The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 167

I heard Zoey boldly declare, 'Let them pin the blame on me.' The sheer weight of those words stunned me into total silence.

Everyone knew how catastrophic this medical dispute was. If mishandled, it would be officially classified as a fatal medical malpractice incident. By volunteering as the scapegoat, Zoey was sacrificing her entire career for Ferris.

I had no idea how she managed to get a private audience with Vivian, but I knew for a fact that this grand gesture would instantly win over the entire Sterling family.

If Ferris, still trapped in the interrogation room, found out what she did, he would undoubtedly be moved beyond words.

There was just one thing I couldn't figure out. If Vivian was having a private meeting with Zoey, why did she answer my call while the girl was sitting right there?

I stared at my phone in utter confusion. The call was still active, but the voices had vanished.

I figured Vivian must have muted her microphone.

Since she hadn't disconnected, I couldn't dare hang up on her. I stood in the corridor, waiting patiently.

Roughly five minutes later, Vivian's cold, detached voice finally came through the speaker. "Come to the estate. Now."

It wasn't a request. It was an absolute command.

There was still an hour left on my shift. Remembering Dr. Logan's furious warnings during the meeting, I tried to negotiate. "Can I come a little later? I need to ask my supervisor for a leave pass first."

"Are you out of your mind, Selena? Look at what's happening!" Vivian exploded, her voice echoing shrilly in my ear. "You're still obsessing over your pathetic intern job? Did you not hear a word Zoey just said? An outsider moved heaven and earth to reach me just to take the fall for Ferris, and you—his actual wife—want to keep playing doctor at your miserable little job while your husband's life falls apart?"

Pathetic intern job? Miserable?

Hearing her venomous insults, and contrasting Ferris's tender care for Zoey with his utter disdain for me, a suffocating wave of despair washed over me. I forced my voice to remain level. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

I walked forward slowly. My eyes swept across the mahogany coffee table and landed on a crisp, freshly printed document. The Land Transfer Agreement.

Vivian broke the silence, her tone laced with exasperation. "It no longer matters if The Medical Board finds any flaws or not. The Thorne Family is deliberately blowing this out of proportion to blackmail your father. If we don't do exactly what I suggested, what happens to your career?"

She shot me a sideways glance before continuing. "A doctor's most vital asset is their ethical reputation. Once your name is ruined, your surgical skills won't mean a thing. Everyone will doubt you. You of all people should understand this, Ferris."

Ferris didn't respond. The grand parlor plunged back into an excruciating silence.

But what exactly was Vivian's suggestion? Did they actually accept Zoey's offer? Were they going to let a junior intern take the fall for this colossal mess?

"Selena, don't you agree with me?"