Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 509

She paused for a beat. "But do you dare to get that scan?"

Celeste sat frozen, tears clinging to her eyelashes. Looking utterly pitiful, she couldn't formulate a single word.

Nearby, a senior industry titan pushed his glasses up his nose and spoke out. "Dr. Vaughan, Dr. Sloan has made things very clear.

"It's just a few minutes to do a bile duct anastomosis. Step up and do it.

"Once you're done, everyone will be thoroughly convinced, and your award will be truly well-deserved."

Another expert chimed in. "Exactly, Dr. Vaughan. Given the occasion today, it's actually more inappropriate if you don't take the stage. Come on."

Celeste kept her head bowed, her face flushing red then draining to a pale white as she sat in her wheelchair.

"There's no way a newly awarded rising star is afraid of a simple bile duct anastomosis, right?"

"Yeah, what exactly is she holding out for?"

"Two top authorities have already confirmed her hand is fine, and she's still acting this coy. It's making me think it's not that she doesn't want to—it's that she can't!"

The crowd's gaze shifted from confused to highly critical.

Those stares felt hotter than the camera flashes, zeroing in from all directions and pinning Celeste to her spot, leaving her unable to move a muscle.

Her face looked composed, but hidden beneath her sleeves, her hands were clenched into tight fists.

She knew her own hand far too well.

She had always been in internal medicine, rarely even taking clinical consultations, and had never once wielded a surgical scalpel.

Today's case demonstration was nothing but a sham built on a ghost surgeon, creating a bubble of hype to boost her status.

Relying on her flawless acting, she had successfully manipulated Helena, tethered Jarred to her side, and enjoyed years of untouchable prestige.

Yet today, in just a few short minutes, Sienna was threatening to crush everything she had painstakingly built into dust.

Celeste refused to accept it.

She was backed into a corner, with only one way out.

Her eyes darted subtly toward the aisle in the crowd.

Standing there was Director Lawrence Langley of Capital Hospital, the actual surgeon who had performed today's demonstration.

He was staring at Celeste right now, a fine layer of sweat coating his forehead.

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