Chapter 74: Surgical Negligence
Ethan had done too much for her. His life was just beginning; he had a brilliant career ahead of him. He was a great doctor. Divorce, freedom, a new life—everything she had finally found the courage to pursue instantly became worthless compared to Ethan’s potential ruin. What was dignity? What was pride?
Tears streamed down her face again. Her lips trembled, unable to form a sound.
“What, is it that hard to choose?” Damian prompted. “My patience is limited.”
She squeezed out a few broken words from her throat. “I… I agree.”
Damian’s smile deepened. He straightened up, walked over, and in a gesture that felt almost insulting, brushed the wrinkles from Ethan’s collar. “Did you hear that? Don't try anything. Neither of you.”
Satisfied, he waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to release Evelyn. Evelyn’s body went slack, and she nearly collapsed, barely managing to steady herself by grabbing the nearby table.
Damian ignored Ethan, walked over to Evelyn, and naturally draped his arm around her waist. “Let’s go home, darling.”
Evelyn’s body was stiff as a stone, letting him steer her toward the exit. Just as she looked up, her gaze numbly settling on the doorway, a familiar tall, dark figure flashed past: Ryan's bodyguard? What was he doing here? Was it a coincidence, or had he been watching the entire time?
Before she could think further, Damian led her out. The glaring sunlight made her squint. The car door slammed shut, and Evelyn was roughly shoved into the Bentley's back seat. A sharp pain from her sprained ankle made her gasp.
Damian got into the driver’s seat. He didn't look at her, ignoring her wince of pain. He treated her like troublesome luggage, not a living person—his wife.
The car arrived smoothly at the mansion she used to call home. Damian turned off the ignition and finally spoke. "Get out."
He opened his door first, walked around the car, and headed straight for the front door without waiting for her. Evelyn bit back a cry, enduring the pain in her ankle as she awkwardly climbed out. The moment her foot touched the ground, a searing pain nearly brought her to her knees. She leaned on the car door, clumsily hopping on one foot, barely managing to stand steady.
The servants at the door bowed to greet Damian but ignored her distressed state. Damian tossed the car keys onto the hallway table with a sharp clink. Then, as if shedding a burdensome role, he headed straight for the study without a backward glance, leaving her alone.
No words. No look.
Evelyn stood in the spacious, luxurious living room. The pain in her ankle mixed with the chill in her heart, making her unsteady. She grabbed the sofa, slowly sliding down onto it. When she looked up, she saw the wall calendar. One month and three weeks. That was the absolute latest she could leave.
Meanwhile, at Central Hospital. Ethan had just put on his white coat when the internal phone line rang urgently. It was Mia, the head nurse.
“Ethan, are you free? There’s a situation in the main lobby, and it might concern you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s complicated. You’d better come down. Security and PR are already there.”
Ethan's heart sank with a sense of dread. He rushed out of the restricted area and took the elevator to the first floor. The hospital's spacious, bright lobby was unusually tense. Several security guards were desperately maintaining order, holding back a crowd of reporters wielding cameras and microphones. Flashbulbs popped frantically.
At the center of the media circus was a lawyer in an expensive suit, looking arrogant. Beside him stood a tearful middle-aged couple. The woman continuously wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and the man looked stern with suppressed anger.
Ethan immediately recognized the lawyer as Alex Cole, a partner at a top New York firm known for high-stakes compensation cases—and a member of Damian's corporate legal team. His heart sank to his stomach. He knew immediately who was behind this.
Compared to the physical violence threatened at the bowling alley, this meticulously planned, high-profile setup was far more damaging.
Seeing Ethan, the lawyer pushed through the crowd and walked straight toward him. The reporters instantly swarmed.
“Dr. Ethan Hall?” the lawyer said. He handed over a thick file. “I’m Alex Cole. My clients, the Petersons, are formally filing a lawsuit against you and Central Hospital regarding surgical negligence that occurred one week ago.”
Ethan took the file and quickly flipped it open. Inside was a perfectly fabricated surgical record and a diagnostic report from an "expert" concluding that the patient would suffer permanent lower-limb paralysis due to nerve damage during the procedure.
“Mr. Peterson’s son, a promising young man, will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair because of your oversight,” Alex Cole stated. “We are demanding five million dollars in compensation and reserve the right to file a class-action suit with other victims.”
“Dr. Hall!” a reporter yelled. “What do you have to say about this devastating malpractice? Do you feel responsible for ruining a young man’s life?”
Another voice sharply interjected, “Will the hospital cover up your negligence? We have reason to believe this isn’t the first time you’ve made such a mistake!”
The Petersons, prompted by the lawyer, played their roles perfectly. The woman leaned on her husband, quietly sobbing. The man glared at Ethan with bloodshot eyes, accusing him as if he were a murderer.
The hospital's PR director and legal counsel rushed to Ethan’s side, trying to shield him from the media.
“Everyone, please calm down!” the PR director announced loudly. “The hospital will launch the strictest internal investigation regarding this matter. Until the results are available, we cannot comment. Please direct all further questions to our legal department.”
The reporters ignored them. They wanted the doctor’s reaction, the dramatic conflict that would make headlines.
After the initial shock, Ethan forced himself to stay calm. He knew every word he spoke could be twisted and amplified. He couldn't fall into Damian’s trap.
He stated, “I have never performed the surgery detailed in this document. My legal counsel will address all false accusations.”
Then, escorted by security, he turned and left the lobby.