The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 48

Ferris's voice wasn't loud, but it dripped with biting criticism. After his sharp rebuke, every eye in the operating room locked onto me.

Frustrated, I clenched my fists. A fierce, unyielding determination instantly flared to life inside me.

In truth, a standard arterial line placement wasn't exceptionally difficult for me. However, this patient required the needle to be inserted directly into the carotid artery in the neck. Finding the exact location had to be flawless, which significantly increased the difficulty of the entire procedure.

I had no prior experience doing this specific insertion.

But arterial punctures were fundamentally similar. If I had felt a sliver of hesitation a second ago, Ferris's mockery had obliterated it. I knew I could do this.

With that thought in mind, I instructed the head nurse to prepare the supplies and began the preoperative anesthesia.

Sterilizing the area, locating the carotid artery, inserting the needle—the entire sequence felt simultaneously endless and fleeting. Within moments, I smoothly and flawlessly completed the puncture.

Watching from the side, the head nurse discreetly gave me a thumbs-up.

But I couldn't let my guard down yet. I immediately adjusted the anesthesia machine, only allowing myself a small sigh of relief once the patient was safely under.

Next, it was time for Ferris and his team to begin the craniotomy.

Standing off to the side, I finally had a moment to breathe and realized my back was drenched in cold sweat.

I looked up toward the surgical lights. Ferris and the other surgeons were completely engrossed, working with grave intensity.

I glanced back at Ferris. He was still the same cool, composed man. Every single movement in the surgical field seemed precisely calculated, without a single wasted motion.

If I'd ever had any doubts about his revered status at Capital General, watching his masterful performance erased them completely. Only one phrase came to mind: he completely lived up to his reputation.

And I was still lightyears behind.

Perhaps he really did have the right to look down on others.

Two hours later, the patient was finally stabilized and moved to the ICU. By the time our team exited the operating room, Dr. Yates was already waiting in the hall.

She looked at me, then at Ferris, and beamed. "Well, Dr. Sterling? Did our department's newest recruit meet the mark?"