37304 Chapter 4 I woke again to Adrian shaking my arm. "Lillian! Lillian, wake up! Why is Juliette bleeding again? Didn't you save her?" My right hand was numb-dead to sensation. I stared at the man in front of me, rage tightening my chest. "You think one surgery fixes everything? Serious injuries need follow-up care-there's no such thing as 'job done' after one operation." "You-" Adrian tightened his grip. "Why didn't you say something sooner?" Then, as if remembering something, he loosened his hold and grabbed my left hand, already moving for the door. "Quick-stabilize Juliette's cond! If Vanessa gets blamed, she'll be ruined!" "Adrian!" I forced the words "My hand every ounce of strength I had. -my hand is broken!offer He stopped cold and slowly looked at my right arm; his pupils narrowed. "It's okay..." he breathed, voice thin. "One hand can do it." He searched my face like a man clinging to a desperate hope. "Lillian, you're so talented -you can do it with one hand, right?" I slapped him across the face with my left hand. My whole body shook "You actually believe Vanessa's claim that a delivery can be done one-handed?" I spat. Adrian muttered, almost to himself, "She said it could be done with one hand...' He clamped his hand around my stump, indifferent to the pained grimace twisting works? If you don't operate, Vanessa will take the fall." Bang! The door burst open. y features. "It's fine, Lillian-try. What if it A tall man filled the doorway, every inch of him fierce-the knot of his tie askew, his suit rumpled. "What did you do to my sister?" Nathaniel's voice dripped with menace, Behind him, Vanessa was held by two security men; blood still stained the corner of her mouth. I looked past Nathaniel and saw Dean Whitaker standing there as well. "Dr. Hayes..." the dean breathed, eyes falling to my ruined hand, disbelief etched across his face. Nathaniel slapped the dean on the shoulder. "Tell me the truth, or I'll find out myself." The dean visibly trembled. If Nathaniel took charge of the investigation, an active confession would not absolve them the Ch 4 Dreame-Read Romance Stories When Fist reallyef Pris feslings, he had tost her forever 4.4* FREE Installed Open consequences would be far worse. I pointed at Vanessa. "She's the one! She insisted on the one-handed delivery-that's what triggers an aortic tear and massive hemorrhage-" "What nonsense are you spouting?" the dean snapped suddenly. "You were the one who pushed Dr. Quinn into this-showing off the one-handed stunt-and now you pretend to cut your own hand t deny you were even present!" I stared at him, incredulous. "Dean Whitaker, you know the truth! The records show Dr. Quinn as the primary surgeon." "She's a rookie-you can't just make her take the fall." He stepped closer, voice low so only I could hear. "I'm sorry, but your right hand is ruined; it has no future. Dr. Quinn-clumsy though she is might still become a great surgeon, Forget the old agreement." Nathaniel's smile thinned into something colder. "Got four cars. Tie this bitch's hands and feet to four separate vehicles and drive them apart. Let's see how many pieces she ends up in." At that, he noticed my missing hand and raised an eyebrow. "Oh-she's already crippled. Fine-tie her by the neck instead." The guards actually dragged Pes over and lashed my limbs to four Bentleys. I thrashed until my vision blurred. Adrian murmured in my ear, trying to soothe me. "Mr. Graves won't actually kill you-he's punishing you to make an example. Be quiet and endure it." When Vanessa whimpered behind him, Adrian snapped around and strode straight to her. Engines roared to life. I screamed until my throat tore, "The person who tried to kill your sister is someone else I have proof!" Nathaniel's brow knit. I fixed him with a stare. "I have evidence: approvals for a one-handed delivery, destroyed surveillance footage, protection for the real culprit, lies fed to you- all of it." "Mr. Graves, she's lost her mind- "Dean Whitaker tried to placate him, smiling weakly as he reached for Nathaniel's arm. Nathaniel ripped free, eyes rimmed red. He leaned down until his face was i "You have one chance," he told me. inches from mine.