At midnight, the ER receives a pregnant patient with an extremely pale face, and she's convulsing violently at the same time. I lift her shirt on the spot so that I can diagnose her symptoms better.

But my wife, Selena Carson, who also works as the head nurse, suddenly berates me angrily.

"Do you have any idea that what you're doing is sexual harassment? Can't you spare the patient her pride?

"Don't use your treatment as an excuse! I refuse to believe that there aren't any female doctors in the ER at all!"

The patient's family members streamed the whole thing live. Soon, everyone was blasting me on the Internet.

The hospital forces me to apologize to the pregnant patient. But I decide to tender my resignation the very next day.

After all, the patient's disease has a frighteningly high chance of getting misdiagnosed, not to mention it's incredibly difficult to cure.

In fact, no one but I can cure her once and for all.

"George Stewart, you're ruining the hospital's reputation! The patient's family is blocking the outpatient building, demanding an explanation!"

Reed Crane, the hospital director, was ashen-faced as he repeatedly rapped his knuckles on the desk.

Outside the ER, the area was packed with protesters holding signs that read "Unethical Doctor", "Justice for the Mother", and "A Disgrace to the White Coat".

Netizens were demanding that my medical license be revoked and that I be thrown in a cell. The wave of public fury was so massive, it felt like a revolution.

I gripped the medical record and defended myself. "That pregnant woman was turning blue and convulsing. It was clearly a high-risk emergency. My assessment followed the standard emergency procedure—"

"Enough!" A sharp voice cut me off. Selena Carson, the head nurse, stormed in, her high heels clicking as she held a stack of complaint letters.

"Mr. Crane, the online outrage is growing more intense. We have to punish George immediately to calm them down."

She shot me a disgusted look. "Do you still think you're not at fault? You've got some nerve!"

My chest tightened.

It was Selena who had shouted that I was "molesting" the pregnant woman in front of the family in the ER, causing the whole scene to spiral out of control. And now, she was twisting it around.

Selena slapped a disciplinary letter onto the desk. Her tone was final as she said, "Mr. Crane, I recommend suspension and an apology from George, along with compensation to the woman for emotional distress. I've drafted the documents. You just have to sign it, and it'll be official."

Reed hesitated but eventually signed.

Selena took the papers with a smirk. "To avoid further similar incidents, you'll be reassigned!"

She tossed me a set of caregiver scrubs and spoke with an air of superiority. "Clean the toilets. It'll protect you from medical disputes. If a single complaint comes in, you're the first I'll blame!"

As soon as she said that, a janitor wheeled a cart into my office. All my belongings, including years of my notes, were tossed into the cart and dumped straight into the trash downstairs.

I bent over and pulled my notes from the trash. My fingers gripped them so tightly they turned white.

I shot Selena a cold look. "That pregnant woman's condition was serious. I haven't finished my diagnosis yet. If it's what I think, only I can handle her treatment."

Selena sneered. "Acute cholecystitis, right? Please. I've already diagnosed her."

I frowned.

The woman's symptoms resembled a high-risk condition that was often misdiagnosed as acute cholecystitis. Unfortunately, I was kicked out by the family before I could confirm anything.

Years ago, my mentor, Bradley Grant, lost his wife to a misdiagnosis of this very disease. It left Bradley with a lifelong scar, so his students would never forget this condition.

Before I could speak, a commotion came from outside.

Selena's eyes lit up instantly. She hurried out in her high heels and affectionately tucked her arm through the man's.

"Dr. Walsh, you're finally here! Mr. Crane and the department have been waiting for you to save the day!"

When I saw the man's face, it felt like a punch to the gut.

That man was Selena's first love, Adam Walsh.

No wonder she had sabotaged my diagnosis, even spreading the false claim of me molesting the pregnant woman to force me out.

She'd been clearing the way for him.

Adam raised an eyebrow at me, a smug smile on his lips. "It's been a long time, George. I'm back. Your position and Selena should all be returned to me now."

Adam was Selena's first love. They'd been in a six-year relationship, from high school to just shy of the wedding aisle.

But when Adam went abroad for studies, Selena's family started pressuring her to marry, and I was the one she was set up with.

We'd been married for five years, living in mutual respect. I had thought she'd genuinely accepted me as her husband, but now…

I laughed bitterly. It turned out that it was all just to make room for Adam. She had never cared about me.

Reed made a big deal of announcing Adam's return, showering him with praise.

During the meeting, he patted Adam's shoulder. "Adam's been researching cardiology for 12 years. He'll surely bring hope to many more families! Unlike George, who molested a patient and brought nothing but scandal to this hospital!"

Selena stood beside Adam. They looked like the perfect couple.

"Mr. Crane, Adam is not the kind of man with a questionable character. His integrity is recognized throughout the industry," she said, her voice warm and affectionate.

And there I was, the so-called husband, dressed in caregiver scrubs, cleaning the windows outside the conference room.

"Take me to see the patient. I'll show everyone what true medical skill looks like. I can diagnose any illness with just a glance!"

As Adam passed by, he gave me a disdainful look. "You should learn a thing or two."

I forced a smile and gestured for him to go ahead.

Skipping a thorough examination to diagnose was a cardinal sin in our field. Who was really the one with a lack of morals here?

Inside the consultation room, Adam walked around the bed twice.

Just seeing the patient clutching her abdomen and vomiting, he confidently diagnosed her and immediately chose a treatment plan based on that.

I couldn't help but laugh along with the two other doctors in the room. They were my trusted assistants.

Listening to Selena and Reed heap praise on Adam, they couldn't keep quiet.

"You've been practicing medicine for years. How could you possibly confirm a diagnosis without a thorough examination? Besides, Dr. Stewart mentioned that this patient's symptoms are a bit unusual—"

Selena shot them an impatient look. "Well, Adam graduated from one of the best medical schools abroad. Where did George graduate from? Some no-name private college.

"It's a joke that a third-rate hack like him is even a department head. If I hadn't covered for him, he would've been fired for his lack of qualifications."

Sure, my education wasn't as prestigious as Adam's. I had spent my high school years messing around and not studying.

But my mentor was one of the best in the field, and I dove straight into clinical practice right after graduation.

Degrees meant nothing next to my clinical experience.

I chuckled and said calmly, "Having a high degree doesn't make him qualified to be a doctor. Making wild guesses like that is a violation of medical protocol.

"Selena, if you and Adam are willing to gamble with a patient's life like this, then we're getting a divorce."

I had married her because I was drawn to her sense of responsibility and commitment.

But now, I was just left feeling ridiculous and disappointed.

For Adam, she not only disregarded me, but she was also willing to endanger a patient's life.

We often discussed medical cases and malpractice at home. She knew better than anyone how unreliable it was to diagnose based on surface symptoms.

But now, she was indulging Adam's recklessness.

Selena frowned. "Are you threatening me? George, what makes you think our marriage can control me?"

Adam sneered, his gaze mocking. "What, are my degree and abilities making you feel insecure? Trying to find a sense of self-worth through divorce? George, being inferior doesn't make you a bad person. But belittling others and looking down on them is truly pathetic!"

Then, he smirked. "Oh, right, I almost forgot. You're the shameless kind of person who doesn't even spare a pregnant woman."

Selena didn't say a word in my defense. Instead, she looked at Adam with admiration, as if she had already decided that I was the jealous fool and Adam was the hero who would rescue her from me.

I gave a faint smile, completely disheartened. "Fine, let's divorce."

"You think you're something special? Fine, let's divorce!" she yelled.

…

Selena busied herself making arrangements for Adam.

After all, it was hard for a nepotism hire like him to command any real respect, especially when my own reputation was well-known throughout the hospital.

When Selena saw me, she quickly signed the divorce papers. Her expression was one of disdain, as if I were some kind of dirt.

I didn't bother saying anything more and headed for Reed's office to resign.

My goal had always been to save lives, not to scrub floors.

Just as I stepped into Reed's office, I saw him looking awkward, speaking with a man.

When the man saw me, he immediately became agitated and grabbed my hand with urgency.

"Dr. Stewart! Please save my daughter!" The man, in his 50s, looked heartbroken, though he still exuded an air of wealth and class.

Frowning, I asked for the details.

The man, Cody Booth, had been referred to me because I had previously treated a similar condition successfully.

I hesitated for a moment. It was a tricky case, but I had experience with it. I was willing to try.

Just as I was about to go see the patient, Adam and Selena barged in.

Adam grabbed my wrist and threw me aside with a harsh shove, sneering. "Patients don't want to be touched by people like you.

"Hi, sir. This is the doctor who molested a pregnant woman. He's been reassigned to caregiver duties."

Adam smirked, adding fuel to the fire.

Cody, who had been holding onto my sleeve, begging me to save his daughter, now glared at me with fury.

"So it's you! And you had the nerve to stand there putting on an act, pretending you could save my daughter? Were you planning to get your hands on her too? I'll make sure you regret this!"

Adam snorted and patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry. We'll make sure he doesn't touch the patient. I'll treat her myself."

Looking at Cody's cold stare and Adam's sycophantic grin, I couldn't help but feel disgusted.

Yeah, I was quitting anyway. What did it matter to me?

I turned to leave, but Selena quickly caught up, ordering, "George, Dr. Walsh needs to prepare for surgery. Go get ready. I reassigned you. I didn't ask you to loaf around the hospital."

Upon hearing that, Adam deliberately threw the medical records on the floor. The papers were scattered everywhere.

He raised an eyebrow and said, "George, please pick these up and organize them. Oh, by the way, I'm a bit of a clean freak. Don't touch them with your hands. I find you disgusting.

"After that, go make me a cup of coffee. It has to be hand-poured, and the temperature should be exactly 149 degrees Fahrenheit. The attending doctor needs to stay alert, don't you think?"

I sneered. "Fine, I'll get it for you."

I bent down to pick up the papers, but instead of using my sleeve like Adam requested, I shoved the stack of medical records into his chest.

Before he could react, I grabbed his collar and delivered a punch to his ribs. I didn't let go until he doubled over in pain.

"You've lost it, George Stewart! Stop!"

But I didn't listen. I lifted my knee and drove it straight into his face.

It wasn't until a cold syringe pressed against my neck that I stopped.

"How dare you lay hands on him? Do you want to get fired?" Selena asked coldly.

My back froze with dread.

She was actually willing to go this far for Adam.

Over the years, she had never let personal feelings affect her work.

Even when I was injured by a drunk patient in the ER last year, she calmly reassured the family, saying, "It's normal for healthcare workers to get hurt sometimes."

This was the first time I'd seen her lose composure, and it was all for another man.

I squatted down and slowly gathered the scattered records, sorting them by page number.

Adam deliberately kicked the neatly stacked papers again, scattering them. "You can't even handle something this simple. No wonder you got demoted to caregiver."

The edge of a paper cut my finger, drawing blood, but Selena acted like she didn't see it. "You deserve this!"

She then stomped directly on my hand. The pain was unbearable. The humiliation lasted for 20 minutes before finally ending.

Finally, he waved me off impatiently, telling me to go make coffee.

It was impossible to get to the exact temperature, but I knew he wouldn't be able to tell.

He hadn't even tested the patient for allergies before jumping straight into surgery.

One of my former assistants asked, "Dr. Stewart, wasn't this surgery supposed to be really difficult?"

"Yes, but it's no longer my concern." I gave a brief response and turned to head to Reed's office.

My hand was injured from the stomping, so I couldn't perform any fine surgeries for the time being. Even if I wanted to, I simply couldn't.

The day I was cleaning out my desk, Adam smugly said, "Honestly, George, I don't know what to tell you. You couldn't even handle such a simple case? It's all solved the moment I step in.

"That patient from yesterday came from a wealthy family in Eldoria. They even gave me a bonus and a plaque!"

Selena wrapped her arm around his, mocking me. "If we had let him treat the patient, she probably would have ended up in the ICU, and the whole department would be punished."

I paused, remembering Cody from yesterday, who had begged me to save his daughter.

But the truth was, Adam hadn't cured her.

The root cause was never addressed, and that surgery had only treated the symptoms. The problem would resurface sooner or later.

I grabbed my things and said as I walked out, "Well, congratulations to you both."

At the hospital entrance, I brushed past the investigation team sent by the State Health Department.

The lead official spoke hurriedly before Reed could even offer a greeting. "This is the fourth misdiagnosis already! I can't believe your hospital is still treating these as routine cases! Where's the doctor who handled the initial case? I want them on the attending team immediately!"

Meanwhile, I calmly got into a cab heading to the airport. This mess was no longer mine to clean up.