Romance

Madeline couldn't help but clench her hand lightly. Her expression was cold as she looked at Samuel. "I'm only responsible for the surgery. I trust Dr. Jefferson can handle the follow-up treatment."

She had named him as her assistant so that she could guide him through the operation. It was her way of repaying the favor he had shown Clifford. After all, Harry's alma mater had invited Lena 13 times to give lectures, and she had turned them down every single time.

Harry immediately nodded at her words. "Don't worry. I can do it."

He was speaking to Madeline, but the director and the others took it as reassurance meant for Samuel. They quickly chimed in and promised the hospital's full support for Eleanor's recovery.

Madeline didn't say anything. All she wanted was to get away from Samuel as soon as possible.

She didn't notice the young nurse behind her pushing a cart stacked with medi

Wendy nodded.

Just then, Helena called out from the living room, "Maddie, come try Mom's baking."

Madeline sat obediently on the couch.

Dominic brewed some coffee and handed it to her. "Your mother got into a car accident while she was in labor back then. She had to go to a nearby clinic. That night, a fire broke out.

"In the chaos, someone switched the babies. By the time we realized it, 16 years had passed. We searched for you after that, but we never really got any leads."

Madeline knew what he meant.

Someone else had lived in her place as a Harrington for years.

She set the overly sweet cake down and spoke calmly. "I can move out if I'm bothering you."

"You're not going anywhere, Maddie," Helena said, her eyes reddening. "You'll stay with Mom from now on."

She continued softly, "Lisa lived with the Harringtons for 23 years. She isn't our biological child, but we've grown att

Danielle had been so focused on advanced techniques that she had overlooked some basic principles.

Madeline set the scalpel down.

"Given her condition, the disease has already reached a critical stage. You should prepare for cardiac surgery."

Danielle sneered. "So you know a few tricks, and now you think you're some miracle doctor? Mrs. Jameson Senior's coronary vessels are half their normal size. No one in the world can pull off this surgery. Since you caused this mess, let's see how Mr. Jameson deals with you."

Madeline didn't know who "Mr. Jameson" was, and she didn't care.

"Just because you can perform it," she began calmly, "doesn't mean that no one else can."

Danielle guffawed. "You don't mean yourself, do you? If you can pull it off, I'll let you use my head as a ball."

Madeline raised her hand slightly. "I don't like violence. Groveling at my feet will do. Get the operating room ready."

As soon as she finished speaking, a magnetic voice sounded behind her. "Can you perform this surgery?"

Madeline turned around.

The doorway was packed with people. Even Harry was there.

At the center of the crowd stood a man who radiated the sharp authority of someone long accustomed to power. His face was strikingly handsome yet carried an innate air of restraint and nobility.

"Mr. Jameson!" Danielle exclaimed as she rushed to him. "This woman is insane! She cut open Mrs. Jameson Senior's airway the moment she walked in and even injured the bodyguards. She must be arrested and punished!"

Danielle's expression shifted instantly. She gazed up at the man with infatuation. Her voice was gentle.

"Don't worry, Mr. Jameson. I've taken care of Mrs. Jameson Senior for six years. I've always treated her like my own grandmother. I'll do everything I can."

The hospital director stepped forward to examine the wound. He looked surprised when he saw the incision and the temporary airway.

"That's very precise work. Which hospital are you from?"

Harry saw it too and instinctively tried to speak up for Madeline, but before he could, Madeline cut him off.

"Are you the patient's family?" she asked.

Madeline walked straight up to Samuel.

At around five foot three, she barely reached his chest. Still, her presence didn't yield an inch.

He stared down at her. Her amber eyes were even more irresistible at such close range.

"I am," he replied in a low voice.

The intensity of his gaze reminded Madeline of the gaze she had felt watching her outside the Jillard family residence. She frowned slightly, but there was no time to dwell on it.

"The wound is open. Delay the surgery any longer, and infection is inevitable. Are we doing it or not?"

"Mr. Jameson, conservative treatment is safer for Mrs. Jameson Senior. If anything goes wrong during the surgery and her vessels rupture, there'll be no way back," Danielle urgently cut in.

The director's expression was grave. "The reflux vomiting indicates a sudden change in cardiac pressure. Conservative treatment is no longer suitable.

"But this surgery is extremely difficult. Only Dr. Lena could guarantee success. Unfortunately, she's impossible to contact on short notice…"

A life was on the line. Madeline didn't want to wait. She reached out and grabbed Samuel's wrist.

"Trust me. I can save her."

"You're insane!" Danielle snapped.

Samuel, who never allowed women near him, had let a stranger grab his bare wrist. Rage nearly split Danielle's chest open.

Madeline was unaware of such taboos and only cared about saving the patient.

Their eyes met. Warmth from her palm pressed against his wrist.

Samuel stared into her eyes and found himself caught by the resolve in her gaze.

"Dr. Jefferson, prepare the operating room." Madeline quietly released his wrist and turned to Harry. "You'll be my assistant."

Danielle laughed bitterly. "Who are you to order the director's son around?"

"Got it!" Harry answered immediately. Excitement flashed in his eyes.

The Jillards would never spend 10 million dollars on medicine for Clifford, so how had Madeline obtained those pills?

She had to be an expert herself. What she was doing now only confirmed his suspicion.

…

The surgery lasted an hour and a half.

The director, Samuel, and a group of specialists watched from the observation room the entire time.

When the surgery was declared a success, everyone applauded—except Danielle, whose face had flushed red with resentment.

"Incredible! Her hands are steadier than a robotic arm. They might even be more precise than one!"

"She even predicted exactly which step would cause the blood pressure to rebound. What a truly skilled doctor!"

Samuel turned and left the observation room.

Soon, the operating room doors opened. Madeline walked out while giving Harry post-op instructions.

Harry listened intently, nodding like an eager student from time to time.

The director took the lead and applauded.

Madeline glanced over the crowd, then looked straight at Danielle.

"Well? Grovel."

Danielle's eyes reddened. She looked helplessly at Samuel. "Mr. Jameson, I'm your family's doctor. How can she—"

"Dr. Yates, you're just my family's physician. Whatever bet you have with her has nothing to do with me. Still, a bet is a bet," he cut her off coolly.

His tone was flat but carried an unmistakable authority.

Danielle knew Samuel well. She couldn't afford to lose everything she had. Swallowing her humiliation, she knelt and hastily lowered her head to the floor. She then covered her face and ran off.

Samuel's expression never changed. He raised his hand, and someone passed him a checkbook. He signed it without filling in the amount, tore it off, and handed it to Madeline.

"Write down whatever amount you want."

Madeline looked at him.

He was stunning but also powerful. She wanted nothing to do with him.

She took the check and slipped it into her pocket. "Goodbye."

An arm suddenly blocked her path.

Samuel stepped in front of her. A cool, restrained scent surrounded her. His eyes were unsettlingly dark.

"Let's exchange contacts," he said calmly. "If something happens again, I'll know how to reach you." 

Madeline couldn't help but clench her hand lightly. Her expression was cold as she looked at Samuel. "I'm only responsible for the surgery. I trust Dr. Jefferson can handle the follow-up treatment."

She had named him as her assistant so that she could guide him through the operation. It was her way of repaying the favor he had shown Clifford. After all, Harry's alma mater had invited Lena 13 times to give lectures, and she had turned them down every single time.

Harry immediately nodded at her words. "Don't worry. I can do it."

He was speaking to Madeline, but the director and the others took it as reassurance meant for Samuel. They quickly chimed in and promised the hospital's full support for Eleanor's recovery.

Madeline didn't say anything. All she wanted was to get away from Samuel as soon as possible.

She didn't notice the young nurse behind her pushing a cart stacked with medical equipment.

"Watch out!" Harry shouted. He was too far away to help her.

Madeline reacted quick

Chapter 6 The Real Daughter