The cold touch of the surgical tools had just grazed her thigh when—
BAM! The door slammed open with a deafening crash, followed by a mess of shouting and frantic footsteps. The sterile silence of the operating room instantly morphed into pure chaos.
Metal instruments clattered to the floor, the sharp clangs stabbing through the noise. Doctors and nurses scrambled, shouting over each other.
A shadow fell across Celeste Harper’s vision, blocking the harsh lights above. In the blur of dizziness, a furious face loomed closer. The anesthesia was just starting to hit, her mind turning fuzzy. She tried to push herself up, confused and dazed—
Then came the slap.
A loud, raw smack echoed through the room.
“Celeste Harper! What did our family ever do to you? You dare sneak off t
