03
“Mrs. Johnson, can you perform the procedure for us now? I did all you asked ”
Jessica stood before me, her smile composed and sweet, but her eyes glimmered with malice. Beside her was a man I had never seen before–tall, well–dressed, but with a stiffness to his posture, as if he were a hired actor playing a role. I stared at them, utterly stunned. They had no intention of leaving me alone. They even went as far as finding someone to pose as her fiancé to continue their charade.
My mind raced, desperately searching for a way to refuse them. But just as I opened my mouth, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was the vice director of the hospital.
His Student Did 196, 1 Tampered with the Embry
“Lola,” he began in a tone that tried to sound casual but carried undeniable authority. “Jessica is my friend’s daughter. I know their situation–she has to be pregnant to marry into the family.”
I gripped the phone tightly, my knuckles whitening. This wasn’t the vice director speaking, it was Isaac pulling strings from behind the scenes.
“You’re the best doctor we have, the best in the country,” he continued, his voice almost coaxing. “You trained abroad, didn’t you? That’s why I trust you to handle this case personally.”
I stayed silent, anger simmering beneath my calm exterior
“And listen,” he added, his voice lowering, “I hate to say this, but refusing this case might not look good for you. You’re up for a promotion at the end of the year, remember?”
The line went dead, leaving me no room to argue. My escape route was effectively cut off. I could almost hear Isaac’s smug voice behind the vice director’s words. Jessica’s family wasn’t influential, her father worked as a mechanic in the outskirts of town. There was no way they had connections to the hospital director, much less the vice director. This was Isaac’s handiwork and Jessica’s smirk confirmed it.
Her lips curled ever so slightly, as if savoring her victory.
A plan quickly formed in my mind. If she wanted a child so desperately, then fine–1 would give her one. Only, it wouldn’t be the one she expected.
I drew in a steadying breath and forced a smile. “Very well. Let’s proceed. I’ll arrange everything for you.” Jessica’s glee was barely concealed as I handed her the surgical consent form. She signed it eagerly, her fake fiancé adding his signature with an awkward flourish
“This is the procedure plan. Once you sign, we can move forward today” I placed the papers on the desk and handed her the pen, watching her eyes light up.
When the time came, Jessica was wheeled into the operating room, her demeanor one of smug triumph. As the anesthesia began to take effect, her fake fiancé hovered nervously by the door before being escorted out by a nurse.
In the privacy of the lab, I made my move. Swapping the sperm vial took mere seconds, my practiced hands moving with precision honed over years of experience. The replacement vial–a donor sample of impeccable quality -was carefully labeled and prepped.
The rest of the procedure was carried out by my capable mentee, a young doctor eager to prove herself. I quietly left the OR, knowing I had completed my part.
Without hesitation, I returned to my office, removed my white coat and packed my personal belongings. The resignation letter I had prepared sat waiting on my desk. I signed it with a flourish and handed it to the department secretary before walking out of the hospital without looking back
When Isaac returned home that evening, he found the house eerily quiet. The furniture remained, but all my personal belongings were gone.
“Honey? Are you home?” His voice echoed through the empty rooms.
I waited in the living room, a stack of papers in hand, When he saw me, his expression shifted from confusion to alarm.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Wordlessly, I handed him the divorce papers. “We’re splitting the assets equally. Just sign.”
He stared at me in disbelief. “What? Lola, why are you doing this? What happened? Are you in trouble? If there’s a problem, we can handle it together-”
“Spare me the drama, Isaac My voice was cold, void of emotion. “This is happening, whether you like it or not. If you refuse, I’ll take it to court. But rest assured, I’ll win
For a moment, his mask slipped and panic flashed across his face. But he quickly recovered, putting on his usual charming act and pleading with me.
152 PM
In my previous life, I would have wavered. But now, the memories of his betrayal and my tragic death hardened my resolve
After a few minutes, he reluctantly signed the papers, his hand trembling slightly.
‘T’ll see you in court to finalize this after the one–month cooling–off period,” I said, taking the signed documents.
I thought I could finally move on, that Jessica and Isaac would leave me alone. But life had other plans.
Just as the cooling–off period was about to end, Jessica showed up at the hospital in a fit of rage. Her once–flawless composure was shattered, replaced by fury and desperation
“Dr. Johnson is a quack! She ruined me!” Jessica screamed, her voice echoing through the hospital lobby. A crowd quickly gathered, whispering and pointing.
Her face was twisted with hatred, her voice cracking as she continued to hurl accusations
“Not only did she make me lose my baby, but she destroyed my chances of ever becoming a mother!”
Her words sent a ripple of unease through the onlookers. Among them were former patients of mine, their own failed procedures fueling their anger.
“It’s the doctor’s fault then! She’s the reason we can’t have children!” one woman shouted.
The lobby descended into chaos, the voices of the crowd growing louder and more hostile My students and the hospital director scrambled to contain the situation, frantically calling for security
My phone buzzed insistently in my pocket. The hospital director’s voice was tense “Lola, you need to get down here immediately. This situation is spiraling out of control“
