My Mother's Killer Came to Me for Surgery
Chapter 3
The next morning, I arrived at the conference room early and waited.
Not long after, a woman swept into the room in a long coat, moving with the same brisk energy I remembered.
A man followed behind her.
He still carried himself with the same calm, steady demeanor.
Even after twenty years, I recognized him instantly.
I imagined this reunion countless times, yet the urge to walk over and settle the score once and for all still surged through me.
“Are you Dr. Lowe?”
The woman scanned the room before her gaze landed on me.
Jason quickly stood up.
“Vanessa, this is Dr. Lowe. Dr. Lowe, this is…”
“You’re Dr. Lowe?”
Vanessa cut him off and strode straight toward me.
She didn't recognize me.
The girl who wept herself unconscious outside the hospital morgue twenty years ago bore little resemblance to the renowned neurosurgeon standing before them now.
“Dr. Lowe, what exactly is this about? You agreed to take the case and now you're backing out? Three days ago, we confirmed everything with your team.
“The equipment has been prepared, the care plan is in place, and now you're walking away?”
“Miss Hart, I've already told Dr. Stevens that I'll be submitting a formal explanation.”
“A formal explanation?”
She let out a short laugh.
“You've handled cases far more difficult than this without blinking. And now you're telling me this is the one you can't handle?”
Ethan sensed where the conversation was headed and stepped in at once.
“Dr. Lowe, I'm Ethan Lancaster, the patient's son. I understand that you may have your reasons, but my father's condition is extremely urgent. If this is about compensation…”
“It's not about money.”
“Then what is it?”
Vanessa dropped her handbag onto the table with a sharp thud.
“What, is this hospital beneath someone of your stature?”
Jason hurried over.
“Vanessa, let's all calm down. Maybe Dr. Lowe really has…”
“Really has what? She's one of the top neurosurgeons in the country, and she's turning her back on a patient whose life is hanging by a thread.”
She turned and fixed me with a hard stare.
“Let me tell you something, Suzy Lowe. My father may be retired, but he still has plenty of influence in Kingsford. One phone call and I can make you...”
“Vanessa.”
Ethan caught her arm and lowered his voice.
“Calm down.”
Then he turned to me and offered an apologetic smile.
That smile was familiar.
Twenty years ago, outside the morgue, he had worn the same expression when he comforted me.
“Suzy, you have to stay strong.”
Then he turned around and got engaged to Vanessa.
Around the same time, my appeal was quietly rejected.
“Dr. Lowe, I don't know the real reason you've declined the case. But as a fellow physician, I'd like to believe you're someone who takes your responsibilities seriously. My father...”
I couldn't listen to another word.
So, I cut him off.
“Dr. Lancaster, my decision won't change because of anyone's persuasion.”
Vanessa's face darkened completely.
“Fine. You're impressive. You're the expert, after all.”
She let out a cold laugh.
“Fine. Then let me tell you this. There'll be a formal review tomorrow, and I hope you'll be just as confident when you're asked to explain yourself.”
She grabbed her bag and turned toward the door.
“I've always despised people who let a little success go to their heads. Doctors are supposed to save lives. It's not your place to pick and choose which patients are worth treating.”
The sharp click of her heels echoed across the floor, growing fainter with every step.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Dr. Lowe, I'm sorry. My wife can be a little hot-headed. Please give it some more thought. You have my number if you'd like to talk.”
Jason hardly dared to breathe.
Only after Ethan left did he cautiously speak up.
“Dr. Lowe, was all of this really necessary? Even if there's a problem, surely it could be worked out through discussion...”
“Dr. Stevens, I do have my reasons. There's no way I can perform this surgery.”
“Well... alright.”
He sighed heavily.
“Just be prepared for tomorrow. I don't think Vanessa is going to let this go.”
I nodded and motioned for Ian to get ready to leave.
Whether Vanessa would let this go or not, I didn't know.
What I did know was that tomorrow, I had no intention of backing down either.