Chapter 3

Less than half an hour after Jack scrambled away, Osman’s call came through.

I put it on speaker and started recording.

"Eleanor, what the hell is wrong with you?"

The moment the call connected, his usual arrogant, accusatory tone filled the room.

"Jack went to visit you out of goodwill, why did you throw something?"

"Do you know how exhausted I've been these past few days dealing with the aftermath of the crash? Can't you be more sensible and stop being so hysterical!"

Listening to his attempt to shift the blame, my heart was surprisingly calm.

There’s no greater sorrow than a heart that has given up, that’s probably what it felt like.

"You're tired?" I sneered. "Tired from Samantha’s bed, or from feeding pigeons with her daughter?"

A moment of silence on the other end, then his voice abruptly rose.

"You're spying on me? Eleanor, you're an utterly unreasonable, jealous woman!"

"Samantha just returned to the country, and Iris isn't well. What's wrong with me taking care of them as a friend?"

"As a friend, you need to abandon your hemorrhaging wife and use a hospital rescue helicopter to pick them up?"

"I told you, you weren't going to die then!" Osman roared. "Look at you now, aren't you perfectly fine, arguing with me?"

"Iris is different; asthma can suffocate someone! As a doctor, is it wrong for me to judge who needs emergency care more?"

His twisted logic was astonishing.

"Osman, have you lost even your most basic common sense?"

"A ruptured artery versus pediatric asthma, which one is immediately fatal? Did you spend ten years of medical school learning absolutely nothing?"

"Don't you dare lecture me!" He was stung and lashed out in anger. "I'm telling you, you will sign that waiver!"

"This 'Outstanding Young Doctor' selection is crucial to me. If I win it, I'll be smoothly promoted to Vice-Director."

"If you dare to sabotage me at this critical juncture, don't blame me for disregarding our marriage!"

I listened silently to his rant, my finger tapping lightly on the tablet.

"What if I don't sign?"

"Don't sign?" Osman sneered, "Eleanor, don't forget, the room you're in, the medication you're taking, it's all because of my connections!"

"If I stopped your specialized care, do you think you'd recover this quickly? You'd better face reality; without me, you're nothing!"

"Alright, I understand."

I didn't argue with him as usual, but calmly hung up the phone.

Save the recording, package it, and send it to Gibbs.

Without him, I'm nothing?

He probably forgot who gave him everything he has now.

In the afternoon, an uninvited guest arrived in my room: Samantha.

She was wearing a designer gown, ten-centimeter heels, and exquisite makeup, walking in like a victor.

She was also holding hands with her so-called "near-death" daughter, Iris.

Iris held a lollipop, her face rosy, showing no trace of weakness from an asthma attack.

"Oh, Eleanor, you really are awake?"

Samantha took off her sunglasses, feigning surprise by covering her mouth, but her eyes shamelessly scrutinized my cast-clad leg.

"Osman said you were seriously injured; I was so worried. So, as soon as Iris was discharged, I rushed to bring her to see you."

I leaned against the headboard, watching her poor act with cold eyes.

"Seen enough? The door's behind you. No need to escort you out."

Samantha didn't get angry; she simply pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Eleanor, don't be so upset. I know Osman couldn't tend to you that day because he was saving Iris, and you're upset."

"But you have to be understanding of him, after all… Iris is very special to him."

She deliberately emphasized 'very special,' her eyes full of provocation.

I sneered, "Oh really? How special? So special that he'd abandon his wife?"

Samantha's face froze, then she reverted to that smug expression.

"Eleanor, women need to know how to compromise. You're always so strong, of course Osman doesn't like it."

"He was complaining to me yesterday, saying he felt so suffocated with you. Only with me does he feel like a needed man."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper only we could hear:

"Actually, Osman has wanted to divorce you for a long time. He only stayed with you for your Julian family's resources."

"Now he's about to become Vice-Director. Do you think you still have any use for him?"

I looked at her gloating face, feeling no anger, only pity.

"Samantha, what kind of perfect man do you think you've found?"

I picked up my phone, shaking the screen to show the active recording interface.

"I've recorded every single word you just said. What do you think Osman would think if I sent this recording to him?"

Samantha's face instantly changed. She abruptly stood up, trying to snatch my phone.

"You tricked me!"

"Bang!"

The door to the room was forcefully pushed open, and Douglas, in a white lab coat, walked in expressionlessly.

He was followed by two security guards.

"Ma'am, this is the Intensive Care Unit. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed. Security, please escort her out."

Seeing this, Samantha immediately put on a pathetic expression, tears welling up instantly.

"Doctor, you've misunderstood, I'm here to visit my sister…"

Douglas didn't spare her a glance, simply uttered coldly, "Get her out."

The security guards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Samantha by each arm.

"What are you doing! Let go of me! I'm Osman's guest!" Samantha shrieked as she was dragged out, even losing one of her high heels.

The room returned to quiet.

Douglas walked to the bedside and flipped through my medical records.

"Recovering well. But your taste is indeed questionable, to fall for such trash?"

His tongue was as sharp as ever.

I looked at him, earnestly saying, "Thank you, Dr. Douglas. Not just for saving my life."

Douglas closed the medical record, his hands in the pockets of his lab coat, looking down at me.

"No need for thanks. I just don't like people making a scene on my turf. Also…"

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his deep eyes.

"Kind Heart Hospital has already sealed your medical records."

"They plan to portray you as a hysterical woman who obstructed rescue efforts to highlight Osman's heroic image. What do you plan to do?"

I curled my lips into a cold smile.

"What to do?"

"Since they've set the stage, I'll be the one to put on the show for them."