After she signed the paper, Henry picked up the phone, saying, “I‘ll contact the hospital right now, and tell them to perform the transplant for your mother soon.”
Abigail stood there, at once expectant and nervous.
After Henry finished his call, she asked, “May I go to the hospital too, sir?”
It was a daughter’s care and concern for her sick mother, so he allowed it. “Of course. Go on.”
He could not help sighing as well, since he knew that there was no way Diarmuid would let Abigail into his room after the mess just now.
“Thank you, sir.” Abigail was earnestly grateful. Henry waved her off and told the butler who was waiting outside the door, “Moneypenny, get a car for her.”
“Please come with me, Mrs. Althoff ,” the butler told Abigail, and she left with him.
On the way to the hospital, Abigail felt like she was in a dream-everything had happened so quickly that it actually felt unreal.
Nonetheless, when she arrived and saw that the old man had arranged everything perfectly, she realized that this was reality, and it was no dream.
Her mother was really getting a transplant! Soon, after a night of near misses, the transplant was a success.
Although there would be a long period of observation and rehabilitation afterward, relief could be seen on Abigail‘s face.
Though her mother was lying in a ward for post-surgery observation, her mother’s life was saved.
Having gone sleepless for the entire night, she headed straight to her clinic when someone called out to her.
“Dr. Bernstein?”
She turned to find Ms. Diaz, a nurse from her department, coming up and telling her, “It was fortunate that you left early last night – Dr. Cox was so full of herself that she could not stop boasting, now that she has a backer.”
Abigail averted her gaze – she was not eager to comment on Whitney.
“Honestly, she‘s not even as beautiful as you are, Dr. Bernstein. What does Diarmuid Althoff even like about her?” Seeing that Ms. Diaz was going to keep gossiping , Abigail became reluctant to stay. “But she‘s beautiful, and there must be something about her that is attractive to Mr. Althoff. Let‘s not gossip so much behind their backs.”
Ms. Diaz seemed to not hear her and was actually pouting. “They call it a farewell party, but it‘s more like a party for her to brag about herself. Everyone knew that the internship spot was supposed to be yours,”
“Sorry, Ms. Diaz, but I have something to attend to.” Abigail cut her short–it would not do if anyone overheard them, and it could easily cause a misunderstanding.
Finally sensing her reluctance to gossip, Ms. Diaz stopped, and they each returned to their respective posts.
Mornings were the busiest time for hospitals anyway, and there was already a long row of patients waiting to take a number at the registration counter.
Abigail had two surgeries in the morning, and took a two hour break before performing.
After that, her lack of sleep left her exhausted, but just as she tried to nap during her lunch break, a nurse came to her.
“The chief is asking for you in his office.”
“Is it urgent?” she asked–she would go later if it was not. “I don‘t know.” The nurse smiled. “I‘m just the messenger. Guess you‘ll find out if you head over.” “Fine, I’ll be right there,” Abigail replied, and headed to the chief‘s office.
She knocked on the door, and opened the door only after she heard a response inside.
“Sir.”
The chief was sitting behind his desk, and put aside his task when he saw that it was her.
He stayed silent for a moment, seemingly having trouble starting, but he knew he had to.
“Dr. Bernstein … Did you somehow offend Mr. Althoff?”
“What? Why would you ask that, sir?” Abigail asked, a foreboding sensation hitting her just then.
“You should know what it means to be blacklisted…” the chief said hesitantly. “Your career as a doctor–including your accomplishments–would all be erased, and no hospital would hire you.”
Abigail was left flabbergasted by the situation that struck out of the blue. She clenched and freed her knuckles repeatedly, until she finally said, “Sir, I really love this job … I can‘t go without it.”
“I want to keep you, but there is nothing I can do for you.
In reality, the chief found it a pity–he acknowledged and admired Abigail‘s professionalism and abilities, but he did not have the ability to help her.
“If you want to keep your job, you have to talk to Diarmuid Althoff . Apologize to him if you offended him, and it just might save your career,” the chief told her earnestly.
“I…” Abigail was hesitant to say anything.
After all, could Diarmuid‘s prejudice against her be that easily resolved?
She understood that he was coming for blood, not just because he wanted to get back at her for touching something precious to him, but also because he was dissatisfied with marrying her. He probably would force her to ask for a divorce in the process as well.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “I understand.”
“You are on your own on this own,” the chief said, leaving her dispirited as she returned to her clinic.
She expected that things would not work out even if she begged Diarmuid for mercy, because he wanted her to divorce him…
But she had signed an agreement with Henry, and she would be violating that agreement if she gave in to Diarmuid.
She suddenly felt sick and wanted to vomit, though that moment lasted for a brief instant.
Turning on her computer after taking a break, she tried to send her resume to other hospitals, but all of them rejected her the instant they saw her name.
At that very moment, she genuinely felt the might of a black flag!
Even so, she could not go without a job, and she did not have many friends either. In fact, the only one she could go to now was Zachary.
After hesitating for a while, she eventually whipped out her phone to call him, and he picked up soon enough. “Abigail? What‘s up?”
“Do you have time? I want to meet you,” she said, trying to keep her voice normal instead of raspy.
Zachary quickly agreed to it anyway. “Sure.”
They were going to meet at a restaurant, and Abigail left the hospital soon after washing up, so she arrived first.
When Zachary arrived, he was still under the impression that Abigail was worried about getting a heart donor.
“I can‘t get a donor yet…” he said as he sat down.
Since it was the perfect timing anyway, Abigail told him,” My mother had a transplant already.”
“What?” Zachary exclaimed in surprise. “When did that happen? I had no idea!”
“Last night,” Abigail replied. “I couldn‘t tell you in time.” Zachary blinked, but became relieved as he said, “Well, did the surgery go well?”
She nodded, but Zachary saw that she still appeared to be dispirited. “What‘s wrong?”
Having no other option, she admitted, “I‘m going to lose my job.”
Caught by surprise again, Zachary soon became indignant. “What? Is Dr. King firing you?”
“No, I‘ve offended someone.”
“Who?” Zachary pressed. “Who did you offend? I‘ll help you kick their butt!”
Abigail hesitated since Zachary might be friends with Diarmuid, but eventually said it anyway. “Diarmuid Althoff.” Zachary almost spat out his drink. “Him? He‘s the reason you‘re going to lose your job?”
Abigail nodded.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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