The car came to a smooth stop outside the imposing, wrought-iron gates of the Xavier family’s estate.

Wren Wynter got out of the car, a cool night breeze brushing against her cheeks.

The old butler led her toward the east wing where Old Madam Xavier usually resided, his pace much hastier than usual.

As they neared the entrance, he lowered his voice and spoke quickly, "Young Madam, after dinner tonight, Old Madam Xavier was on her walk when she suddenly complained of chest tightness. Her face turned pale, and she couldn’t breathe... The family doctor saw her and said it’s acute angina. The situation is not good. We’ve already called for an ambulance; it should be here any moment."

Hearing this, Wren’s heart sank.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps and Helen Sawyer’s tearful cries came from inside.

"Mom! Mom, how are you? Don’t scare me like this! Quick, get the medicine!"

Wren and the old butler immediately pushed the door open and went inside.

In the spacious living room, Old Madam Xavier was slumped against a soft couch, her face ashen and lips purple. She clutched the fabric over her chest, her breathing short and labored.

Helen Sawyer knelt by the couch, holding a medicine bottle. Her hands were shaking so violently that a few pills had scattered on the floor.

The family doctor was taking the old madam’s blood pressure, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"Why isn’t the ambulance here yet!"

Wren strode forward, pushed aside the flustered family doctor, and knelt beside Old Madam Xavier.

She took the old madam’s cold hand, her other hand quickly and professionally checking her pupils.

"Grandma, can you hear me?"

Old Madam Xavier’s unfocused eyes seemed to gain a little clarity. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Wren made her assessment and looked up, her voice sharp. "Everyone, stand back. Keep the air circulating. Where is that ambulance?"

Before she finished speaking, the piercing wail of an ambulance siren grew from a distant cry to a roar right outside.

Soon, several paramedics in white coats rushed in carrying a stretcher.

After a flurry of activity, Old Madam Xavier was carefully lifted onto the stretcher and hooked up to oxygen and a portable monitor.

The doors closed, and the siren ripped through the night sky.

At the hospital, Old Madam Xavier was wheeled directly into the emergency room.

Wren was stopped at the door, able only to watch the busy figures of doctors and nurses through the window.

Helen Sawyer’s face was deathly pale, her hair a mess. Seeing Wren, she grabbed her by the arm.

"How is your grandmother? Huh? What did the doctor say?"

"They’re still trying to save her," Wren said, her voice a little hoarse.

Helen Sawyer let go, pacing anxiously in the hallway and muttering, "How could this happen... How could this happen... She was fine during the day..."

"It’ll be okay. Dr. Park is on duty," Wren said softly.

After what felt like an eternity, the door to the emergency room opened.

"Dr. Park, my mom, she..." Helen Sawyer rushed forward.

Ho-ran Park nodded at her. "You’re the family, right? Go handle the payment."

Helen Sawyer left to handle the payment, leaving Wren alone in the hallway.

"Senior Brother, did you send her away because you have something to tell me?"

Ho-ran Park nodded, his expression grave.

"The Old Madam’s condition is not good. It’s an acute myocardial infarction—an extensive anterior wall MI, complicated by cardiogenic shock. The coronary angiogram shows severe lesions in all three major vessels."

A chill went through Wren’s heart.

She was a doctor; she knew exactly what that meant.

"What are the odds of a successful surgery?"

She heard her own voice tremble. Cold sweat beaded in her palms, which she clenched into tight fists.

Ho-ran Park looked at her, his tone gentle despite its gravity. "The surgery is extremely difficult. The patient is elderly, her cardiac function is poor, and her tolerance for both the operation and cardiopulmonary bypass is very low. This all happened so suddenly, so there’s limited time for pre-op preparation."

He paused, looking directly at Wren. "None of our department heads in cardiac surgery are on call tonight. The fastest any of them could get here is over two hours. We don’t have that kind of time."

"Junior Sister, this isn’t my area of expertise, but for a surgery like this, the lead surgeon’s skill and experience are paramount. The slightest mistake, and the patient might never leave the operating table."

"Therefore, Junior Sister, you are the most suitable person to be the lead surgeon."

Wren’s pupils constricted. She looked hesitant.

"But I... I haven’t held a scalpel in years!"

’I’m afraid. Afraid my hands will shake.’

’Afraid I won’t be able to save a life.’

’Even more afraid that I’ll be the one to kill Grandma!’

"I know," Ho-ran Park said, his tone urgent yet still gentle. "But right now, you’re the only person in this entire hospital who can perform this surgery. Do you want to just stand by and watch Old Madam Xavier die on the operating table?"

Wren’s face grew paler and paler. She clenched her hands so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

"I haven’t done this in so long. My hands will be rusty, my judgment might be slow... What if..."

"There are no what-ifs!" Ho-ran Park said decisively. "I’ll be your first assistant. I’ll support you through the whole thing and help you oversee the critical steps."

"But you have to be the lead surgeon, Junior Sister. Only your technique and precision are suitable for handling the old madam’s fragile blood vessels. It’s the best option we have right now."

Wren pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

’To save her, or not to save her?’

’If I fail...’

’But if I don’t even try...’

The image of Old Madam Xavier’s pained expression flashed through her mind.

Wren closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, they were filled with determination.

"Okay, I’ll do it!"

A flicker of relief and approval crossed Ho-ran Park’s eyes. "Good! Come with me. Get into your scrubs. I’ll brief you on the patient’s latest data and the surgical plan as we prep!"

After paying the fees, Helen Sawyer came back around the corner to find Wren gone. She couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.

Then, she pulled out her phone and, with trembling fingers, found Kaden Xavier’s number and dialed.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. The background was noisy, like an airport or a highway.

"Hello, Mom," came Kaden Xavier’s magnetic voice, tinged with fatigue. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Kaden! Kaden, you have to come back! Your grandma... Your grandma had a heart attack! She’s in the emergency room, and they say she needs major surgery!" Helen Sawyer shouted.

Kaden Xavier’s voice was frantic for only a moment before he regained his composure. "Which hospital? I’m on my way back! How is Grandma now?"

"City Hospital. Your grandma is still in the ER," Helen Sawyer said, her words jumbled and incoherent.

"Wren Wynter came too, but who knows where she’s run off to. At a time like this, she..."

She couldn’t stop herself from complaining.

Hearing that Wren was also there, Kaden felt a flicker of reassurance, but his brow furrowed at the last part. "Mom, don’t panic. I’ll change my ticket to the next flight back immediately! You stay there, and let me know the second you hear anything!"

After hanging up, Helen’s panic subsided slightly, but her resentment for Wren hadn’t diminished at all.

’I always said Wren was no good. It’s bad enough she can’t even lay an egg, but now the grandmother who doted on her is fighting for her life, and she’s nowhere to be found.’

’That heartless bitch.’

She leaned against the cold wall, her eyes glued to the doors of the emergency room.

Inside the operating room, Wren was already in her surgical scrubs.

Ho-ran Park stood across from her as her first assistant, ready to assist at a moment’s notice.

"Start the clock."