From the OR to Prison

Tawnie clenched her teeth and snapped, “Charles! While I still have some feelings left for you, you’d better stop pushing your luck!”

I let out a cold laugh.

“Feelings? Don’t you think it’s ridiculous to talk about feelings now? I’ve already—”

“Enough!”

The hospital director, Dr. Troy Haas, strode into the office, his expression dark with fury.

“What do you think you’re doing, causing such a scene in the consultation room? Putting on a show for the patients? Seems like none of you want to keep your jobs!”

Terrified of actually being fired, everyone quickly scattered.

Troy stared silently at Tawnie and me for a moment before directing his anger at me.

“Charles, as the lead surgeon, you caused the patient’s death due to negligence during the operation. You are suspended pending investigation!

“Once the investigation concludes, the hospital will dismiss you. Whether you face legal consequences will be determined after the inquiry.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

He knew perfectly well who had been the lead surgeon that night.

Before I could speak, Tawnie and every colleague in the department vouched their support for the hospital’s decision.

Some even said that an unscrupulous doctor like me deserved to be sent straight to prison.

Matthew, wearing the smug air of a victor, spoke to drive me away.

“This isn’t your office anymore. What are you still doing here?”

Not only did Tawnie not stop him, but she also ripped off my name tag, stomping it on the ground.

I took one last deep look at my wife and colleagues, whom I had once treated with genuine sincerity.

Then I turned around and left with a numb heart.

…

I didn’t leave the hospital right away. Instead, I went to the morgue to see Bethany.

I told her I was sorry, but I wouldn’t take the fall for Tawnie and Matthew.

When I got home, the living room was in utter disarray, reeking of a nauseating stench.

All my belongings had been tossed aside like trash next to the garbage bin.

The certificates I’d earned over the years lay trampled on the floor, covered in footprints.

Obscene sounds came from the bedroom.

I kicked the door open in fury.

“Get out! Both of you!”

The two entangled on the bed jumped in fright.

Matthew pulled Tawnie close and pointed at me angrily.

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

Tawnie clutched the blanket. Her face was a mask of unfulfilled desire, and her gaze filled with resentment toward me.

“I’ve already decided to divorce you. Why are you still back here?”

My rage turned to laughter.

This was my house to begin with. Why should I give it up to this adulterous pair?

Matthew was clearly eager to move in. His clothes were already hanging in the wardrobe.

I yanked them down and flung them out the door.

“Don’t forget, I bought this place. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you!”

Tawnie was livid, her voice shrill.

“What do you mean by ‘your’ house? This is our marital home. Half of it is mine! If you’re still a man, hand it over to me!

“And don’t you dare complain to my mother! This is what I deserve after marrying you all these years!”

Anger surged within me. How dare Tawnie bring up her mother now?

My eyes reddened as I forced the words out through clenched teeth, “You still have zero idea who died during that surgery, haven’t you?”

She scoffed, “They’re dead. Why should I care?

“Still not leaving? Want to watch Matthew and me show affection?”

Matthew deliberately bit Tawnie’s ear, mocking me.

“Dr. Grant just can’t bear to divorce you. That’s why he’s making excuses to stay.”

Tawnie laughed softly and tapped him.

“Too late for regrets. Does he really think I can’t live without him?

“I’ve thought it through. I’ll divorce him first, then tell my mom. Even if she objects, it won’t matter.”

Tawnie’s smugness was nothing short of ironic.

“She won’t anymore. And she’ll never have the chance to.”

Tawnie grew more smug.

“So you’re saying Mom finally saw your true colors and won’t side with you? That’s just perfect.

“I told you, didn’t I? No mother in this world would choose a stranger over her own daughter.”

I pulled out all the records from the drawer and slammed them in her face; from Bethany’s admission and surgery records to the final report of the failed resuscitation attempts.

“Tawnie Lowe, your mother isn’t opposing this because the one who died in the OR was your mother.”