The Surgeon's Shadow Chapter 2

Adrian put it on speaker. Bella's angry voice filled the sterile room.

"If you don't come comfort me right now, I'm never talking to you again."

Adrian's voice turned gentle. "Bella, honey, let me finish this surgery and I'll come straight to you."

Bella huffed. "If you aren't here in five minutes, I'm going to the clinic to get rid of this baby. You won't be a father anymore."

Pregnant.

The bitterness filled my mouth.

In my past life, I thought they only got together after I went to prison.

Turns out, they were already expecting.

Before I could process the shock, Adrian dropped his instruments and bolted for the door.

I grabbed his arm.

"Adrian, you can't leave. The patient can't wait."

He glared at me with pure fury. "Didn't you hear her? She's going to abort my child! If I don't go now, it'll be too late!"

I frowned. "What about the patient?"

"I'll be back as soon as I can. A few minutes won't kill him."

I stared at him in disbelief. A heart transplant is a race against time. Every minute counts.

Last time, the patient died because of this exact delay.

I tightened my grip. I wouldn't let him go.

"Maya, let go! Are you trying to kill my child?"

I started to deny it, but he shoved me hard.

I stumbled and crashed back-first onto the metal instrument table. A groan escaped my lips.

Adrian didn't even look back. He sprinted out the door.

The rest of the surgical team rushed to help me up.

"Dr. Lin, are you okay? Dr. Pierce is out of line. Defending her is one thing, but getting physical?"

"I knew something was going on between them. I didn't think they'd be so blatant about a pregnancy."

I waved them off. "Not the time. I need to get him back."

The patient's life was more important than Adrian's betrayal.

I wouldn't let the tragedy repeat itself.

I ran into the hallway, but I was immediately surrounded by the patient's family.

"Doctor, how is he? Is the surgery a success?"

I recognized them instantly. The Mayor's family. His elderly mother knelt before me, sobbing.

"Doctor, please, save my son. I'm begging you."

His wife, seven months pregnant, also tried to kneel.

"Doctor, please. Everyone says this is the best hospital. Please save my husband."

I pulled them up, looking them in the eye. "I promise you, I will do everything I can."

Adrian was gone. I returned to the OR.

The team looked behind me expectantly.

"Dr. Lin, where's Dr. Pierce?"

I shook my head. "I couldn't catch him."

The anesthesiologist panicked.

"The patient is under general anesthesia, chest cracked open. If we don't operate now, he'll die of shock or infection."

"Only Dr. Pierce is qualified for this procedure in the whole city. It's too late to call in someone else."

I took a deep breath. "I'll do it. Adrian and I were classmates. I know everything he knows."

The team rejected the idea immediately.

"Maya, you're a resident. Hospital protocol forbids you from leading a transplant."

"Just call Dr. Pierce again. Get him back here."

I swallowed the truth—that he wouldn't come back—and dialed his number on speaker for everyone to hear.