I stood tall in all the glory of righteousness, staring down everyone at the scene.

My other colleagues did not dare to intervene.

"Kate Horton, go back and copy the entire chapter on calming patients by hand ten times. I want you to recite all of it tomorrow at the office. You still remember the chapter from our undergraduate textbooks, right? Useless shit."

I turned to leave but paused. "The patient is now under my care. For the next six months, you're not allowed to see any patients alone!"

"Stop right there!" Luke snapped, his voice regaining its usual authoritative tone. "The patient has been under Kate's care for two months. You have no right to take over. You're stealing her hard work!"

I raised my eyebrows, sneering as I turned to point at Kate, who was still crying in Brandon's arms. "Two months, and she still doesn't know what triggers her patient? She almost killed him. You call that hard work?"

"I didn't—I said I was sorry," Kate sobbed.

"Sorry? What's the use of that? Is your apology powerful enough to rouse a dead man? You can't even remember the basics of your profession. How can you hope to care for a patient?" I snapped.

Turning to Luke, I added, "Sir, have you lost your mind, too, or do you not care about your reputation anymore? Is this the kind of careless attitude you show toward your patients?"

Luke was so angry that he was left speechless. His face turned a ruddy shade from suppressed anger.

Brandon glanced down at Kate, who was still crying. "Amanda, you're being too harsh. Kate made a mistake, but there's no need to be so cruel."

I laughed, my gaze flitting between him and Kate with amusement. "I just risked my life to save a patient, Brandon. While I was hanging halfway off the roof, 17 floors above ground, what have you been doing as my boyfriend?

"I know exactly what you're thinking. I've just been keeping quiet to save you from embarrassment."

I jabbed a finger at Kate. "If you don't take your punishment seriously and keep stirring up trouble, then you should leave this hospital immediately!"

…

I had just returned to my office from the rooftop when a nurse, Mary Fletcher, ran in without even knocking. I hadn't even had the chance to care for my wounds on my hands.

Mary looked panicked. Sweat coated her forehead from the exertion of running. "Dr. Seville, the dean is back!"

I frowned. A bad feeling welled up in me. "I thought he was invited to be a consultant in another city today."

Looking upset, Mary hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Brandon called him. He told him about what happened today and had a car pick him up from the train station. The dean is Kate's uncle, so I don't think he will let this slide."

I scoffed. "I just asked her to copy a chapter out of our textbook by hand. Did she really need to call in backups? How pathetic."

Brandon was clearly telling me that he chose Kate over me. Truly a match made in heaven—a fake saint and a lapdog. I would have to wish them a long and happy life together later.

Mary tried to push me toward the hospital's back entrance. "You should leave, Dr. Seville. The dean can be difficult to deal with when he's angry."

I shook my head, turning down her suggestion.

"Amanda Seville! I've only been gone for half a day, and you've already caused such a mess?" the dean, Cameron Preston, roared at me as soon as I stepped into his office.

I folded my arms and stared at the people in the office, unfazed.

Mr. Preston looked livid. Brandon looked annoyed, and Luke was supporting a crying Kate.

"This was Kate's first time handling the patient. It's normal for her to make some minor mistakes. You should've helped her instead of punishing her!

"You just got promoted to deputy director, and you're already throwing your weight around? You're too arrogant to be in this position! How could you make Kate recite the entire handbook in the office in front of everyone? Are you trying to make her out as a joke?"

I had been expecting Mr. Preston to show favoritism, but I hadn't expected it to be so blatant. "So, you already know that people think of her as a joke?"

Brandon couldn't take it anymore. He cut me off before I could continue, "Even though this is Kate's first time trying to reassure the patient, he's been under her care all this time. She was just too nervous and felt sorry for his mother, so she misspoke.

"This was an accident. Dr. Seville used this to target Kate!"

Before I could say anything, Luke added, "Kate was wrong. I can't deny that. As her mentor, I'll make sure to review her knowledge of patient care.

"But Amanda tried to take Kate's patient away from her, making all her efforts for the past two months meaningless. That's just too much!"

Hearing this, Mr. Preston's expression darkened. He turned to glare at me.

He had specially assigned the patient to Kate because of the unique nature of his case. Kate would benefit greatly from it, as he would be an excellent resource for experimental evaluations and a subject for future research papers.

Hastily, I tried to explain myself, "I didn't take her patient. She was only responsible for his medication and routine checkups. I was the one who did the actual treatments…"

"That's enough!" Mr. Preston cut me off sharply. He stepped forward and ripped my ID from my neck. "Both Brandon and Dr. Spencer have made their case clear against you. What else do you have to say for yourself?

"I watched Kate grow up. I know how kind and earnest she is in everything she does! Not only have you stolen her credit, but you even tried to slander and humiliate her!

"Amanda Seville, for abusing your authority, you are henceforth removed from your position as the deputy head of the psychology department and temporarily suspended from duty!"

My vision darkened. A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

The broken strap of my work ID left a burning mark on the back of my neck.

I knew that Mr. Preston would favor his niece and dismiss my punishment for her, but I hadn't expected him to be so unreasonable. I had always respected and trusted him, but now, he refused to even hear my side of the story.

Not only did he label me as someone who would steal someone else's credit, but he also stripped me of the position I had worked so hard to earn!

"Mr. Preston, how could you—" I wanted to stop him from leaving, but Brandon grabbed my wrist suddenly.

I glared after Mr. Preston with red eyes.

No, it shouldn't end like this. I hadn't done anything wrong!

Brandon tightened his grip on my wrist, his searing touch burning through me like flames. "Mr. Preston was right, Amanda. He was the one who promoted you to deputy head, and you repay him by targeting Kate? Isn't that directly opposing him?"

I didn't care what Brandon thought. After my last life, I had already given up on him.

But Mr. Preston was different.

Since the day I joined the hospital after earning my doctorate, he had personally guided me through every case I handled. He understood every patient. I considered him my role model.

But now, he was willing to compromise the lives of his patients to protect a relative.

Right in front of me, he handed the suicidal patient's file back to Kate. "He's your patient again now. Treat him with care. Don't let anyone take credit for your hard work."

I forcefully yanked my wrist out of Brandon's grip and tried to snatch the file out of Mr. Preston's hands. "I don't agree with this! Kate doesn't know the patient at all. I was the one treating him for the past two months!

"Besides, she just triggered the patient so much that he tried to kill himself. Letting her handle this case would only worsen his condition!

"I saved this patient from the brink of death. I did nothing wrong!"

Mr. Preston looked at me thunderously. "So what if you saved him? Is that your excuse for stealing Kate's hard work? You're jealous that Kate is outshining you, aren't you? If you refuse to accept your suspension, then just resign! We don't need a doctor with such a twisted personality!"

I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.

Just as I was about to argue further, footsteps sounded at the door.

A man in a white doctor's coat walked in. "Why are you in such a hurry to drive her away, Mr. Preston? Are you feeling guilty?"