"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.

"It was her! She insisted on a one-handed delivery—that's what caused the incision into the aorta and the massive hemorrhage—"

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

The director suddenly barked at me, his voice sharp.

"It was you who wanted to outshine Dr. Ingram. You deliberately showed off by operating with one hand, and when something went wrong, you maimed your own right hand to make it look like you'd never performed the surgery at all!"

I stared at Director Higgins in disbelief.

"Director Higgins... what are you saying? The surgical records clearly list Beatrice as the lead surgeon!" I clapped back.

"She’s a newbie—wouldn’t it be easy for you to push the blame onto her?" He spat, then stepped closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "I'm sorry. But your right hand is ruined; it's no use to you anymore. Dr. Ingram may be inexperienced now, but she still has the potential to become a renowned physician. Forget the agreement we had before. It's over."

The faint curve of Augustus' lips began to flatten into something dangerous.

"Find four cars," he said coldly. "Tie this filthy woman's hands and feet to each of them, and drive in four different directions. I want to see how many pieces she ends up in."

Then his gaze flicked to my maimed hand and his brow arched.

"Oh, right. One hand is already useless. Tie her neck instead."

The bodyguards really did bring ropes and fastened my limbs—and my neck—to four gleaming Rolls-Royces.

I struggled desperately, my body shaking.

Darwin leaned close, murmuring in a soothing tone, "Mr. Cordova won't really kill you. He just wants to teach you a lesson. Bear with it quietly; it'll be over soon."

Behind him, Beatrice let out a muffled sob.

Darwin spun around and hurried toward her, leaving me at the mercy of engines rumbling to life.

I screamed hoarsely, my throat tearing, "The person who tried to murder your sister isn't me! I have evidence!"

Augustus' brows drew together. His eyes flicked back to me.

"I have proof," I said, glaring at him, every word like a knife. "Proof that the one who approved that one-handed delivery, destroyed the records afterward, shielded the culprit, and deceived you... wasn't me!"

"She's insane..." Director Higgins gave a strained laugh, reaching out to tug at Augustus' sleeve.

But Augustus' bloodshot eyes burned as he shook the man off and leaned down toward me.

"You have one chance," he said, voice glacial. "What is it?"