Beatrice's eyes were red as she staggered toward me, each step heavy with accusations.

"Dr. Humphrey, we're doctors—our phones are supposed to be on twenty-four hours a day. You knew there was a C-section scheduled last night. You're the most skilled in obstetrics. And yet, at such a critical time, you turned your phone off. Annalise, what exactly were you thinking?"

Slap!

My hand landed across her cheek before she even saw it coming.

I looked down at her coldly. "Beatrice, have you lost your mind?"

The commotion had already drawn other colleagues from nearby departments. They gathered around, whispering, eyes wide.

Inhaling sharply, I raised my voice and spat coldly, "The duty roster clearly shows it was your surgery last night—not mine! Yes, I didn't notice my phone had died, but the one who signed up for the case, the one responsible for this operation, was you, Dr. Ingram!"

Beatrice's face completely went pale. "Life and death—how can you hide behind duty shifts? Your phone is always on. Why, of all days, did it just happen to be off last night? Ha... Annalise, it doesn't matter if you hate me. But you can't gamble with someone's life!"

Her words dripped with righteous indignation, enough to sway those who didn't know the full story.

A few patients watching nearby began whispering among themselves, speculating that I had deliberately shirked responsibility, leaving the mess to Beatrice just to watch her fail and be humiliated.

Before I could even respond, one of my colleagues snapped.

"Beatrice, shut your mouth! Do you even realize Dr. Humphrey performed three major surgeries yesterday without rest? She barely had two bites of bread and a sip of glucose between operations!"

Another added, furious, "Exactly! You sit in the office with air conditioning, skipping ward rounds, pushing your work onto others. You have no idea how hard Dr. Humphrey works! She got home past midnight. Phones die—what's so strange about forgetting to charge it after a day like that?"

Even the family members of the patient I had saved yesterday stood up in my defense.

"Besides, Dr. Humphrey fulfilled her duty during her own shift. Last night wasn't even her scheduled hours!"

The crowd began murmuring in agreement, realization dawning on their faces.

Even the colleagues who had assisted Beatrice last night couldn't stand it anymore.

"Enough, Dr. Ingram. Dr. Humphrey wasn't on duty—it wasn't her responsibility. If anyone's to blame, it's us for being unlucky enough to be there with you."

Beatrice stumbled back, collapsing onto the floor, her lips pale as chalk.

"What's all this ruckus?!"

The sharp bark of the hospital director cut through the crowd. Behind him, Darwin strode in with a stormy expression.

I opened my mouth to speak—but he brushed right past me.

He went straight to Beatrice, kneeling down to gently lift her up. "Bea, don't be afraid. I'll find a way. I won't let anything happen to you."

My chest tightened, but before I could say another word, the director's authority forced the crowd to scatter.

Then, with a grave look, he ordered me into his office.

The moment the door closed, his stern façade crumbled, replaced by visible panic.

"Anna! I know this isn't your fault, but listen to me—you must save this patient. Do you understand? She's Augustus' sister. If she dies in our hospital, no one here will survive the fallout—not me, not you, no one!"

I sighed softly.

This was precisely why I dared to turn off my phone last night. I knew my colleagues were capable of keeping her alive long enough. I knew even if I came in later, there was still hope of saving her.

And once that happened, the leverage in this matter would shift.

I looked straight at the director. "Today's disaster isn't only Beatrice's fault. Darwin bears responsibility too."

He froze.

I pulled out a document and set it on his desk—the approval form signed in Darwin's own hand.

"This reckless ‘one-handed delivery' idea? It was personally authorized by Darwin."

"We're taking enormous risks, all to clean up after those two," I said flatly. "Director Higgins, I can handle the mess this time.

"But the person who should be punished isn't just Beatrice."

I pressed both palms against the desk, leaning in. "If Darwin isn't dealt with properly, this will happen again. And next time... I can't promise I'll be able to save this hospital."

Director Higgins' expression darkened.

Darwin was his protégé, someone who had followed him since medical school. But when the hospital's core interests were at stake, even a protégé had to be sacrificed.

Especially now—when saving Augustus' sister, Carmella, depended entirely on me.

"That bastard!" Director Higgins snarled. "Riding on my promotion, thinking he can do anything he wants!"

He slammed the signed approval form hard on the desk. "Don't worry! Not only will I block his application for Outstanding Young Doctor, I'll kill his promotion report too. After this, he'll be stuck doing grunt work at the bottom. He'll never touch a core hospital post again!"

A faint smile tugged at my lips as I signed my name.

And just like that, the soaring path Darwin had taken in my previous life—from Outstanding Young Doctor to academician—was severed.

By nightfall, Carmella's vital signs had stabilized.

The baby's heartbeat was weak but steady, monitored closely in the ICU.

I was drenched in sweat under my surgical gown. The moment I stepped out of the operating room, a loud thud sounded and I collapsed onto the floor.

It took a full bottle of glucose before I could even sit up.

The colleagues who had operated together with Beatrice were crying as they clutched my hands.

"Thank you, Dr. Humphrey... Without you, we don't know what would have happened to our careers..."

"Exactly. Augustus is a madman. If his sister had died here, even our families wouldn't have been safe..."

I soothed them quietly. Finally, I could go home for a real rest.

But as I stepped into the underground parking lot, the echo of footsteps behind me made me whip around.

My brows furrowed when I didn't see anyone.

Muttering under my breath, I turned back—but the world went black.

"Mmmph—!"

I kicked and struggled, but someone dragged me into a pitch-dark room.

My right hand was forced down onto a table. Under the dim bulb, I caught the outline of the man in front of me.

"Darwin!"

The hand gripping mine froze for a second.

I was bound to a chair, thrashing wildly.

"Darwin! It's you, isn't it? What are you doing? We can talk, please—let me go! I saved Beatrice's life!"

He hesitated, then sighed, his voice low and soft. "No. You may have spared her from Augustus' punishment... but you've still left her in an impossible position."

"I'm sorry. If you really want to help her, you'll have to lose a hand. That way, no one will think you were the surgeon. They'll believe Beatrice was the one who turned the tide."

"I'll handle your colleagues. I'll delete the surgical records. Anna, this time... help her."

My eyes went wide in disbelief. "Darwin!"

A blade glinted as it rose high in the air. I struggled like a madwoman. "I'm a doctor! If I lose my hand, how am I supposed to live?"

The blade paused. In the dim light, I saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

"I'll take care of you for the rest of your life, Anna."

"Wait!" I screamed. "If you cut off my hand, you can forget about being a doctor yourself!"

He shook his head slowly. "Anna... Director Higgins is my mentor. He won't let things go this far."

"Don't worry. I have the influence to stay in the medical field and protect you for life," Darwin gently said.

"Director Higgins has already abandoned you!" I shouted.

His body stiffened for a moment, then he let out a chuckle. "No. He won't."

A heart-wrenching scream tore through the air. Sweat mixed with tears slid down my forehead.

For the sake of a single promise—‘Save her’—Darwin could go this far...

I couldn’t feel my right hand anymore. I didn’t dare turn my head. I didn’t dare imagine what my hand had become.

“Anna, it’s okay now. It’s fine. Be good…”

A towel wrapped around my mangled hand. Darwin kissed my wrist gently. "Don't worry. I will stay with you for the rest of your life."

My voice trembled. "Get out—"

"Anna—"

"Get away from me!!" I shouted.

Gasping for breath, he finally let go. "Anna, I'm sorry. But until this is settled, you must stay here. Beatrice's reputation cannot be ruined."

I laughed and cried at the same time. "You're just afraid I'll go out and tell the truth."

"Sorry..." His apology was swallowed as the door shut in my face.

Darkness swallowed the room. My consciousness slipped into chaos.

...

I woke up again when Darwin shook my arm.

"Annalise! Annalise, wake up! Why is Carmella bleeding again? Didn't you save her?"

My right hand was numb—gone to cold nothing. I stared at the man who looked like he would burst into pieces. A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Such a severe injury needs follow-up care. How could everything be fine after a single surgery?"

"You..." Darwin tightened his grip, panic sharpening his voice. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

Then, as if remembering, he loosened his hold and yanked my left hand, trying to drag me out.

"Hurry up! Stabilize Carmella's condition, or Beatrice will be held responsible!"

"Darwin!" I summoned every ounce of strength I had left. "My right hand is gone!"

He froze mid-step, eyes snapping to my right wrist. His pupils dilated.

"It'll be fine..." He inhaled sharply. "You can do it with one hand."

He looked into my eyes and added, "Anna, you're so skilled—you can manage with one hand, right?"

Slap!

My left hand left a red print across his face. My whole body trembled in rage. "Do you really believe Beatrice—that surgery can be done single-handed?"

He mumbled, as if arguing with himself, "No... Beatrice said a one-handed delivery is possible..."

He grabbed the stump of my right arm, ignoring my teeth-grinding agony. "It's okay, Anna. Try it—what if you can? If you don't operate, Beatrice will shoulder the blame!"

Before I could say anything, a loud bang sounded and the door flew open.

A tall man, long-legged and menacing, stood framed in the doorway, his suit askew, face carved with fury.

"What have you done to my sister?" Augustus' voice was brimming with killing intent.

Behind him, Beatrice was held fast by bodyguards; blood stained the corner of her mouth. I shifted my gaze to the man following Augustus.

"Director Higgins!"

"Dr. Humphrey..." The director's eyes locked onto my severed hand, widening in absolute disbelief.

Augustus slapped the director's shoulder, his voice was cold as he snapped. "Do you want to tell the truth yourselves—or shall I investigate personally?"

Director Higgins stiffened. If Augustus uncovered the truth himself, it wouldn't be a matter that could be smoothed over with a voluntary confession.

I pointed at Beatrice with my left hand and shouted.