consultation room fell silent. Adrian stared at me, the frown on his face deepening.

Adeline Duran might look pale while sitting in her wheelchair, but she still seemed to have a lot of energy in her.

It had been 20 years since, and they looked like they'd been living a good life. Adrian was the eldest son of the Duran family, and naturally, he was now the successor to the massive Duran Group. Meanwhile, Adeline had become the family's most precious apple of their eyes.

They probably would also never recognize me, the bespectacled head cardiologist before them, as the real Duran heiress that they once kept out of their home.

"I know that you're the most authoritative cardiologist in the city, and it's not easy for us to get an appointment with you. But you don't have to worry about the money. You can charge us whatever amount you want as long as you can save my sister," Adrian said, placing a black card on my desk.

I looked down at the card before looking back at him again.

"The hospital has rules, and I will not admit her because her condition is not within my treatment scope."

"What do you mean by that?" Adrian asked, stunned again. "I've inquired about you, and you've even managed to save patients with advanced heart failure. But Adeline only has a heart murmur and occasional cramps. And you're saying that you can't treat her?"

Adeline coughed twice and tugged at Adrian's sleeve. "Forget about it, Adrian… I don't want to see you lowering yourself like this on my behalf…"

The look on her face was exactly the same as when she accused me of pushing her down the stairs in my past life.

Adrian felt a pang of heartache and grabbed her hand. When he looked at me again, his eyes were as sharp as knives.

"You think that the money isn't enough, do you, Dr. Knight? Then, let me try another way.

"If you take Adeline in as your patient today, Duran Group will donate 30 million dollars worth of hospital equipment to your cardiology department. Is that enough?"

Several interns behind me gasped, but I didn't even lift my eyes to look at him.

"Mr. Duran, I only admit my patients based on their illnesses, not their money. And I will not treat your sister's illness. Kindly take your black card and get out of my office."

Adrian laughed coldly. He sneered, his eyes filled with utter contempt.

"So, you're not confident that you can cure my sister? And you call yourself a top expert and top authority in cardiology? I bet it's all just empty talk!"

"Don't argue anymore, Adrian… My chest hurts…"

"Adeline!"

Adrian panicked as he quickly called his bodyguard over to wheel her out. When they reached the door, he turned back to me and glared.

I touched the cold crystal pendant in my pocket after they were gone.

…

Early the next morning, I'd only just completed my rounds when the hospital dean, Dr. John Gallagher, who used to always have a smile on his face, barged into my office with a dark look on his face.

"You're fired, Dr. Stella Knight."

I stopped writing my reports and looked up at him.

"What's the reason for it?"

"Reason?"

Dr. Gallagher scoffed. "What kind of attitude did you show Mr. Duran yesterday? Don't you know that all doctors have a duty to treat all of their patients? You don't have any conscience or professional ethics at all! How dare you refuse to treat a critically ill patient!"

My gaze shifted downward, landing on the brand-new Rolex watch on his wrist.

It wasn't there yesterday.

I understood at once.

"So, how much did he 'donate' to you?" I asked calmly.

Dr. Gallagher's face changed. Then, he hollered at me in fury and said, "What nonsense are you spouting! This is a decision made by the hospital's board of directors!

"Now pack up your things and get out of here!"