Wren Wynter was clad in blue surgical scrubs, a sterile mask doing little to hide her beautiful features.

Under the glare of the surgical lamp, her skin looked even paler, and her beautiful, limpid eyes were utterly clear, without a single impurity.

Wren Wynter took a deep breath, raising her sterile-gloved hands.

The scalpel in her grasp was rock-steady. "Beginning the operation," she announced, her voice calm and composed.

「A little over half an hour later.」

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.

Helen Sawyer looked up to see the hospital director hurrying over with several other administrators, their faces etched with concern and gravity.

"Mrs. Xavier, we’ve been briefed on Old Madam Xavier’s condition," the director said reassuringly as he stepped forward. "Please don’t worry. Dr. Ho-ran Park is an exceptional physician with superb skills. With him on the case, Old Madam Xavier is sure to pull through."

Helen Sawyer clung to his words as if they were a lifeline, nodding repeatedly. "Good. I believe you. But if anything happens to the Old Madam, the Xavier Family will never forgive your hospital!"

The director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gestured for Helen Sawyer to calm down.

’Dr. Park is a disciple of *that* person. If even he can’t do it, then there are probably few people in this world who would dare to try.’

He went to the surgical observation room to monitor the situation, but one look inside left him stunned. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

’That slender yet incredibly steady figure at the operating table... That’s not Ho-ran Park, is it?’

Just then, a nurse emerged from an adjacent prep room, and the director quickly whispered, "Who’s the lead surgeon in there?"

The nurse followed his gaze and whispered back, "That’s Dr. Park’s junior fellow. He personally invited her to take the lead, and he’s serving as her first assistant."

"Junior fellow?" The director raised an eyebrow. Then, as if he’d just remembered something, his eyes flew wide in disbelief.

"Could it be... that genius from the medical academy back then, one of Elder Hawthorne’s final disciples?"

The young nurse, unfamiliar with these old stories, just gave a vague, "I believe so."

The director drew in a sharp breath. He spun around and ordered his assistant, "Quick! Notify all attending physicians and above from the cardiac and thoracic surgery departments who aren’t occupied with an emergency procedure. Tell them to assemble in the surgical observation room at once!"

Though the assistant didn’t understand the reason, he saw how serious the director was and quickly ran off to deliver the message.

Soon, the observation room was packed.

The director briefly explained the situation, then pointed toward the window overlooking the OR.

"The lead surgeon in there is very likely Julian Hawthorne’s most prized final disciple. She specialized in cardiac surgery, was exceptionally talented, but then disappeared for some reason. This is a rare opportunity, so all of you watch closely and learn!"

At his words, the doctors all pressed forward to the observation window, their eyes fixated on the figure operating with intense focus.

"Her technique... it’s so steady!"

"Her understanding of the vascular pathways and tissue structure is so precise, it’s like she has X-ray vision."

"The anastomosis is beautiful, the stitches are evenly spaced. You can’t achieve that without ten or twenty years of experience."

The surgery lasted for nearly five hours.

After placing the final suture, Wren Wynter set down her scalpel and took a deep breath.

"The vessels are filling properly, there’s no leakage at the anastomosis site, and blood flow is restored." Ho-ran Park carefully checked her work, his voice thick with relieved joy. "The surgery was a success!"

In the observation room, the doctors who had been watching all night broke into spontaneous applause.

When Wren Wynter and Ho-ran Park emerged, having removed their surgical gowns and caps, several doctors quickly surrounded them, their faces filled with admiration.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"I’ve never seen anything like it. Your technique is simply masterful!"

The other doctors chimed in with their own effusive praise.

"May I ask your name, Doctor? And where you’re currently practicing? Would you have any interest in joining our hospital? You can name your terms!" The director made no attempt to hide his intention to poach her, and he was also quite curious to see what she looked like.

’After all, it would be easier to run a background check if he knew what she looked like.’

Wren Wynter’s face was still pale, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

She gave the crowd a slight nod in greeting, her voice a little hoarse. "You’re all too kind. I’m not currently planning to take a position at a hospital. I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Director."

"I’ll have to entrust the patient’s post-operative monitoring and care to Dr. Park and the rest of you. I’m tired, so if you’ll excuse me."

She gave Ho-ran Park a nod, then turned and headed for the locker room.

Understanding, Ho-ran Park didn’t stop her. He turned to the director and the others. "Director, everyone, my junior is exhausted. Please let her get some rest. I will personally monitor the old madam’s recovery."

"Of course, of course. You’ve worked hard as well, Dr. Park! Go on, we’ll watch over things here," the director said, though he was disappointed, he knew better than to insist.

Helen Sawyer had been waiting by the ICU doors the entire time. When she saw Old Madam Xavier being wheeled in, followed by Ho-ran Park emerging to announce the surgery was a success, the anxiety that had plagued her all night finally subsided. Her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, a nurse was there to support her.

She grabbed Ho-ran Park’s hand, tears of gratitude streaming down her face. "Dr. Park, thank you! Thank you! You are the Xavier Family’s greatest benefactor!"

Ho-ran Park withdrew his hand, his tone detached. "There’s no need for that, Mrs. Xavier. It’s simply a doctor’s duty."

Just then, Wren Wynter, now back in her own clothes, approached from the other end of the hallway.

Her face was still drained of color and faint shadows circled her eyes, but her gaze was calm.

The moment Helen Sawyer saw her, her expression turned cold.

"Where have you been all this time? Don’t you realize this was a matter of life and death? How could you have the audacity to just wander off?"

"If Kaden finds out, do you think you’ll still be able to act so nonchalant?"

Ho-ran Park’s brow furrowed in annoyance at her words, and he was about to speak up and explain.

But Wren Wynter gently shook her head at him.

"Say what you want; I can’t stop you. But don’t jump to conclusions about things you didn’t witness yourself."

"Fine, then. Tell me. Where were you just now?"

Ho-ran Park couldn’t bear it any longer. "Mrs. Xavier, if it weren’t for Miss Wynter, Old Madam Xavier wouldn’t have made it through."

"Who do you think you’re fooling!" Helen Sawyer sized up Wren Wynter with disdain.

’Her face was indeed quite pale, but who could guarantee she wasn’t off doing something shameful?’

"You!"

Just as Ho-ran Park was about to speak, Wren Wynter pulled him back.

"Think what you will. I’m tired. I’m going home."

Wren Wynter turned and left.

Helen Sawyer watched her back disappear as the elevator doors closed. Only then did she seem to snap out of it, her expression flickering with uncertainty.

"You should hurry home and rest. You’re so exhausted you can barely stand," Ho-ran Park said once they were away from the others.

"Mm, I know."

’It had been a long time since she’d performed such a major, time-consuming, and draining surgery.’

’She’d even had to drink a glucose solution mid-operation just to keep her strength up.’

Wren Wynter didn’t know how she managed to drive back to the villa.

The extreme mental strain and physical exertion were followed by a tidal wave of exhaustion.

She fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

She was startled awake by a frantic knocking on her door.

Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting a bright patch on the floor. It was clearly the next morning.

With her head splitting, Wren Wynter struggled to sit up and rubbed her temples.

The knocking continued.

She frowned and got out of bed.

Standing outside the door was Kaden Xavier.