Chapter 4

I stopped, but I didn't turn around.

He spoke. "You should drop out. You've got no right to compete with Sadie."

All those years of effort, and what I got back was that I had no right?

I bit my lip and looked at him. "Elmer, whether I have the right or not isn't for you to decide."

I finished a busy morning of work.

Then I went to the cafeteria.

I had just gotten my food and sat down.

A cheerful voice rang out beside me. "Dr. Henson, thank you for letting me be lead surgeon today. I'm so happy! Getting to have a wonderful mentor like you is a blessing I must have earned over lifetimes."

I looked up.

I saw Sadie beside him, practically dancing with excitement.

Elmer wore an indulgent expression.

As if he sensed my gaze, he turned his head, met my eyes, and then froze for a moment.

Sadie noticed too. She pursed her lips but said nothing.

I lowered my head and kept eating.

But the voice beside me didn't go away.

Sadie chattered on with Elmer.

He didn't show the slightest sign of being bothered.

I finished my last bite and got up to leave.

Suddenly a panicked shout came from the doorway. "Dr. Henson, we've got a big problem! The patient from yesterday's gastrectomy has developed severe peritonitis."

Elmer's expression changed, and he turned and ran out.

Sadie ran out after him.

I paused for a moment, then tugged at the corner of my mouth, thinking it had nothing to do with me.

After going upstairs, I was just about to head to the lounge for a nap.

When a young nurse grabbed hold of me.

"Dr. Dudley, the chief is looking for you!"

Before I could react, she had already dragged me into the office.

Elmer and Sadie were already standing inside.

The moment he saw me, Elmer said, "The second assistant surgeon for yesterday's operation was Deidre Dudley. It had nothing to do with Sadie."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Elmer, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Elmer didn't look at me. "As the lead surgeon, I bear responsibility too for the patient's infection caused by her inadequate scrubbing in. I can accept the discipline along with her."

I stared at him.

He stood ramrod straight, his tone calm.

From start to finish he didn't spare me a single glance.

It was as if he meant to crush me alive.

I took a deep breath, forced myself to stay calm, and looked at Fabian. "Director James, the operating room has a recorder that runs the whole time. One check and we'll know."

Elmer said flatly, "That one wasn't on."

Then he finally looked at me. "Dr. Dudley, even though you're my wife, when you make a mistake you have to own it. Admit it now and you can get lighter treatment. Otherwise the penalty is having your medical license revoked."

Wife.

Ever since Sadie showed up.

When had he ever treated me like his wife?

I clenched my fists. "Director James, every member of the surgical staff in that room can testify that Dr. Henson pulled me off the table partway through yesterday."

Soon the people who had been present were called in.

"Who was the second assistant surgeon yesterday?"

The group looked at one another, then answered in unison, "Dr. Dudley."

I went rigid all over.

Elmer turned his head and sneered. "Did you hear that? Dr. Dudley, stop struggling. There's no point."

Sadie stood behind him, tipped her chin up at me, her face full of smug satisfaction.

My eyes went red. "Elmer! What gives you the right to treat me like this?"

Elmer's tone didn't waver. "Dr. Dudley, it's right there in black and white on the surgical record. It's your name signed on it. You're not going to claim that isn't yours, are you?"

"When did I ever sign anything?"

"Whether you signed or not isn't for you to decide."

He stopped looking at me and turned to Fabian. "Director James, it's in black and white. It's settled. I'm requesting that Deidre Dudley be removed from the project group and Sadie Chandler brought in directly."

Fabian looked troubled and was about to speak.

Just then, the door was shoved open from the outside.

"I can testify for Dr. Dudley!"