Before long, the news of the competition had spread across the entire Zhecrora University campus. Students and professors alike, whether occupied with their work or not, flocked to the medical school, eager to witness this extraordinary bet.
Khloe and Casey made their way to the inpatient department of the medical school and entered the ICU.
They looked at the elderly man lying motionless behind the transparent glass.
He was well-known within the halls of Zhecrora University. The elderly man, Murray Sampson, was a celebrated scientist known for creating cutting-edge molecular weapons that had greatly strengthened the nation. As a national first-class expert, he had been granted special approval by the authorities to receive treatment at Zhecrora University. The donor heart was secured as a direct result of his significant contributions.
Khloe knew that if this surgery failed, the public’s judgment would come down on her like a thunderstorm-unforgiving and relentless.
Rhett stood outside the ward, his curiosity gnawing at him. “How did you manage to sway Mr. Sampson’s family and the medical teams in charge of his care? The man is a national asset, practically revered by everyone, even the President himself. Even if Henrik pulled some strings, you should only be allowed to observe, not turn the whole thing into a high-stakes bet. What exactly did you do?”
“Simple. I gave them ten bottles of Heart-saving Pills.”
“Heart-saving Pills? The one that’s capable of extending a heart patient’s life by ten whole days, without fail?” Rhett repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. “How on earth did you get your hands on so many? Those pills are worth a hundred million each on the black market, and even then, they’re nearly impossible to find.”
Khloe replied casually, “It’s no problem. I don’t need to pay for them because I’m the one who invented them.”
Rhett stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat as a wave of shock hit him.
Time seemed to stand still, and he couldn’t quite believe his ears.
The thought that Khloe had created such a groundbreaking medicine was almost impossible for him to grasp. How could the Evans family have sent her to prison? It was unfathomable.
As Rhett silently cursed the Evans family, he couldn’t help but admire Henrik’s incredible luck in stumbling upon such a gem. Khloe gave him a casual glance, effortlessly reading his mind.
The Evans family had driven her mother away, and that bitterness had kept her from ever sharing her work with them. In the end, her refusal to comply had led to them disowning her.
A small, knowing smile tugged at her lips as the sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a warm glow over her flawless skin. It was as if she were glowing from within.
“This surgery can’t fail,” Khloe said, her voice steady. “Is everything prepared?”
After a brief moment of disorientation, Rhett snapped back to reality, his throat suddenly dry. He rubbed his nose awkwardly, trying to shake off the unease. “Don’t worry. Henrik’s got it all covered. The donor heart will be here in an hour.”
Khloe’s lips curled into a subtle, confident smile. She radiated an effortless elegance as she walked toward the operating room, each step measured and purposeful.
A sea of students had gathered outside the ward, their eager faces pressed against the windows, all vying for a glimpse of the momentous event.
Even though they couldn’t see inside the ward or the operating room, none of them were willing to leave.
The professors fortunate enough to be granted access to the observation room were crammed in, leaving not a single inch of space unoccupied.
After changing into their surgical attire, Khloe and Casey briefly met with the family, explaining the procedure before they began their preparations.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of a red alarm echoed from the ICU.
Without warning, the door swung open, and a man in his fifties stormed in, flanked by a group of medical personnel. Khloe and Casey both recognized him as Orion Ruiz, a respected cardiology expert.
With a disapproving look, Orion walked up, adjusting his glasses before stating firmly, “You’re not allowed to perform the surgery.”
Khloe met his gaze calmly. “Dr. Ruiz, I’ve already spoken with the patient’s family, and they’ve given their approval.”
Behind his glasses, Orion’s eyes gleamed with contempt. Khloe’s beauty was undeniable. To him, though, she was no more than a pretty ornament-beautiful but without purpose. The thought of her performing surgery on Murray was absurd-a laughable idea that would have everyone in stitches.
If the surgery failed, Khloe would face the brunt of the criticism, but Zhecrora University’s medical school would undoubtedly suffer as well. The reputation of the school couldn’t be dragged down by a celebrity, especially an auditing student like her.
Orion was visibly irritated, his voice sharp with disapproval. “Even if the family has agreed, who’s to say what tricks you’ve pulled to deceive them? Don’t you understand that Mr. Sampson has high blood pressure and rheumatism? His condition is far too complicated. You’re just a celebrity with no medical license. What makes you think you can handle his surgery? You’re being completely unrealistic. I won’t let you risk his life. I’m the dean here, and if I say you can’t operate, then you can’t. Leave now, or I’ll have security remove you. Do you really want to be embarrassed in front of all those reporters outside?”
Orion stood firm, determined to humiliate Khloe if she didn’t back down.
Casey, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Khloe had clearly been overconfident. There was no way Murray’s surgery should be in their hands. Not only would Khloe be unable to finish the bet, but she had also offended Orion. There was no way she’d stay at Zhecrora University.
She had it coming!
“Dr. Ruiz, I stand behind Khloe. You have to trust her. She’s a true prodigy in medicine, and I’m confident she can make a real difference in Mr. Sampson’s condition.”
Daryl, who had entered the ward behind Khloe, spoke up with authority. A respected veteran in her field, she had the clout to be here and wasted no time defending Khloe when she saw what was happening.
Orion’s brow furrowed as he shot Daryl an annoyed glare, reprimanding her sharply. “Professor Hewitt, you’ve completely lost it, falling for this naive girl’s tricks. If you say she has a gift for pharmaceuticals, I’ll take your word for it. But pharmaceuticals and surgery are two entirely different things. She has no business treating Mr. Sampson. This surgery is far beyond her abilities. That’s enough. Security! Get her out of here.”
Just then, the heart monitor blared an alarm, and Murray’s heart rate sharply dropped on the screen.
One of the PhD students rushed to the bedside, his face pale as he checked Murray’s vitals. “Something’s wrong! Mr. Sampson’s heartbeat is erratic, and he’s not responding.”
Orion’s jaw tightened as he stepped forward. “Start emergency treatment. Administer oxygen-“
Before he could finish, Khloe’s calm voice cut through the chaos. “Begin oxygen therapy, administer a D52:24 intravenously, and prepare the ECMO machine to stabilize his vitals.”
Her unexpected confidence made Orion pause.
Did she actually know something about medicine?
Even so, curing Murray was a whole different story.
The PhD student hesitated, his gaze bouncing nervously between Khloe and Orion. “Professor, what should we do now?”
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.
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