Chapter 1397:


    “Yes, Dr. Walsh,” the medical team answered in perfect sync.


    Maia raised her head, her eyes already rimmed with red. A swell of gratitude rose in her chest, but she forced it down.


    She understood exactly what this meant. No surgeon willingly risked their career on a brain foreign-body extraction. Even top neurosurgeons could only promise their best, never absolute sess.


    The metal fragments lodged in Chris’s skull sat in a treacherous position. A millimeter off could injure the temporal cortex and cause irreparable damage.


    And if the surgery failed, the main surgeon would bear the full weight of the me, their career effectively over.


    Yet Carsen—the prodigy surgeon, the medical world’s legend—had stepped forward without hesitation.


    With him here, Chris’s chances of survival rose dramatically.


    Maia felt a quiet, steady force grip her heart. Even if she had been slow to see it, she understood now.


    She knew the truth of her skills.


    Despite all her training, she was still leagues behind Carsen in experience, uracy, and decisive technique.


    “Dr. Walsh…” Her voice quivered, emotions churning like a storm. She had countless things she wanted to say. But in the end, only two words escaped. “Thank you.”


    Carsen didn’t look at her. He was inspecting the instruments, the tendons on his hand pulled tight, his expression cold andposed.


    “I’m only here to guide,” he said evenly, as if tamping down something in his chest. He reminded her, firm and quiet, “You’re the one holding the scalpel.”


    Only after that did he look at her. “If you’re thanking anyone, thank yourself.”


    Maia froze for a moment.


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    Carsen continued, “Your resolve to save a life is what convinced me—and everyone else in this room.”


    He exhaled slowly. “Alright. Enough talking. Let’s start before I rethink this.”


    The staff exchanged subtle nces. They all knew Carsen: brusque words, soft heart. He could sound curt, even dismissive, but his actions never aligned with the harshness of his tone.


    Ever since learning why Maia had pursued surgery, he had quietly carried the weight for her.


    In his officete at night, in meeting rooms lit by harsh fluorescentmps, he had reviewed Chris’s case over and over.


    He had held small private discussions repeatedly, neverining, never asking for acknowledgment.


    As for his reputation, his career, his standing in the medical world? He had never been the type to care.


    Carsen had once said, “I studied medicine to save people, not to show off.”


    Tonight, his actions proved every word true.


    “Focus.” Carsen’s voice cracked through the air like ice.


    Tension snapped into ce instantly across the room.


    “Make the incision.”


    “Yes, Dr. Walsh.”


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