Chapter 94 Reckless
With surgery waiting, Evelyn didn’t have a second to spare.
She hadn’t eaten much, but she pushed her food aside quickly and hurried after Myrtle toward the operating room.
On the way, Myrtle explained the situation.
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It was an old veteran. He’d suddenly had a heart attack, and his airway was blocked. It barely worked even with an oxygen mask. By the time they rushed him in, his face had turned dark purple–blue.
It was terrible.
Evelyn thought fast, speeding up her steps toward the OR.
After scrubbing in and putting on her sterile gown, she stepped inside. The surgery had already started.
Rowan wasn’t his usual tired self anymore. The moment he worked, he was sharp, focused, and almost scary.
When he saw Evelyn, he waved her over. “Come here. Watch carefully from the side.”
Only then did Evelyn notice she was the only intern in the room.
Dr. Cook really does favor me.
Even though I’m not allowed to operate yet, just watching such a critical surgery is a rare chance to learn.
I’ve really picked the right teacher.
On the table, the patient faced two life–threatening dangers–no air and a failing heart.
The CPR was still going, but the monitor’s line stayed flat, not even a tiny spike.
“First, cut the trachea to clear the airway, then shock the heart,” Rowan ordered, reaching for the scalpel.
Another doctor stopped him. “No, Dr. Cook. He’s too old. If you cut and then shock him, his body might not survive it.”
“There is no time to hesitate! He’s dying right now. If we don’t act, he’s gone. Cut the trachea, and he might live, Quick, scalpel!”
Rowan took the scalpel from the nurse, ready to cut.
But when he turned, he froze–Evelyn was already at the bedside, hand moving fast.
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Chapter 94 Reckless
“Evelyn, what are you doing?!” Rowan shouted, panic in his voice.
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Evelyn didn’t reply. Her palms were sweaty, but she gripped the pen tube tight and shoved it into the patient’s trachea.
A long hiss of air rushed out. On the monitor, the line twitched, then slowly showed a faint, steady rhythm.
It worked.
“CPR, now!” Rowan shouted, shocked but quick to react.
The patient was alive again. And with the airway open, the rest was much easier to handle.
After that. Evelyn didn’t touch anything else. She stood quietly behind Rowan, watching and learning.
The surgery dragged on for five hours straight.
By the time it ended, everyone was soaked in sweat and drained to the bone, some even collapsing on the floor.
That kind of focus for that long ate up every last bit of strength.
“Alright, everyone. We’re done here. Get a doctor from the night shift to cover. Rest, and we’ll meet in the morning,” Rowan said firmly. As the chief, he could assign the orders.
No one argued. They were exhausted. Everyone just scattered quietly.
Rowan turned to leave.
Evelyn followed, whispering, “Dr. Cook ../”
But Rowan suddenly spun around, his face dark and cold, his eyes fixed on her.
It was the first time he had looked at her like that, and it made the air heavy.
“Who told you to do that?” Rowan demanded.
Evelyn tried to explain. “The situation was too urgent. If we didn’t act, he wouldn’t have survived. From what I saw, it seeins like an airway spasm from tension. I thought this method might work.”
“So it worked by accident!” Rowan’s voice thundered, and he jabbed her forehead with his finger so hard that she wobbled. “Evelyn, you’re usually so careful during rounds. And now you gamble like this in the OR? What if it failed? What if the patient died? How would you explain to the family? You’re still an intern–do you really want to throw away your whole career over one reckless guess?”
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Chapter 94 Reckless
Rowan was truly furious at how reckless she had been.
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He wasn’t just angry–he was scared. He had imagined the disaster if she’d been wrong, or if she’d stabbed the wrong spot.
“I never should’ve let you into the OR. You act without thinking things through. I’m really disappointed,” Rowan said harshly.
Evelyn lifted her chin. “I admit it was a gamble, but I won’t say I acted blindly. I observed carefully, weighed the risks, and then made my move. Like you said, doing nothing meant certain death. Acting gave at least a tiny chance.”
Rowan stared at her for a long moment, silent.
Then he gave a short, strange laugh. “So, you were just following my own words?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Evelyn said quickly, shaking her head.
But Rowan didn’t wait. He turned and walked off, firm and fast, not giving her a chance to follow.
Evelyn didn’t chase him. He was still angry, so pushing more would only make it worse.
Still, beneath the scolding, she felt a faint warmth in her chest.
Rowan’s anger came from care.
He wasn’t afraid of losing face–he was afraid she might give up medicine if she caused a tragedy.
To him, Evelyn wasn’t just an apprentice. She was like a daughter, someone fragile that he wanted to protect.
That thought touched Evelyn deeply.
After pausing for a moment, she headed toward the second–floor ward.
She had run off earlier with Myrtle without saying much, leaving Philip behind. She wanted to check on him now so he wouldn’t worry.
Just as she turned the corner, Philip appeared in front of her, holding a lunchbox.
“Fresh noodles. Eat while they’re hot.”
Evelyn reached for it, but the heat burned her fingers. She pressed it against her ear and gasped.
“Where’d you even get noodles? The cafeteria’s closed,” she asked in surprise.
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Chapter 94 Reckless
“I made them myself,” Philip said simply.
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