Chapter 2 I'd Rather Save a Pig
1009 Words
Five years later, at a prestigious private hospital in Newhaven...
In a pristine, well-lit conference room, Grace, dressed in a white lab coat, was presenting a case study to a group of medical experts, explaining her proposed treatment plan.
Her bobbed hair framed her face neatly, her makeup light and professional, and she exuded a confident, focused energy.
Her blue eyes were sharp and bright, gleaming like two sapphires.
"Excuse me, Dr. Moore. Are you saying this patient doesn't need surgery?"
"Totally, if you trust me," Grace answered with a confident smile, flipping through the pages of the case report in her hand.
Nancy Moore—yes, that was her name now.
Five years ago, she hadn't died in that hospital. The obstetrician had saved her life.
In her moment of desperation, when she begged for help, the doctor agreed to cover up the truth and announced her death instead.
Yes! She had rather died than return to that place, to face the humiliation!
So, she changed her identity and moved to Newhaven, where she started a new life.
Within just a few years, she'd become a sought-after private physician, catering to the city's rich and powerful.
The experts in the conference room hesitated, unsure after hearing her calm words.
Grace, however, didn't have time to wait. She glanced at her watch, excused herself with a polite nod, and left the room.
"Dr. Moore, heading out to pick up the kids?"
"Yes."
As she hurried downstairs, she ran into a colleague who greeted her. Grace smiled brightly and nodded.
She was going to pick up her precious children.
"Mommy, you're finally here! We've been waiting forever!"
A little girl, dressed in a pink frilly dress with her hair tied into pigtails, ran over to her excitedly.
Grace saw her and quickly rushed out of the car.
"Sorry I'm late. I promise this won’t happen again, okay?"
"It's okay! Allen just brought me a ton of snacks!" Amy Miller said, her face full of joy.
Grace felt warmth flood her heart.
Her son, Allen Miller, was one of her twin boys, and he was always so considerate.
Grace smiled. "How about we go find Allen?"
A few minutes later, Grace found her son Allen.
His features were strikingly similar to William's.
But unlike his father, Allen was never cold.
He was more like a little ray of sunshine, his face always lit up with a grin.
"Mom! The principal said there's a kid transferring here who looks just like me. I told them no way! Wanna know why?"
"Why?"
"Because there's no one who's as handsome and cute as me!"
Grace shook her head with a smile, not taking his boast seriously.
After taking the kids home, Grace rushed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
But before the food could even finish cooking, the hospital called.
"Dr. Moore, the hospital has approved the transfer of your patient. Are you available to come in now?"
"Now?"
"Yes, the patient is here, and after hearing the hospital's decision, they want to discuss the treatment plan with you right away."
The nurse sounded a little frustrated.
This was a common trait among the wealthy—entitled, demanding, and inconsiderate!
But for the sake of providing a better life for her children, Grace reluctantly agreed.
"I'll need to go to the hospital for a bit. Allen, can you stay home and eat with Amy?"
"Leave it to me, Mom! I'll take good care of her!" Allen responded, puffing out his chest.
With Allen in charge, Grace wasn't too worried.
Half an hour later, she arrived back at Clearview Hospital.
"Dr. Moore, you're here!"
"Yes, where's the patient?"
"His assistant is in Mr. Sinclair's office. They're having a remote meeting to discuss your treatment plan. Dr. Moore, this patient has quite a temper, so be careful what you say!"
The nurse gave her a concerned look, clearly worried.
Grace smiled reassuringly, changed into a fresh lab coat, put on her glasses and mask, and headed towards the office of the hospital's director, Samuel Sinclair.
Through the glass window of the door, she could see Samuel, an older man, sweating as he struggled to communicate with the person sitting across from him.
Who could be so difficult?
Grace pushed the door open, and her eyes immediately landed on the woman sitting across from Samuel.
The woman was dressed in a high-end suit, her makeup flawless, and her expression one of arrogance.
Who was she? Why did Grace feel like she'd seen her before?
Before Grace could figure it out, the woman spoke, "Mr. Sinclair, is this the doctor you were telling me about, the one you said was so incredible? Are you really sure she can cure my husband?"
The woman lowered her voice and turned to watch the screen, but no one seemed to take notice. No one appeared on the other side.
"I'm Dr. Nancy Moore, nice to meet you," Grace said, her eyes following the woman's gaze to the tablet screen.
Suddenly, her body stiffened.
A man's profile appeared on the screen—it was him!
She could never mistake it. It was William Astor, the man she hated so deeply she couldn't sleep at night.
Wait... the woman just said "my husband."
The Astor family had only one man around her age—William. She was his new wife?
So, the patient she was supposed to treat was him—William!
Grace took a silent step back, out of the camera's view.
Her eyes, visible above her mask, turned as cold as ice, losing all warmth in a matter of seconds.
'William Astor, what right do you have to ask me to treat you? A man who would trample over the bodies of his own children? I'd rather save a pig than save you! Take your new wife and your unfixable illness, and get lost!' she fumed inwardly.
"I can't treat his condition. Find another doctor."
With that cold declaration, Grace turned on her heel and walked out without a second glance.
- Writer
