Chapter 131
“Tomorrow,” I continued, “that surgeon–Dr. Martinez–is going to
perform an elective cosmetic procedure. A nose job. For a VIP patient.
While our family members wait for surgeries that could save their
lives.”
The murmurs turned to angry muttering.
A middle–aged woman stood. “My husband’s been waiting three weeks
for Dr. Martinez. Three weeks.”
“My granddaughter needs a valve replacement,” an elderly man said.
“They keep pushing it back.”
I pulled out my phone. Showed them the screenshot of the hospital
policy.
“According to their own rules, life–threatening conditions should be prioritized over elective procedures. But they’re not following their
own policy. Because someone has money and connections.”
Someone pulled out their phone. Started recording.
Someone else opened Twitter.
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Within minutes, posts started appearing. “@Queens General Hospital
prioritizing nose jobs over heart surgeries. #MedicalEthics
#HealthcareJustice”
The energy in the room shifted. From resignation to anger. From
isolation to solidarity.
“We should demand answers,” someone said.
“We should talk to the administration.”
“We should make them follow their own damn rules.”
A hospital administrator appeared within twenty minutes. Sweating.
Nervous.
“I understand there are concerns,” he started.
“Concerns?” the woman with the husband shot back. “My husband could die while you give some rich girl a nose job!”
The administrator held up his hands. “I assure you, we take all cases seriously. Let me review Dr. Martinez’s schedule and see what we can
do.”
Thirty minutes later, a scheduler approached us.
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“Mrs. Blake?” she said to Raven. “Dr. Martinez can see your
grandmother tomorrow at two PM. For the bypass surgery.”
The waiting room erupted in applause.
Raven grabbed me. Pulled me into a fierce hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
I held her tight. Felt her shaking.
“We did it together,” I said. “All of us.”
Because that was the truth. It wasn’t me. It was everyone in that room
who’d been pushed aside, delayed, dismissed. Everyone who’d decided
they deserved better.
Everyone who’d finally said enough.
An hour later, just as Raven and I thought the dust had settled,
Madison Chase stormed into the cardiac unit like a hurricane in
Louboutins.
The Hospital Administrator trailed behind her–a middle–aged man
whose face already glistened with nervous sweat.
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“Why was my surgery cancelled?!” Madison’s voice pitched high
enough to make heads turn. She jabbed a manicured finger at the
scheduler. “Victoria arranged everything!”
The administrator cleared his throat. “Miss Chase, we received
numerous complaints, and your procedure is classified as elective-”
“I don’t care!” Madison’s face flushed crimson. “Victoria said she
already donated a million dollars to this hospital! Is this how you
treat VIPS?!”
She whipped out her phone. “I’m calling her right now. You people are
going to regret this.”
I exchanged a glance with Raven. Her grandmother had just been
wheeled into pre–op. Twenty minutes until surgery. Twenty minutes
before Madison’s tantrum could destroy everything.
Then Victoria Vane swept through the automatic doors.
She wore a Burberry trench coat like armor, her blonde hair perfect
despite the October wind. A suited man–lawyer or family assistant,
hard to tell–followed two steps behind.
Madison practically threw herself at Victoria. “They cancelled my
surgery!”
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