The doctor, still buzzing with excitement, affirmed, “Yes, Dr. Aston. I checked the credentials-it’s definitely Dr. Riss!”
Myles, the elderly director with graying hair, was astonished. “So young?”
The middle-aged, balding attending doctor nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, incredibly young. It’s surprising!”
Just then, Connor stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for the operating room
Connor’s unexpected appearance took everyone by surprise. Although the Sanchez family was prestigious, known for its scholarly and artistic achievements, they paled in comparison to the Daniels family in terms of wealth and status. It was highly unlikely that Connor would normally cross paths with them, so no one considered the idea that he had come for anyone from the Sanchez family
The only logical reason for his presence was the esteemed Dr. Riss. It was well-known that Connor had been seeking advanced medical treatments for his elder brother, having consulted numerous renowned doctors both domestically and internationally. Myles quickly stepped forward to greet him. “Mr. Daniels, what brings you here?”
Connor responded with a polite nod. “I’m here to see Dr. Riss.”
This admission confirmed everyone’s suspicions
Daryl Sanchez, the current head of the Sanchez family, approached with courteous formality. “Mr. Daniels, Dr. Riss is currently treating my sister. Please be patient and wait.”
Connor acknowledged with a polite nod and then turned his attention to the glass window. Peering through, he saw the slender figure inside and a thoughtful frown formed on his face. Could this young woman truly be Riss? She looked strikingly familiar
Behind Connor, Domenic, Marc, and Terry craned their necks to get a better view. Upon seeing the young woman, they exchanged knowing glances. They had not anticipated Dr. Riss being such a young woman! The possibility crossed their minds-could her repeated rejections and rude remarks with Mr. Daniels have been a calculated move to catch his attention? If so, she was proving to be quite astute!
Just then, the elevator doors opened once more, unleashing a wave of people into the hallway. Among them were professors and students from medical schools, staff from other hospitals in Blebert, and representatives from various medical families. Excitement and reverence lit up their eyes. Word of Dr. Riss’s presence at Benevolence Hospital had evidently spread. Leading a contingent from the Nash family was Balthasar. It had been years since the Nash and Sanchez families had interacted, lending an awkwardness to the atmosphere that quickly grew both tense and complex
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, Sansa, gripping Ayla’s hand, declared loudly, “My daughter Ayla has known Dr. Riss for a long time. They’ve met privately, and Ayla even purchased the D Pill of MindEase Elixir from Riss at a discounted rate!” Her words drew envious looks from around her-being acquainted with Riss was considered a significant honor, let alone purchasing the D Pill from her
However, Daryl, visibly irritated, responded sharply, “Mrs. Nash, we are outside the operating room. Dr. Riss is conducting a critical procedure. Please keep your voice down.” Sansa, undeterred and arrogant, lifted her chin and pushed her way to the front of the crowd, peering intently through the glass window. After a moment of confusion, she turned to Ayla and inquired, “Which one is Dr. Riss?”
Sansa, though not a medical professional, had been the hostess of a medical family for many years and knew hospital etiquette. The physician performing the operation was supposed to be Dr. Riss, but how could Dr. Riss be a young woman? Ayla had described Dr. Riss as a young, accomplished man in his thirties
Caught off guard by her mother’s question, Ayla felt embarrassed-she actually had no real knowledge of Riss. Seizing the opportunity to impress, Caylee’s attending physician stepped forward and clarified, “Mrs. Nash, the young woman in the center is the renowned Dr. Riss.”
“How is that possible?” Sansa blurted out in disbelief. She then turned back to Ayla and asked, “Ayla, didn’t you tell me Dr. Riss was a young man in his thirties? Could this be an impostor?”
Ayla’s heart raced with fear as she heard Sansa’s question. At Balthasar’s birthday party, she had claimed that Dr. Riss was a young man in his thirties. In truth, she had made an assumption. To her, someone with exceptional medical skills had to be male; she couldn’t conceive that a woman could achieve such distinction. She had even considered that Riss might be an older man, as significant expertise often came with age. However, having heard of Riss’s recent surgical successes, she concluded that he must be a younger man, reminiscent of Brian in his prime
Just then, a doctor from Benevolence Hospital informed them that the accomplished Dr. Riss was actually the young, slim woman they saw. Ayla was momentarily stunned, wishing she could vanish on the spot
Unaware of her daughter’s fabrication, Sansa scoffed at the Sanchez family. “I knew it. How could the Sanchez family possibly secure an appointment with Riss, the most renowned doctor? Your family doesn’t have that kind of influence. It seems you’ve got a fraud instead!”
Before the Sanchez family could respond, Myles interjected with displeasure, “Mrs. Nash, please be careful with your accusations. How could we possibly entrust our patient to an impostor without thorough verification? It’s unprofessional for someone associated with Nash Hospital to come here and spread such falsehoods.”
“Exactly!” the doctors from Benevolence Hospital echoed in agreement
The atmosphere grew tense as a Benevolence Hospital doctor retorted, “Even if Nash Hospital is jealous because we have Riss’s help, there’s no need for you to slander us with such baseless lies.” Another chimed in, “It’s no wonder Nash Hospital has declined since Dr. Brian Nash disappeared. There’s no competent leadership there, just a bunch of envious clowns!”
The doctors and nurses from Benevolence Hospital chuckled at the comment, deeply embarrassing Balthasar. He couldn’t scold Sansa in front of everyone, but his darkened expression and stern gaze clearly signaled her to be more cautious with her words next time
However, Sansa, confident in her daughter’s supposed acquaintance with Riss, ignored Balthasar’s disapproving look. Clutching Ayla’s arm, she demanded loudly, “Ayla, tell them Riss is a young man in his thirties, not a girl!” Ayla, her face pale with embarrassment, wished desperately she could silence her mother. But Sansa continued, “Ayla, speak up. Tell them about your connection with Riss, so they will know better than to underestimate the Nash family!”
“Mom, I…” Ayla’s voice faltered, and she was visibly sweating, overwhelmed by her mother’s insistence and her own deception. Just then, the operating room doors swung open, and a male doctor stepped out, removing his mask. Though the people gathered hadn’t met Riss before, many in the medical community recognized this man. His photo frequently appeared in Riss’s medical team’s promotional materials. His prestige was second only to hers. He was Ferris Frazier, Riss’s top assistant and an outstanding doctor in his own right. If Ferris confirmed that the young woman inside the operating room was Riss, then they had to believe it
Before anyone could ask, Ferris snapped, “Dr. Riss is attending to a patient in a critical situation. Why are you causing such a disturbance here? Please, keep quiet!” With Ferris’s confirmation, all doubts were dispelled. The crowd swiftly turned their attention to Sansa and Ayla, leaving them at the center of judgmental stares
After chastising the noisy onlookers, Ferris returned to the operating room. This particular room, designed for interns to observe and learn through its glass window, was being used temporarily due to the urgency of Caylee’s condition and the hospital’s packed surgery schedule. This setup inadvertently provided everyone a rare glimpse of Dr. Riss in action. However, what could have been a celebrated moment in the medical community was turned into a farce by Sansa and Ayla’s behavior
Once Ferris disappeared back into the operating room, scornful eyes turned to the embarrassed duo. Ayla felt utterly humiliated, wishing she could vanish on the spot. Sansa, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, whispered reproachfully to her daughter, “Didn’t you say Dr. Riss was a young man in his thirties? How did he suddenly become a woman?”
Ayla’s complexion turned from pale to a flushed red. She bit her lip and lowered her head, too mortified to respond
“Hahaha…” A quiet chuckle arose from someone nearby. “Mrs. Nash, why even ask? It’s clear Ayla was just making things up.”
Another added, “She claimed to know Dr. Riss and even boasted about dining with her, yet she didn’t even know Riss’s gender. It’s laughable.”
“The Nash family really is a joke,” someone else commented. “Without Dr. Brian Nash, they’re just clinging to tall tales to stay relevant.”
As these taunts circulated, Balthasar’s expression darkened with fury. He clenched his teeth and snapped at Ayla, “Get out of here! Stop making a spectacle of yourself!”
But Ayla didn’t want to leave. More than anything, she yearned to meet Dr. Riss, earn her recognition, and perhaps even become her apprentice. It was her greatest dream. With Riss so close, how could she possibly leave without at least attempting to speak to her? However, the mocking stares around her were too much for her to bear. Fearing additional humiliation if Riss were to dismiss her, she hesitated for a moment, gave Connor a wary look, and then slipped away in shame. Sansa, equally humiliated, also stole a glance at Connor before awkwardly making her exit
Connor, who disliked crowds and noise, had retreated to a corner when the crowd surged out of the elevator, going unnoticed by many. However, Sansa had seen him and, in an attempt to impress him, had boasted loudly, only to end up embarrassing herself
Connor watched the mother and daughter’s debacle with an indifferent gaze. Such minor incidents were beneath his concern. Balthasar had intended to use this occasion to meet Dr. Riss, to express his gratitude for recognizing his granddaughter’s talents and for the MindEase Elixir. He had hoped to gain some recognition in front of the crowd. Instead, his plans crumbled spectacularly, and he left with a defeated air, his face ashen. Following Balthasar’s lead, the other members of the Nash family discreetly exited
The remaining crowd’s attention briefly followed the departing family, their expressions filled with derision. Just then, the lights in the operating room flickered off, causing a stir among the onlookers
“Oh no, did the power go out?”
“It’s not a power outage. The hallway lights are still on. It must be just the operating room.”
“Could there be an electrical issue in there? Oh no, what if it affects Dr. Riss’s procedure?”
The concern grew among the crowd. However, the tension was short-lived as the lights in the operating room flickered back on within seconds. Soon after, the door opened and the medical team stepped out. “Dr. Riss!” the crowd exclaimed in unison, rushing towards the door with renewed excitement. Connor, too, moved forward, eager to see the famous doctor
The hallway was crowded and buzzing with excitement as people pressed forward, surrounding the door of the operating room. Connor, maintaining his distance from the crowd due to his high status, stood back in the corner. His height allowed him to see over the heads of others, giving him a clear view into the room
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply