Chapter 1

My dad is a murderer.

He had top-tier medical skills, but on the day my mom was hemorrhaging to death, he turned around and ran off to give another pregnant woman a prenatal massage.

Later, that pregnant woman successfully gave birth to a daughter.

Meanwhile, my mom died on a cold operating table.

It wasn't until the next day that the people collecting bodies discovered I still had a breath of life left in my belly.

For forty years, Grandma raised me with her calloused hands.

She put me through the country's top medical university.

The day I became the nation's leading obstetrics specialist, a girl in difficult labor came to the hospital.

Her husband grabbed my hand, his voice desperate.

"Dr. Sally, only you can save my wife!"

I carefully flipped through the medical records.

When I reached the name and address section, I froze.

I stared at the girl's photo for a long time.

Then I lifted my head and said softly.

"I'm sorry, I can't save her."

The man's expression instantly stiffened, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"What did you say?"

"My wife's life is hanging by a thread, and you're the best doctor in the country. Why won't you save her!"

I turned my head, my gaze sweeping over the person lying on the hospital bed.

The girl's face was deathly pale, breathing weakly.

Her eyebrows, nose bridge, even the slightly drooping corners of her eyes—they were all identical to that person.

I withdrew my gaze and flipped through the scheduling chart in my hand.

"Before you arrived, another pregnant woman in labor had already completed her admission procedures and is waiting in the operating room. I need to perform surgery on her first."

The department head rushed through the door. He first nodded and smiled at the man.

Then he quickly walked to my side and lowered his voice.

"Do you know who you're dealing with?"

"The heir to this city's renowned pharmaceutical conglomerate. They have extensive business dealings with the hospital."

"His wife is also Mr. Johnson's daughter. Mr. Johnson has practiced medicine for 50 years with countless honors. He's called a national treasure-level medical doctor. Surely you know this?"

The director paused, his tone growing more serious.

"They specifically requested you to operate because they trust your skills. That ordinary pregnant woman—just turn her away. I'll arrange another doctor."

He was deliberately smoothing things over, naturally speaking for both parties to hear.

Hearing this, the man's expression eased slightly.

An arrogant, contemptuous look unconsciously surfaced on his face.

My gaze remained calm, seemingly unfazed by the visitor's background.

My voice rang particularly clear in the quiet examination room.

"Director, we're a public hospital."

The refusal in those words was obvious.

The director froze, not expecting me to be so unreasonable. He grew anxious.

"Dr. Sally, you need to learn flexibility!"

I paused, my fists unconsciously clenching tight.

"This is a hospital for saving lives, not a private clinic where people can pull strings at will."

"The pregnant woman ahead of you has been waiting two months for my schedule."

"I'm the hospital's chief physician. I should uphold the baseline of medical practice even more."

My words instantly dropped the examination room's atmosphere to freezing point.

The man beside us turned completely grim.

He laughed coldly.

"Dr. Sally, did I hear you correctly?"

"The Brown family has donated funds to buy equipment and support research projects for years, investing countless resources."

"Now my wife's life is at stake, yet we can't even get priority?"

"Tell me, what kind of logic is that!"

I organized the medical records in my hands, not even raising an eyelid.

"Resource donations are business collaborations."

"And your wealth and background..."

I shook my head.

"Cannot override my principles."

The man was left speechless by my words.

Fury completely rushed to his head. He stared at me intently.

"Good. How very principled of you."

He sneered through gritted teeth.

"Sally, don't regret this."

The man turned and left.

Seeing this, the director glared at me with disappointment.

"Do you know what kind of people you've offended!"

"They only need to lift a finger to make sure you can never hold your head up in this profession!"

"I'll stabilize Mr. Brown's wife for labor first. When you've come to your senses, go apologize and then prepare for surgery."

I slowly lifted my head.

"I will prepare for surgery."

"But not for them."

The director understood my choice.

He gritted his teeth and quickly chased after the man.

"Sally, you're finished."

Offending the powerful—he probably thought I was seeking my own death.

Little did he know I'd been waiting for this day for a very long time.