The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 772

"Ha! He refused to admit it back then. He claimed he was trying to toughen you up. He told me that even though we made an exception to create a spot for you, everyone at Capital General is an elite. He couldn't let you fall behind, so you needed to be pushed to your absolute limits. After hearing that, I stopped questioning why he was so tough on you," Dr. Yates laughed even louder.

To toughen me up?

I froze, recalling all the harsh reprimands he had thrown my way in the operating room. A wave of realization washed over me.

It seemed like that really was the truth.

Every time Ferris had chewed me out, it had never actually been about protecting Zoey. It had always been about addressing my own shortcomings.

When I was late for my interview, he called it out instantly.

When I showed hesitation during surgery, he immediately pointed it out.

When I failed to coordinate effectively with the team, he didn't hesitate to highlight that failure either.

I had always assumed he was targeting me on purpose. But looking back, every top-tier surgeon had to walk that exact same grueling path.

Everyone had to be broken down and polished under intense pressure before they could become exceptional.

My growing composure and meticulousness on the operating table were entirely a result of Ferris's relentless forging.

In an instant, all my lingering suspicions and grievances melted away. I understood Ferris now, and I was deeply grateful to him.

His impossibly high standards had fueled my rapid growth.

"He said you were incredibly promising, a diligent and hardworking uncut gem that just needed to be polished. He also noticed that you thrive under pressure, so pushing you hard would only ignite a stronger drive in you. At the time, I thought he was being overly strict, but looking at it now, Dr. Hayes, he truly understands you." Leaving me with those parting words, Dr. Yates hurried off to check on a patient in the wards.