The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the room.
Rose’s palm tingled and trembled.
Rage overwhelmed her. She no longer cared about anything else.
This was a human life.
Samantha’s treatment approach was completely wrong, and she wouldn’t even allow Rose to provide emergency care. How was that any different from murder?
Everyone present came from the medical field, but they represented different specialties—mostly surgeons and university professors devoted to research. Very few had extensive experience in emergency medicine.
In other words, there weren’t many people capable of handling the situation.
Only Rose could provide the immediate treatment Grace needed.
Years ago, while working alongside Dr. Nathan Hale, she had treated patients in remote communities and emergency situations where advanced equipment wasn’t available. She had learned to rely on clinical judgment, experience, and careful observation.
She had saved a patient with similar symptoms before.
The golden hour was crucial.
Anyone in medicine understood that.
Samantha froze.
She raised a hand to touch her cheek, which had gone numb from the impact, while the people around her stared in silence, their expressions unreadable.
Rose had actually slapped her.
In public.
In front of dozens—nearly a hundred people.
She was stunned.
How dare Rose hit her?
"Let her try."
Ryan had been standing nearby the entire time.
He quietly observed Rose’s furious expression. She was usually sharp-tongued, but it was rare for her to truly lose her temper.
Samantha felt countless eyes fixed on her.
Humiliation washed over her, making her burning cheeks ache even more.
Anger surged inside her.
She shot Rose a cold glance before stepping aside with a sneer.
She wanted to see exactly how Rose intended to put on this performance.
At first, Samantha had genuinely been shocked when Grace collapsed. But the moment she thought of the recent negative publicity surrounding her—and her need to strengthen ties with the Taylor family—she had rushed forward without hesitation.
Now that Oliver had been punished by the old man, there was no telling how he felt about her.
She needed the Taylor family as a backup.
And Grace was her opportunity to secure her future.
What she had never expected was this.
Rose was so greedy.
She was openly competing with her.
Rose had no time to care about Samantha’s thoughts.
Years ago, while working alongside Dr. Nathan Hale, she had practiced medicine in rural clinics, disaster relief programs, and remote communities where advanced equipment wasn’t always available.
She had encountered a case like this before.
She recognized Grace’s condition almost immediately.
Excessive physical and mental exhaustion, combined with prolonged stress and lack of rest, had likely triggered a stroke.
Her movements were swift but steady.
She opened the compact emergency medical kit she always carried and took out several supplies along with a bottle of medication she had brought with her that morning.
James’s face had gone pale.
He stared at Rose.
"Are you sure you can do this?"
Without looking up, Rose checked Grace’s pupils, pulse, and breathing before beginning emergency treatment.
"If anything happens, I’ll accept whatever punishment you think is appropriate."
She spoke decisively.
Her voice was cold and clear, sending a chill through everyone who heard it.
James fell silent.
He stared at her solemn, beautiful face.
The room descended into chaos.
Many people rushed to call for an ambulance equipped with emergency equipment.
Ryan crouched slightly and looked at Rose’s sweat-soaked face for a long moment before speaking to James.
"It’s over three kilometers to the affiliated hospital, and it’ll take at least ten minutes for the medical team to arrive. Why not let her try first?"
James said nothing.
He simply watched.
The administrators and professors present all knew Rose’s identity and capabilities. As Dr. Nathan Hale’s final protégé, she already possessed a certain reputation.
None of them had intervened from the beginning.
In fact, when they saw Samantha interfering with Rose, several had nearly stepped forward to stop her.
But Rose had been faster.
More precise.
And far more decisive.
One slap had restored silence.
Rose shut out all the chaos around her.
After finishing the emergency treatment, she immediately took out two pills.
Supporting Grace’s head, she placed them into her mouth and instructed her not to swallow them.
James watched in astonishment.
Rose showed no disgust toward the foam gathering at the corners of Grace’s mouth.
At that moment, her face seemed almost illuminated.
Suddenly, Grace drew a deep breath.

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