<b>Chapter </b><b>139 </b>


    The words hung in the air like a grenade with its pin pulled. I immediately regretted mentioning Dr. ckwell. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me, but it was Ethan’s gaze that made my skin prickle. There was something in those green eyes–recognition, suspicion, or perhaps both.


    “You know Dr. ckwell?” Walter Morrison stepped closer, his bow tie nowpletely askew. The excitement in his


    voice was unmistakable.


    I kept my expression neutral. “I’ve heard of him.”


    The disappointment that swept across the room was almost palpable. Several doctors exchanged nces, while Mrs.


    Haxton made a sound that was half scoff, half sob.


    “Dr. ckwell isn’t a ‘him,” Ethan said quietly, his eyes never leaving my face. “She’s a woman. A young woman, in fact–not much older than you.”


    The attending physician rolled his eyes. “Mr. Haxton, with all due respect, we’re wasting precious time on fairy tales. Dr. ckwell is essentially a medical urban legend.”


    “She is.” Ethan’s voice was soft but carried an undercurrent of steel. “I spent three months tracking her across four


    countries. She existed, Doctor. And she was brilliant.”


    Ethan had been looking for Dr. ckwell? For me?


    “I never met her,” Ethan continued, his gaze still locked with mine. “By the time I found where she’d been operating, she was gone. Supposedly died in an explosion in the Caribbean. His mouth twitched. “Interesting coincidence that


    you mentioned her name, Miss Morgan.”


    “Wait,” Connor suddenly spoke up, stepping forward. “Miss Morgan was the one who helped President Thornton at Princeton. Remember when he had that heart attack on the street? She stepped in and saved his life right there on the spot.”


    Walter’s eyes widened, turning to me with renewed interest. “Philip Thornton?” His weathered face lit up with excitement. “Philip Thornton’s cardiac condition! We’ve been monitoring it for years. He could have died that day on the street. But a few days ago, he told me about the young woman who saved his life with extraordinary quick


    thinking.” He looked at me with newfound reverence. “It was you.”


    The attending physician snorted. “Performing emergency CPR on the street is a far cry from brain surgery on a poisoned patient.”


    “I’ve made my decision,” Ethan cut in. “Miss Morgan will perform the surgery.”


    “This is insanity!” the physician exploded. “She’s not even a licensed surgeon!”


    “Perhaps not in this country,” Ethan replied coolly. “But I’ve seen enough to trust her skills.” He turned to the


    nurses. “Prepare the operating room. Get her whatever she needs.”


    ‘<b>I </b>cannot allow this, the doctor protested. “It vites every protocol-


    “I’ll take full responsibility,” Ethan interrupted. “If anything goes wrong, I’ll sign whatever paperwork is necessary.


    This is our decision.”


    <b>91 </b>


    The doctor looked like he might continue arguing, but something in Ethan’s expression made him reconsider. With a disgusted shake of his head, he backed away.


    Ethan turned to Alexander. “Take your grandmother to the waiting area. Make sure she’sfortable.”


    Alexander nodded, gently guiding the protesting Mrs. Haxton away from the scene.


    Walter Morrison approached me, his earlier skepticismpletely gone. “What do you need for the operation, Miss


    Morgan?”


    “I need you to monitor his cardiac function throughout,” I said, keeping my voice professional. “And I need to know exactly what symptoms he’s been disying. When did the seizures start? Has he shown any unusual discoloration or temperature fluctuations?”


    Walter began listing symptoms, and I listened carefully, filing away each detail. The toxin sounded familiar, but I couldn’t ce it yet. I would need to see the patient myself.


    A nurse approached with surgical scrubs. “The OR will be ready in ten minutes.”


    I nodded, taking the garments. As I turned to change, Ethan stepped into my path.


    Chapter Comments