Chapter 112



Enzo, his hand still on his cheek, felt the sting of both the blow and his wounded pride. He hadn’t anticipated Belinda’s fierce response. He had assumed she would ultimately yield. But to his astonishment, she had struck him with force.

“Damn! This woman really has quite the temper,” he muttered to himself, rubbing his sore cheek. Despite the shock, he found Belinda’s defiance captivating. The challenge of tempering a fierce woman appealed to him deeply. When Enzo thought of this, a cold laugh escaped him. “This isn’t over, Belinda,” he muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, Belinda paid no further mind to the encounter. After enjoying her cookies, she simply returned to her room and drifted back to sleep, leaving the night’s conflict behind her.

The next morning, at the Grand Plains General Hospital, within the bustling Cardiac Surgery Department, Belinda was accompanied by Darlene as they made their rounds. During that, a patient asked Darlene curiously, “Dr. Mitchell, is it true that Dr. Star performed a surgery here recently?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Darlene replied with a nod.

The patient’s request was direct and eager. “Can Star perform my surgery, too?”

The question caught the other doctors present off guard, their expressions reflecting their surprise. Belinda’s gaze briefly flickered at the mention of Star. Darlene, on the other hand, didn’t seem surprised at all.

Before witnessing yesterday’s procedure, she had known of Star only by reputation. However, after she had seen Star’s surgical prowess firsthand, it had left her deeply impressed. She now fully understood the international clamor for Star’s expertise—her skills were truly exceptional.

Thus, the patient’s request didn’t seem out of place to her. Rather, it felt quite expected. With a reassuring smile, she responded, “I’m sorry, Mr. Haywood, but Star is currently unavailable. She can’t perform your surgery.”

Undeterred, Dotson Haywood quickly said, “Please have your deputy director try to contact her. Money isn’t an issue. If Star agrees to take my case, she can name her price however she wants!”

At Dotson’s insistent request, Darlene was momentarily at a loss for words, caught off-guard. Seeing this, Belinda stepped in smoothly, saying, “Mr. Haywood, we truly appreciate your preference for Dr. Star, but she’s not just any surgeon. She specializes in particularly challenging cases. Dr. Star’s involvement depends on the complexity of the surgery. Yesterday’s procedure, for example, involved complex factors including the patient’s advanced age of 85, which aligned with her selective criteria. She cannot feasibly accept every case without risking overwhelming her schedule.”

Belinda offered a reassuring smile before continuing, “Your own procedure, while serious, is well within the capabilities of Dr. Mitchell here. She is exceptionally skilled and can handle your surgery with the utmost care.”

Another voice chimed in, supporting Belinda’s reassurance, “Yes, Mr. Haywood, Dr. Mitchell is highly competent. You’re in good hands, and there’s no need for concern. Dr. Star won’t be needed for your surgery.”

After a moment of consideration, Dotson seemed to have digested the information, his expression softening. “Alright, Dr. Mitchell, I trust you with my care,” he finally said with a nod.

Darlene offered a reassuring smile. “Thank you for your trust, Mr. Haywood.”

Elsewhere in the hospital, Turner was navigating similar patient interactions. As he made his rounds with his team, they entered the room of another patient. Approaching a middle-aged man standing by the bedside, Turner spoke with professional courtesy. “Mr. Cohen, we’ve scheduled your father’s surgery for tomorrow morning at nine. Does that work for you? If there are any concerns Before Turner could complete his sentence, Monroe Cohen interjected, raising his hand, “There’s no rush.”

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