All Chapters of A Price on My Hands: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

The surgery had gone perfectly, and yet, this was what I got. I took a deep breath and answered calmly, "I understand. This is on me. I'll be taking a month off to reflect on my actions."The department head was smug about how he got the win, so he approved my PTO. A week later, the director called me and asked me to get back to work.I informed him that I had taken one month off. My answer immediately wiped off the fake smile on Jebediah Constantine's face. Then, he started gloating, "That's more like it, Dr. Birch. Step down when you can. You can never win against the court of public opinion. "I'm sure you don't want to ruin the hospital's reputation due to your mistakes."The man's greasy attitude made my stomach churn. I refused to talk to him, so I left the office.The scent of antiseptic in the corridor tasted sharp, especially in my disappointment. I spent 10 years being nothing but professional at my job. I had to take emergency surgeries at 2 a.m. There were even times I

The streaming room's lights were harsher than the operating theater's. Jebediah was right beside me, a gloating grin curling his lips. The chatroom was exploding.'Get out of the medical world, scum!''You'd even steal something that cheap? You should have your license taken away!''The hospital did the right thing!'My heart was turning stone cold. Jebediah elbowed me. With a low voice, he said, "Your turn to speak, Dr. Birch. And be genuine."I raised my head and faced the camera, then I took a deep breath. I said hoarsely, "I acknowledge my fault in this matter. I've failed my patient and the hospital."The chatroom exploded again.'At least someone knows she's a failure!''You should've confessed sooner!''You shouldn't even be a doctor! You'd kill someone!'I laughed at myself. Then I enunciated, "I, Jessica Birch, hereby announce my departure from Mercy Hospital. I resign as the surgical department's attending physician."The chatroom fell silent. Shortly after, a de

The video was taken at the hospital's ward. A burly, middle-aged man with a buzzcut was on the screen. His left arm was in a cast and hung before his chest. He was Tristan, the guy I saved from certain death.His eyes were red, and he was roaring at the people beside him. "On your knees!"The camera moved. A middle-aged woman and two young men dropped to their knees. Those people were the ones who had snarled and yelled at me."You fools! Were you all blind?" Tristan jabbed a finger at his family, and his shouts seemed to shake the very air in his anger. "Dr. Birch stitched my arm up bit by bit and saved me from certain death! You cost my savior her job over a two-dollar IV drip? What are you? A heartless monster?"The woman was sobbing and explaining, "I-I had no idea she would lose…""As if!" A furious Tristan smacked his hand against the table so hard that the sound seemed to echo on forever. "How many times do I have to tell you, Dr. Birch saved our family? I was going t

We stood in silence. Eventually, Benjamin spoke. "Jessica…" He took a step forward and donned a sycophantic smile. "Can we talk inside?"I said nothing and turned to my side. Jebediah snorted and squeezed through the opening. Benjamin heaved a sigh and followed him. As he did, he carefully observed my house."Take a seat," I said, as I got them some water."Save it!" Jebediah smacked the couch's armrest and demanded sharply, "Don't push it, Jessica! We've retracted the penalty and doubled your bonus! What more do you want? We've seen the video! "You now have a glowing reputation, and you're going to kick the ones who gave you the stage to shine?"I returned with two glasses of water and placed one of them on the coffee table before Benjamin. The other remained in my hand as I looked straight at Jebediah. "Mr. Constantine, do you really think I owe my achievements to your hospital?"That stunned him. Still, Jebediah quickly snapped, "Of course!"I chuckled. "I honed my ski

Benjamin tried to say something, but not a word managed to leave his lips. For the first time ever since this farce had happened, a look of shame crept onto his face.I was no saint. My heart bled and froze when I was slandered, betrayed, and forced to face the brutal Internet alone. Insincere apologies and meaningless words could not heal the pain I'd suffered.I walked to the door and opened it. "Leave, Mr. West. Mercy Hospital is great, but it's not the place for me. Imperia Charity needs me. The patients who defended me need me. A doctor should be saving lives, not wasting time dealing with bureaucracy and useless networking."Benjamin gave me one last gaze before leaving. His back was hunched, and it felt as though his soul was defeated. As he passed Jebediah, he remarked lowly, "You're talking to the Department of Health and Human Services tomorrow."Jebediah didn't move. Tristan approached and looked at him like he was gum under his shoe. "Mr. Constantine, my legal team ha