The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 26

"Talk while we walk," Evelyn commanded, not slowing her pace for a second.

The two power-walked down the corridor toward the ICU. Dr. Sterling rapidly briefed her. "Elder Thorne suffered a sudden onset of chest pain two hours ago. By the time he arrived, he was already unresponsive. The EKG showed a massive anterior myocardial infarction. The coronary angiogram revealed severe stenosis of the left main artery, and the right coronary artery is completely occluded. We initiated emergency ECMO, but we still can't stabilize his blood pressure."

Evelyn snatched the tablet from a passing nurse, her eyes scanning the medical history and imaging files at lightning speed. Her frown deepened with every passing second.

The situation was drastically worse than she had anticipated.

"Where is the family?" she asked.

"In my office. Sebastian Thorne came personally. He's demanding we spare no expense." Dr. Sterling lowered his voice. "Dr. Sullivan, the pressure from the top is suffocating, but... I'm begging you. Save him."

Evelyn nodded curtly. "Let me see the patient first."

In ICU Bed 3, Elder Thorne lay hooked up to a chaotic web of tubes and machinery. The numbers flashing on the monitors were horrifying—his blood pressure was tanking, his heart rate was erratic, and his oxygen saturation was barely scraping ninety percent.

After a rapid physical assessment, Evelyn barked out her orders. "Bump the ECMO flow to 4.2. Maximize the dopamine drip. Prep for emergency surgery immediately."

The Chief of Surgery shot her a panicked look. "Doctor, given his advanced age and his current hemodynamics, the surgical risk is—"

"If we don't operate, he dies today." Evelyn cut him off, her gaze piercing right through him. "You will be the primary surgeon, and I will be your first assist. Is that a problem?"

The Chief was instantly subdued by her overwhelming authority. He shook his head. "No problem."

"Good." Evelyn spun on her heel. "See you in the OR in twenty minutes. Dr. Sterling, take me to the family."

Inside the director's office, Sebastian Thorne stood rigidly by the window, his back facing the door.

At the sound of the handle turning, he pivoted.

Seeing Dr. Sterling walk in alongside a woman in full scrubs and a surgical mask, he gave a stiff nod. "Dr. Sterling."

"Mr. Thorne, this is our specially invited consulting specialist, Dr. Sullivan," Dr. Sterling introduced. "She will be scrubbing in on your grandfather's surgery."

Sebastian's sharp gaze locked onto Evelyn.

She was wearing a medical mask, leaving only her eyes visible. They were calm, hyper-focused, and currently glued to the medical chart in her hands. She radiated an aura of absolute, unshakable professionalism.

Those eyes... they looked incredibly familiar.

But Sebastian didn't have the luxury of dissecting the memory right now. His voice was heavy as he asked, "Dr. Sullivan, exactly how critical is my grandfather's condition?"

Evelyn looked up, meeting his stare with chilling composure. "Extremely critical. He is eighty-three years old, suffering from a massive anterior MI and cardiogenic shock. Even with ECMO support, his blood pressure is crashing. The surgical risk is astronomical, but without it, his chances of survival are absolute zero."

Sebastian's fists clenched at his sides. "What is the success rate?"

"No surgeon on earth can guarantee a one hundred percent success rate," Evelyn stated bluntly. "But we will fight with everything we have. I need you to sign this surgical consent form immediately."

Sebastian stared at her for several agonizing seconds before taking the pen and slashing his signature across the bottom of the page.

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