Chapter 1
I had spent fifteen years as the head emergency room nurse, and I thought I had seen everything.
But nothing could have prepared me for the night our star surgeon destroyed his own life with a single slap.
Dr. Preston Hayes was the golden boy of St. Andrew's Medical Center.
Handsome.
Brilliant.
An elite medical school graduate.
And arrogant enough to believe every hallway in the hospital belonged to him.
He was the hospital's superstar cardiac surgeon—the man donors admired, residents feared, and administrators praised during every public speech.
His wife, Ava Whitmore, was the complete opposite.
Quiet.
Soft-spoken.
She usually wore oversized sweaters and simple jeans.
Preston often joked that she had "simple taste," as though marrying her had been some kind of favor.
That night, the emergency department was in complete chaos.
A multi-vehicle accident had filled every trauma bay.
Doctors shouted orders.
Nurses rushed from patient to patient.
Monitors beeped nonstop.
Then Ava walked in.
She was six months pregnant.
Her face was pale.
She looked exhausted.
And she was clearly in pain.
She approached the nurses' station and quietly asked for Preston.
The moment he saw her, his expression changed.
Not with concern.
With embarrassment.
He stormed over, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her into a corner.
"What are you doing here?" he hissed. "I told you never to come to the hospital looking like this. The Chief of Surgery is watching tonight."
Ava's voice trembled.
"I've had severe pain for two hours. I called you, but you never answered. I'm scared something is wrong with the baby."
"You're always scared," Preston snapped. "You're making a scene. You're embarrassing me."
Ava reached for his arm.
"I just need a doctor... please."
That was the moment the hospital's golden boy disappeared.
Preston raised his hand...
...and slapped his pregnant wife across the face.
The crack echoed throughout the emergency department.
Everything stopped.
Ava's head snapped to the side.
She placed one hand against her burning cheek.
She didn't scream.
She simply stood there, completely shattered, as a single tear rolled down her face and landed on the floor.
Preston looked almost satisfied.
"Go home," he ordered.
"Now.
Before—"
"Before what, Dr. Hayes?"
The voice came from behind him.
Cold.
Commanding.
Furious.
Everyone turned.
Dr. Malcolm Reed, CEO of the entire hospital network, stood at the entrance with the hospital's chief legal counsel beside him.
Preston instantly forced a smile.
"Dr. Reed, I'm sorry you had to see that. My wife has been emotionally unstable lately. I was only trying to get her somewhere safe."
But Dr. Reed didn't even look at him.
Instead, he walked straight to Ava.
He gently took her hand.
His voice shook with concern.
"Ava... are you okay?"
Preston stared in confusion.
Ava whispered,
"Malcolm... something's wrong with my baby."
Preston stepped forward.
"Sir, she doesn't even know who you are—"
Dr. Reed turned toward him.
"Be quiet, Preston."
The emergency room fell silent once again.
Then Dr. Reed spoke the words that shattered Preston's entire world.
May you like
"You have absolutely no idea who you just laid your hands on... do you?"
(End of Chapter 1)
