The lead specialist was speechless. It was true. He had performed many surgeries of this kind, but because the condition was always so aggressive and fast-moving, he had all failed. For years, he had been researching, trying to find a solution, but had alwayse up short. He often wished a true master could guide him, show him what he was missing.


    This young girl spoke with such certainty that the surgery would seed... It was almostughable.


    "Be my assistant, or I''ll have Shanley fire you."


    "You-" The specialist''s face paled.


    A position at a Schwartz Group hospital was a dream for countless doctors; it wasn''t something he was willing to lose.


    "Fine. If she wants to y games, I''ll y along," he thought bitterly. He''d see just what kind of mess she was about to make.


    Outside the operating room, Shanley nodded in approval as he saw the specialist behind her.


    "Dr. Landon is a very skilled surgeon," he said. "With him assisting, it should be easier for you."


    A craniotomy was no small feat. It could take anywhere from a few hours to several days. She couldn''t possibly manage it alone.


    "Is J here yet?" Juniper asked, looking toward the hallway with a slight frown. As if on cue, J ran over, her backpack still on, her eyes red and puffy from crying.


    "Juniper! Is my mom okay?"


    On the way here, Mr. Schwartz''s men had told her what happened.


    "She''ll be okay," Juniper replied, her voice strained. She nced at the time. There was no time for a long exnation. "Saskia has a cerebral hemorrhage. No doctor in the country is willing to operate, but her condition can''t wait. If we don''t operate tonight, she might..."


    "Then what do we do?" J cried, fresh tears streaming down her face. "Juniper, I don''t want to lose my mom."


    "So, I''m going to do the surgery," Juniper stated clearly.


    "What?" J stammered, wiping her eyes. "Juniper, you''re doing it?"


    "That''s right," Juniper said, licking her dry lips. Her voice was quiet but firm. "J, do you trust me?"


    J stared at Juniper, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. She couldn''t process any of it. She didn''t


    understand how Juniper knew


    medicine, or if her mother was even


    going to survive.


    "Juniper, will my mom be okay?"


    "Yes," Juniper replied, checking the time again. It was almost time. "I''m here. She will live."


    "Juniper, I trust you," J finally said, gripping Juniper''s hand, her voice thick with tears. "I''ll be out here waiting for you and my mom."


    "Good," Juniper said, patting her cheek with a reassuring smile. She then turned to her two brothers behind her. "Take care of J."


    Melvin raised his eyes and met the gaze of the crying girl, whose face was blotchy and tear-streaked. "I''ll look after her," he said softly.


    Jimmie nced at him. Well, wasn''t he eager.


    Inside the operating room, Juniper changed into scrubs and began the sterile scrub-in procedure Every


    movement was as precise and


    meticulous as if it were from a


    textbook.


    "Anesthesiologist in position. Push the cart to my right..."


    The team of specialists and senior


    surgeons, forced to assist, stood by reluctantly, their faces grim as if they were walking to their own execution. They clearly didn Drake her seriously.