Chapter 2

“Why is Dr. Park here?”

Lucas looked Suji up and down with a blank expression.

“M… me?”

“Is there another Dr. Park standing here besides you?”

“Well… no, but still.”

“Answer me. Why did you come here. What business could you possibly have. Did Professor Crowell tell you to assist me?”

Suji slowly nodded.

“I clearly told him that I don’t need any assistance.”

“…I will do my best. I know I fall short compared to you and I probably will not be much help. But I can at least promise to keep every detail about the VIP patient confidential.”

“Well, I cannot say I feel the same.”

Lucas sighed quietly and pushed his fingers through his hair. His shiny blond hair fell apart from its neat shape and scattered in an oddly beautiful way.

“I don’t need you, Dr. Park.”

“I will do my best.”

“People who say they will work hard no matter what are fools. Just show it through results.”

Fool. Did he just call me a fool?

Suji had been known for her excellent grades in medical school. Back in high school she’d been hounded by a group of bullies, but even then none of them had called her a fool. How could anyone call the top student in the school a fool. They teased her for being a math genius instead. She never understood why they mocked her for being a genius, but still.

“Do you know the patient?”

“I know her.”

“…”

“Dr. Park.”

“How do you know her?”

“The patient is Angela Chan. The person who brought her here is Jonathan Harrington. My father and this hospital’s benefactor. Angela Chan is his secretary.”

“Oh.”

Suji finally understood. If it involved someone like Jonathan Harrington, it made sense why Professor Crowell had acted so tense.

“So what exactly did Professor Crowell tell you to do?”

“Oh, yes. He said drainage tube management and pain medication administration.”

Lucas took a moment to gather his thoughts, then gestured toward the room.

“Go in. Do only what you were told and come right back out.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Suji swallowed hard and stepped inside the room. Once the door closed, the quiet space made the sound of the heart monitor ring even louder. A strange chill slid down her back.

“Excuse me.”

Of course, no answer came. She’d not expected one anyway.

Behind the gently swaying curtain, she felt the presence of a person. Injecting pain medication into a patient she knew nothing about felt wrong. But what could an intern, the lowest rank in the hospital, do to disobey a professor.

Suji carefully pulled the curtain aside. A young East Asian woman with black hair lay there. Yet Suji could not fully see her face. A translucent dome mask covered her nose and jaw.

Not only that. An L-shaped head shield was also set in place. It felt as if they were telling her not to even think about identifying the patient. Even so, judging from the visible outline, the woman seemed to be quite beautiful.

To be suddenly shot by an attacker. What a disastrous and horrifying situation it must have been.

Though she looked peaceful now, Suji could not even begin to imagine the brutal pain the woman must have endured.

Suji checked the vital signs and examined the drainage tube. She pressed gently along the transparent tubing to make sure nothing was blocked.

“The drain is working normally. I will administer the pain medication now.”

She picked up an alcohol swab and thoroughly wiped around the port. Then she held the syringe and connected it to the IV port. Controlling the pressure with her thumb and forefinger, she slowly pushed the plunger.

It slid all the way in until a soft click sounded. Only then did Suji release a tight breath between her lips. She detached the syringe and took a new one to inject saline. This ensured the pain medication fully entered the patient’s bloodstream.

* * *

Earlier that dawn, Lucas had received an urgent call from his biological father, Jonathan Harrington.

“I’m on my way to Solas right now, so prepare everything so surgery can begin immediately.”

“What kind of surgery?”

“Abdominal gunshot wound. The victim is my secretary, Angela Chan. We’re not causing a commotion by calling an ambulance. Everything must be done quietly, absolutely quietly.”

“Who is the shooter?”

“I don’t know. Some robber with his face covered. They were probably after me. I have many enemies.”

Although he wasn’t scheduled to work, Lucas got out of bed and began to dress. It wasn’t only because his father asked for it. Sometimes when emergency surgeries were short on staff, people contacted Lucas. Having even one more attending surgeon always helped.

After finishing the emergency surgery, Lucas had told Professor Crowell that he would take full responsibility for the patient with the abdominal gunshot wound. Anything involving his father Jonathan gave off a rotten smell.

There was definitely a hidden truth somewhere and he didn’t want to drag other medical staff into it. Yet they’d attached an unsuspecting intern to him of all people.

After meeting Suji, Lucas went straight to Professor Crowell. The professor looked startled by his sudden visit.

“What is it, Dr. Harrington.”

“I told you I would handle that patient myself. One nurse is more than enough.”

“You did. But I thought about it. Since Dr. Park was already present on site, it is better to include her in the team for discretion.”

“Discretion. What does that even mean.”

Lucas stared at Professor Crowell’s nonsense without any change in expression.

“If she’s already mixed into this strange situation, she will not go around blabbing. Anyway, I don’t think having Dr. Park on the team is a bad idea. In fact, it was a good call.”

“Professor Crowell. With all due respect, even if Mr. Harrington donates heavily to this hospital, you cannot treat this patient differently from others.”

“What nonsense. Of course I treat this patient the same as any other. I’m only providing some convenience.”

“…”

“Surely the largest benefactor of Solas Medical Center deserves a little consideration.”

“If you plan to use an intern who knows nothing, you should stop now.”

Deep wrinkles formed between Professor Crowell’s brows.

“It seems you’re misunderstanding something. I have no such intention. Using someone. Anyone who hears that would take it the wrong way.”

Lucas left the professor’s office right after that. This entire situation felt wrong and unpleasant.

Come to think of it, had anyone reported this to the police.

If they’d arrived by ambulance, it would have been reported automatically. But since Jonathan brought her by car, there was a high chance no report had been made. The hospital staff probably hesitated because of Jonathan.

Lucas took out his phone.

* * *

After completing her tasks, Suji stepped out of the ICU feeling more at ease. Her shoulders felt stiff, probably from the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding. She rubbed her shoulder with her fist as she turned the corner, when two large men suddenly appeared in front of her.

“Hello, doctor.”

“Oh. Yes, hello.”

“We’re from the Boston Police Department.”

Their uniforms made it obvious why they were here.

“You’re part of the team treating the patient with the abdominal gunshot wound, Ms. Angela Chan, correct?”

“Yes… I’m one of the team members.”

“Do you have a moment to speak with us?”

“Yes.”

Suji obediently followed them. After settling into the quiet VIP lounge, the conversation began.

“We have already collected the bullet that was lodged in the patient’s abdomen during surgery and we heard the general situation from Dr. Harrington.”

“Yes. So you have questions for me as well?”