Chapter 1 Stop a Farce

Ximena Gonzalez's POV:

"You incompetent quacks! I want Dr. Albert to treat me! Everyone else, get out!"

In the hospital corridor, I saw a patient with bloodshot eyes, wildly waving a fruit knife around, his voice echoing through the entire hallway.

The other nurses and medical staff kept their distance. Not a single person dared to approach.

I frowned and asked my colleague Clara, "What's going on?"

Clara lowered her voice. "That's the patient from bed seventeen. He insists Dr. Albert treat him, but Dr. Albert's surgical appointments are booked through next month. The on-call doctor tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen. He just grabbed a knife from his bedside table and started this whole scene."

Seeing people constantly passing through the corridor, I worried he might affect other patients and stepped forward.

Clara immediately grabbed my wrist. "Don't go. The head nurse already called security. Let them handle it."

I shook my head. "Security needs ten minutes to get up here. He's got a knife and he's completely out of control. If this continues for another five minutes, the entire floor will be in chaos."

Clara opened her mouth, then closed it again.

I looked around, pulled a pre-filled syringe from the nurse's station drawer, concealed it along my inner forearm, and slowly approached the patient step by step.

The man stood with his back against the hospital room door, chest heaving violently, eyes completely bloodshot.

Seeing me approach, he immediately pointed the knife forward. "Stop! Don't come any closer!"

I stopped and raised both hands in a calming gesture. "Okay, I won't come closer. You just want Dr. Albert to treat you, right? I promise you can see him."

The man froze for a moment, his attitude softening slightly. "When will he come?"

"I'll arrange it." I looked into his eyes while slowly moving forward. "But first, let me check your hand. You're bleeding heavily. If we don't stop it soon, even Dr. Albert won't be able to do much when he arrives."

The man looked down at the gauze on his right forearm.

I seized the opportunity, rushed forward, and injected the sedative into his arm in one swift, decisive motion.

"You..."

The man's eyes widened, then began to lose focus. His knees buckled, and he quickly collapsed.

The other medical staff hurried forward and settled the man back in his room.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Just as I was about to catch my breath, I heard the head nurse Brenda's stern voice beside me. "Who authorized you to promise the patient that Dr. Albert would treat him?"

I turned to see Brenda with her arms crossed, wearing an accusatory expression.

Her blonde hair fell across her shoulders, her face always painted with elaborate makeup, and her nurse's uniform had been altered to accentuate her figure. She didn't look like someone here to serve patients—more like someone on a date.

Many nurses gossiped privately that she'd become head nurse because of an inappropriate relationship with the hospital director.

"The situation was urgent, I could only—"

Brenda cut me off with a cold laugh before I could finish. "An emergency gives you the right to violate hospital regulations? I think you just wanted to show off."

I frowned slightly, looking at her sharply. "Then where were you when the patient was causing that scene?"

Brenda's expression froze for a moment.

I maintained my composure. "You were closest to the patient. If you think I stole your spotlight, well, you gave it up first."

Brenda was left speechless by my retort, her face flushing as she glared at me.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. "Fine. When Dr. Albert finishes and comes down, let's see how you explain this to him. He hates nothing more than nurses overstepping their authority!"

In the entire surgical department, there wasn't a nurse who didn't fear Albert Clinton.

He held absolute authority in the surgical field. In less than ten years of practice, he'd completed over three hundred finger reattachment surgeries with a success rate of 97.3%—a number that ranked at the top nationally.

But his personality was aloof, and he was extremely strict with his nursing staff.

Last time, a new intern nurse who wasn't skilled at drawing blood was reduced to tears by Albert's criticism and quit shortly after.

I knew Brenda was waiting to watch me fail, but I had a clear conscience.

Because protecting patients mattered more than any cold regulation.

"Stop arguing, Dr. Albert's here."

Someone nearby called out, and everyone in the room instantly tensed up.

I looked up to see Albert in his white coat appearing in the doorway.

His features were chiseled and strikingly handsome. Combined with his tall, imposing frame, even the white coat couldn't hide the solid, broad chest muscles beneath.

Albert first swept a cool glance around the room, then his gaze landed in my direction. That authoritative pressure made a cold sweat break out on my back.

I knew my earlier actions had violated hospital regulations, and a scolding was inevitable.

"Dr. Albert!"

Brenda rushed over from somewhere, her face wearing an ingratiating smile, her voice suddenly much softer. "You just finished surgery, didn't you? You must be exhausted..."

Albert ignored her presence entirely and walked straight toward the room where the disruptive patient was, asking coldly, "What's the patient's condition?"

Brenda's expression turned awkward for a moment, then she immediately adopted a look of taking credit. "It was so frightening just now. The patient suddenly started causing a scene with a knife in his hand. Fortunately, I calmed him down in time, so no one else got hurt."

Albert reached out to check the patient's pupils and asked coldly, "So you also administered the sedative?"

Brenda froze, and seeing Albert's stern face, immediately denied it. "It wasn't me!"

She stepped aside, pushing me forward. "It was her! She administered the sedative to the patient without authorization from any doctor."

I was speechless. Brenda took credit for everything good while making me shoulder all the blame.

Albert's gaze moved past Brenda and landed on me.

His sharp stare made me nervous. Figuring I was doomed either way, I decided to admit it proactively.

"I did it." I swallowed and began to explain. "The patient was out of control at the time, so I—"

"Well done," Albert suddenly said softly.

I froze. I'd expected a harsh scolding, but instead received praise.

That was praise from Albert—in the entire hospital, the people he complimented could be counted on one hand.

I saw Brenda's smile completely freeze on her face.

She squeezed in front of me, wearing an obsequious smile, and said to Albert, "Dr. Albert, you don't know the full story. I was the one who told her to administer the injection. As head nurse, I felt it was my responsibility to—"

"You do have responsibility," Albert interrupted her, his eyes cold. "When a medical incident like this occurs, as head nurse, you bear primary responsibility. Go to the supervisory department for your penalty."