Chapter 3

"If I wanted to harm Ellie, why would I bother carrying out this surgery and making sure that I completed it? Why would I have her sent to a regular ward afterward? She's very weak right now and shouldn't be dragged into our personal grudges.

"Open the door first. Let's settle everything after making sure the child is safe, okay?" I said pleadingly, looking at Faye.

But she only seemed to think she had me trapped. She scoffed and insisted, "Ellie and I aren't going anywhere. She's staying right here. She'll help me expose you. Then, we'll reunite with her father."

Faye's voice was loud. As the anesthesia began to wear off, Ellie started to gain slight consciousness.

Upon seeing this, Faye urgently shook Ellie's tiny hand like she'd seen a glimmer of hope. She hurriedly asked, "Ellie, is this the vile woman who stole your dad from me? Was she the one who kept us apart and mistreated you?"

Ellie looked up at me, her expression frail. I'd taken care of this child for a month after Shane brought her from his hometown without ever telling me he'd "adopted" a daughter. Despite my shock, I accepted her because he said she was a poor child with a heart condition.

I had been looking after her for a month, preparing her for surgery, with plans to return her to her foster parents after recovery. I might not have gone out of my way to shower her with love, but I provided her with comprehensive care.

They all waited for Ellie to speak. During the pause, I discreetly reached for my phone on the table and dialed Shane's number. However, he didn't pick up.

With tears in her eyes, Ellie looked at Faye.

"Just tell the truth, Ellie," Faye encouraged her with hopeful eyes. I watched Ellie intently too.

Finally, she said, "Ms. Thornton was mean to me. She said Daddy was her husband and told me to go away. She didn't give me food and wanted me to starve to death."

Her words hurt me immensely, and I felt a pang in my heart. I almost cried out loud when tears blurred my vision. No matter the truth, most people took a child's words as fact because they assumed children were too young to spout lies.

One of the women snarled, "You're a beast. How can you mistreat a child?"

"Are you even human? You stole someone's husband and mistreated their child. If I don't stand up for my friend today, god knows how many more unfortunate women will suffer in the future!"

"All we ask for is justice! The hospital must fire this shameless woman, and she must take responsibility for this mother and daughter! She should kneel and beg for forgiveness!"

"That's right. Anything less would be an injustice!"

After Ellie spoke, even my colleagues' gazes changed. I could see the conflicted look in their eyes.

"No matter what, children shouldn't suffer. You went too far."

"Exactly. My poor little Ellie is so young! Why did you mistreat her? You have a heart of stone, Maeve!" Faye cried.

As her words fell, her friends began smashing the equipment in the operating room. The sound of the device shattering echoed in the room. Someone grabbed my hair and tore at my surgical gown.

"How can someone like you be a doctor? You're a shame to all women!"

"Come on! Let's strip her of her clothes!"

The pain from my hair being yanked brought unbidden tears. The group of women wouldn't let me go that easily. They held me down on all fours in a humiliating position.

Taking advantage of the situation, Faye stepped forward and stomped on my hand that held the scalpel, grinding her foot into it. The searing pain from my hand made me cry out.

She lifted her head high and proclaimed, "What I'm doing is public service. A shameless doctor like you must have embezzled plenty of patients' money. I should just break your hand right here today!"

The waves of pain incapacitated me. I could only bite my lip until it bled. The more disheveled and miserable I appeared, the happier Faye seemed.

But even that wasn't enough for her. She looked around, and her gaze paused upon spotting something. Suddenly, she grabbed the scalpel. With everyone watching, she stepped on my hand and slashed at my finger joint. My blood dripped onto the floor horrifically.

As I let out a panicked and helpless scream, Faye's smile grew even more vicious.

The numbing pain in my hand became overwhelming. The blood pooling contrasted starkly against the pristine floor. It was a ghastly sight.

Someone shouted, "A doctor's hands are everything to them! No matter how mad you are, you shouldn't go for her hands! Dr. Thornton is a specialist in cardiac bypass!"

A young nurse took a deep breath and attempted to rush over to my aid. However, a group of burly women blocked her path.

She looked at them in disbelief. "Are you trying to destroy her career as a doctor? She's one of the best in the country…"

Her voice trailed off, choked with emotion.

Next, she pointed at Ellie and exclaimed, "This child has heart signal delay. Dr. Thornton saved her life! How can you ruin the person who saved her? No one else can perform Ellie's surgery except Dr. Thornton, but now her hands…"

Faye's friend sneered and said mockingly, "Isn't it a doctor's duty to save lives? They get paid by the government to serve the people. Do you expect me to thank them for doing their jobs?"

"Also, who knows if this murderer is really saving Ellie's life or doing her harm? We don't understand whatever it is you're saying."

"Faye is only teaching this mistress a lesson."

Faye laughed derisively, her face full of malice.

Fighting back the pain, I glared at her and said through gritted teeth, "I'll make you pay for this."

"I'm the voice of justice. A wicked homewrecker like you doesn't have the right to talk. It seems you crave more pain, don't you?" Faye said maliciously, raising the scalpel to strike again

Suddenly, there came a loud noise from outside the door. I heard something shatter, and then the door burst open.

Shane rushed in. When he saw my battered, humiliated state, he was shocked and looked pained.

Faye's expression was one of surprise and joy. "Dear, have you come here to support me because you know Ellie and I are being bullied?"

She walked over briskly, intending to link her arm with his.

However, Shane brushed her off and pushed her hand away forcefully.

He looked only at me, his voice breaking. "Who did this to you?"

I lifted my head and closed my eyes tiredly. "Do you really need to ask, Shane? You're quite something. Care to explain what your relationship with this woman is?"