The Devil's Surgeon

Reality

Reign's POV

The moment we stepped into my apartment, Astrid turned to me with folded arms. "Now talk."

I laughed, setting my overnight bag beside the couch. "I just got home."

"And?"

"And I'd like to take a shower first."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're stalling."

"I'm not." I chuckled. "Give me twenty minutes. Make us some coffee while you wait, then I'll tell you everything."

Astrid pointed a finger at me. "You have exactly twenty minutes, Dr. Carter."

I gave her a playful salute before disappearing into my bedroom.

By the time I came back out, dressed in an oversized cream sweater and soft grey shorts, the apartment smelled of freshly brewed coffee. Astrid was already sitting cross-legged on the sofa, one mug in each hand.

"There you are." She handed me a cup before settling back against the cushions. "Time to spill the beans."

I smiled, wrapping my fingers around the warm mug. "Before I say anything, there's something you need to know."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I signed a confidentiality agreement. I legally can't tell you who the client was."

Astrid nodded without complaint. "Reign, I'm a corporate attorney. Breaching a confidentiality agreement isn't exactly something I'd encourage."

"Good."

"But—" she leaned forward with a grin, "—you can tell me everything you're allowed to tell me."

I laughed. "I suppose I can." Taking a sip of coffee, I began. "It started with Dr. Rhys calling me about an emergency surgery. A helicopter picked me up from the hospital and flew me to a private island."

Astrid blinked. "A private island?"

I nodded. "Yeah, an island."

"No way."

"It was beautiful."

"So... your patient?"

"He needed emergency surgery. And thankfully, it was successful."

"I knew it." She smiled proudly. "You never disappoint."

I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't just me. Someone assisted me."

Astrid waved that off. "Keep going."

I found myself smiling as memories resurfaced. "I met Mrs. Holt the housekeeper. She was like a mother to everyone."

"Okayyyy."

"Then there was Raffaele — my patient's best buddy. Complete opposite of him, honestly."

"What else?"

"He taught me how to surf."

Astrid nearly dropped her mug. "He what?"

"I couldn't seem to get it at first. I spent more time falling into the water than standing on the board."

Astrid burst into laughter. "I wish I'd seen that."

"So did he."

"You actually enjoyed yourself."

"I did." It felt strange admitting it aloud. For four days, life had slowed down. No endless surgeries, no emergency pages, no paperwork — just fresh air, peaceful mornings, and surprisingly good company.

Astrid's smile widened. "I know there is more."

"There isn't."

"There definitely is."

I sighed dramatically. "There was... one embarrassing moment."

"Oh?"

"I accidentally walked into my patient's room."

"So?"

"He'd just come out of the bathroom. Wearing a towel."

Silence. Then—

"You saw him half naked?"

I immediately buried my face inside one of the cushions. "It was an accident!"

Astrid exploded with laughter. "Oh my God!"

"I knocked!"

"And?"

"No one answered!"

"So you just walked in?"

"I thought the room was empty!"

She laughed so hard tears gathered in her eyes. "This is priceless."

"It wasn't funny."

"It absolutely was." She took a deep breath before looking at me again. "So..."

I already knew the question.

"Tell me is he handsome?"

I froze. Astrid's grin slowly grew wider.

"...Reign?"

I looked away.

She gasped dramatically. "That pause told me everything."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

"I was simply caught off guard."

"Mhm."

"As a doctor."

"Mhm."

"I wasn't staring."

"You absolutely were."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

I groaned and threw a cushion at her. She caught it effortlessly, laughing even harder. "I can't believe my best friend ogled her own patient."

"I did not!"

"You totally did."

"I was shocked!"

"You were impressed."

"I was not."

"You hesitated."

"I—" I sighed in defeat.

Astrid pointed at me triumphantly. "I win."

Almost two hours later, Astrid finally stood. "I should head home."

I walked her to the door. "Thanks for for coming to check up on me."

She hugged me tightly. "Anytime."

As she stepped into the hallway, she turned back with a teasing smile. "And next time your mysterious patient decides to wear only a towel—"

"Astrid."

"—try knocking louder."

"Oh, get out."

She laughed all the way to the elevator.

The apartment fell silent once the door closed. I stood there for a moment before slowly walking toward the family photograph resting on the console table. Dad stood beside Mom, both smiling warmly as the Carter Farm stretched endlessly behind them.

I gently picked up the frame. "I miss you." A lump formed in my throat. "I wish you were here."

My phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen.

*Credit Alert*

*Amount Received: $1,000,000.00*

*Sender: Westridge Medical Institute — Special Consultancy Payment*

My eyes widened. "What?" I blinked twice before opening the notification again.

One million dollars. One million.

"Oh my goodness." I slowly sat down on the sofa. Dr. Rhys must have processed the payment on behalf of the client — one million dollars for a single surgery. This was more money than I earned in an entire year.

Without wasting another second, I logged into my banking app and transferred the entire amount toward the outstanding Carter Estate loan, then immediately called the bank.

After confirming my identity, I took a steady breath. "I've just made a substantial payment toward my loan. I'd like to request an extension for the remaining balance."

There was a brief silence. "I'm sorry, ma'am," the customer service representative replied politely. "Unfortunately, your request cannot be approved."

I frowned. "I've been making my payments."

"We understand, and we appreciate your efforts. However, the bank is currently undergoing a change in leadership. The current management has instructed us to recover all long-overdue debts before the transition."

"But I just paid one million dollars."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Doesn't that count for something?"

"I'm truly sorry, ma'am. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"

I closed my eyes. "No... thank you."

"Thank you for banking with us. Have a pleasant evening."

The call ended. I lowered my phone and stared blankly ahead. Even after paying one million dollars, I still owed approximately three-point-six million. Then there were the unpaid property taxes, the repairs the palazzo desperately needed, and the neglected farmland Aunt Rose had spent years trying to keep alive with little more than determination and the income from the pastries she baked every morning.

Maybe selling everything really was the only option. The thought broke my heart.

My gaze drifted back to my parents' photograph. "Dad... Mom... if you're watching over me, please show me a way."

For one brief moment, I considered asking Dr. Rhys for help. The thought disappeared almost immediately.

"No." I shook my head. "He has already done more than enough."

He had mentored me, given me my first opportunity after residency, helped me settle the last of my tuition debt, and now, because of him, I'd just received the biggest payment of my career. I couldn't keep relying on his kindness.

Carefully placing the photograph back on the table, I switched off the lights and climbed into bed. Outside, New York never slept — sirens echoed somewhere in the distance, traffic flowed beneath my apartment, and the city carried on as though nothing had changed.