Chapter 30 " We're taking enormous risks , all to clean up after those two , " I said flatly . " Director Higgins , I can handle the mess this time . " But the person who should be punished isn't just Beatrice . " N I pressed both palms against the desk , leaning in . " If Darwin isn't dealt with properly , this will happen again . And next time ... I can't promise I'll be able to save this hospital . " N Director Higgins ' expression darkened . Darwin was his protégé , someone who had followed him since medical school . But when the hospital's core interests were at stake , even a protégé had to be sacrificed . Especially now - when saving Augustus ' sister , Carmella , depended entirely on me . " That bastard ! " Director Higgins snarled . " Riding on my promotion , thinking he can do anything he wants ! " He slammed the signed approval form hard on the desk . " Don't worry ! Not only will I block his application for Outstanding Young Doctor , I'll kill his promotion report too . After this , he'll be stuck doing grunt work at the bottom . He'll never touch a core hospital post again ! " " A faint smile tugged at my lips as I signed my name . And just like that , the soaring path Darwin had taken in my previous life - from Outstanding Young Doctor to academician- was severed . By nightfall , Carmella's vital signs had stabilized . \ The baby's heartbeat was weak but steady , monitored closely in the ICU . I was drenched in sweat under my surgical gown . The moment I stepped out of the operating room , a loud thud sounded and I collapsed onto the floor . It took a full bottle of glucose before I could even sit up . " The colleagues who had operated together with Beatrice were crying as they clutched my hands . " Thank you , Dr. Humphrey ... Without you , we don't know what would have happened to our careers ... " " Exactly . Augustus is a madman . If his sister had died here , even our families wouldn't have been safe ... " I soothed them quietly . Finally , I could go home for a real rest . But as I stepped into the underground parking lot , the echo of footsteps behind me made me whip around . My brows furrowed when I didn't see anyone . Muttering under my breath , I turned back - but the world went black . " Mmmph- ! " 1 kicked and struggled , but someone dragged me into a pitch - dark room . My right hand was forced down onto a table . Under the dim bulb , I caught the outline of the man in front of me . " Darwin ! " The hand gripping mine froze for a second . " I was bound to a chair , thrashing wildly . " Darwin ! It's you , isn't it ? What are you doing ? We can talk , please - let me go ! I saved Beatrice's life ! " He hesitated , then sighed , his voice low and soft . " No. You may have spared her from Augustus ' punishment ... but you've still left her in an impossible position . " " I'm sorry . If you really want to help her , you'll have to lose a hand . That way , no one will think you were the surgeon . They'll believe Beatrice was the one who turned the tide . " " I'll handle your colleagues . I'll delete the surgical records . Anna , this time ... help her . " N My eyes went wide in disbelief . " Darwin ! " A blade glinted as it rose high in the air . I struggled like a madwoman . " I'm a doctor ! If I lose my hand , how am I supposed to live ? * % The blade paused . In the dim light , I saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes . " I'll take care of you for the rest of your life , Anna . " " Wait ! " I screamed . " If you cut off my hand , you can forget about being a doctor yourself ! " W He shook his head slowly . " Anna ... Director Higgins is my mentor . He won't let things go this far . " N