Ripping off Her Mask

I stood tall in all the glory of righteousness, staring down everyone at the scene.

My other colleagues did not dare to intervene.

"Kate Horton, go back and copy the entire chapter on calming patients by hand ten times. I want you to recite all of it tomorrow at the office. You still remember the chapter from our undergraduate textbooks, right? Useless shit."

I turned to leave but paused. "The patient is now under my care. For the next six months, you're not allowed to see any patients alone!"

"Stop right there!" Luke snapped, his voice regaining its usual authoritative tone. "The patient has been under Kate's care for two months. You have no right to take over. You're stealing her hard work!"

I raised my eyebrows, sneering as I turned to point at Kate, who was still crying in Brandon's arms. "Two months, and she still doesn't know what triggers her patient? She almost killed him. You call that hard work?"

"I didn't—I said I was sorry," Kate sobbed.

"Sorry? What's the use of that? Is your apology powerful enough to rouse a dead man? You can't even remember the basics of your profession. How can you hope to care for a patient?" I snapped.

Turning to Luke, I added, "Sir, have you lost your mind, too, or do you not care about your reputation anymore? Is this the kind of careless attitude you show toward your patients?"

Luke was so angry that he was left speechless. His face turned a ruddy shade from suppressed anger.

Brandon glanced down at Kate, who was still crying. "Amanda, you're being too harsh. Kate made a mistake, but there's no need to be so cruel."

I laughed, my gaze flitting between him and Kate with amusement. "I just risked my life to save a patient, Brandon. While I was hanging halfway off the roof, 17 floors above ground, what have you been doing as my boyfriend?

"I know exactly what you're thinking. I've just been keeping quiet to save you from embarrassment."

I jabbed a finger at Kate. "If you don't take your punishment seriously and keep stirring up trouble, then you should leave this hospital immediately!"

…

I had just returned to my office from the rooftop when a nurse, Mary Fletcher, ran in without even knocking. I hadn't even had the chance to care for my wounds on my hands.

Mary looked panicked. Sweat coated her forehead from the exertion of running. "Dr. Seville, the dean is back!"

I frowned. A bad feeling welled up in me. "I thought he was invited to be a consultant in another city today."

Looking upset, Mary hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Brandon called him. He told him about what happened today and had a car pick him up from the train station. The dean is Kate's uncle, so I don't think he will let this slide."

I scoffed. "I just asked her to copy a chapter out of our textbook by hand. Did she really need to call in backups? How pathetic."

Brandon was clearly telling me that he chose Kate over me. Truly a match made in heaven—a fake saint and a lapdog. I would have to wish them a long and happy life together later.

Mary tried to push me toward the hospital's back entrance. "You should leave, Dr. Seville. The dean can be difficult to deal with when he's angry."

I shook my head, turning down her suggestion.

"Amanda Seville! I've only been gone for half a day, and you've already caused such a mess?" the dean, Cameron Preston, roared at me as soon as I stepped into his office.

I folded my arms and stared at the people in the office, unfazed.

Mr. Preston looked livid. Brandon looked annoyed, and Luke was supporting a crying Kate.

"This was Kate's first time handling the patient. It's normal for her to make some minor mistakes. You should've helped her instead of punishing her!

"You just got promoted to deputy director, and you're already throwing your weight around? You're too arrogant to be in this position! How could you make Kate recite the entire handbook in the office in front of everyone? Are you trying to make her out as a joke?"