Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
A single misstep could leave the patient paralyzed forever or dead.
And on top of that, they had to prevent brain hemorrhaging while clearing the clots.
It was a delicate, all–consuming balancing act.
Yet Alice’s hands stayed steady, calm, and precise.
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Removing those clots seemed almost effortless in her grip, like a game she was born to play.
Other surgeons would sweat under the pressure, trembling from the strain.
But Alice’s forehead was cool and flawless–calm as polished jade.
“Stop the bleeding!”
Alice’s command rang out, clear and authoritative.
Melanie suddenly caught on.
The surgery was nearly finished.
After the bleeding was controlled, all that was left was to stitch everything closed.
She almost couldn’t believe it.
A surgery that should have been the toughest challenge was wrapping up so effortlessly.
It was almost suspiciously simple.
As she worked to stop the bleeding, her chest tightened, as if someone had landed a heavy punch.
The ache was sharp and deep.
She had trained under Professor Hoffman as the youngest medical professor ever.
She had always thought of herself as the brightest upcoming genius in medicine.
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Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
But watching Alice work flawlessly, Melanie felt utterly small.
She felt like a complete novice standing next to a master.
When someone handed Alice the suturing tools, she just nodded toward Melanie.
“This part’s yours.”
It was a simple job, and Alice clearly didn’t want to stick around for it.
She was itching to leave and return to the warm embrace of her bed.
Melanie’s feelings went beyond shock.
She was overwhelmed.
This intricate and groundbreaking surgery was a seismic event in the medical world.
She would’ve laughed off being asked to do a basic stitch before.
But now?
Even just being part of this small step felt like a huge honor.
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She found it almost laughable that she had once mocked Alice for not measuring up to Kite.
Truth was, even Kite himself would have to admire this surgery.
Alice stepped out of the room and was immediately swarmed by a crowd.
“You’re insane! That was brain surgery!”
Irene was furious.
She was nearly losing control.
“Where are the guards? Stop her! Call the cops! Lock her up!”
Ruby grabbed Irene’s arm, trying to soothe her quietly.
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Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
“Irene, don’t jump to conclusions. There might still be hope.”
Irene shook Ruby off with a scowl.
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“She’s just a country girl. What does she know about medicine? She’s tampering with Oscar’s brain–this isn’t surgery, it’s murder!”
Ruby sighed softly.
“Irene, Rick’s just holding on to the last chance. Please, you need to calm down”
Ruby’s underlying message was clear–Oscar’s fate wouldn’t be on Alice alone, but on Eric.
More precisely, Eric gave the orders, and Alice carried them out.
Irene’s rage nearly silenced her.
“Rick, you’ve let me down beyond words! If your father gets better, sure, the company shares might shift–but that company will be yours, eventually! You … ”
Irene wasn’t the type to curse, but her tone was colder than ice.
“Do you want me to exile you from the family? Would that make you happy?”
Around them, people started openly criticizing Eric, accusing him of putting profits above his own father’s life.
They wanted nothing more than to drag Eric through the mud and humiliate him.
Alice walked over and placed her hand firmly on the wheelchair.
She yawned, exhaustion clear in her voice.
“Mr. Nolan, how much longer is it going to take? I’m getting really tired of this.”
Eric was speechless.
Is theresomething wrongwithherupthere?
Stanley nearby just shook his head in disbelief.
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Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
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This was a matter of life and death, but Alice looked completely innocent, as if the whole world revolved around her getting some sleep.
Irene clutched her chest, anger burning through her like wildfire.
“You vile witch!”
Her finger shook as she jabbed toward Alice.
“Rick, I don’t care what you think! I want you to divorce her! I never want to see her again!”
Alice casually rubbed her ear.
“If you don’t want to see me again, I suggest you close your eyes. If that’s too hard for you, I can perform a surgery on you that’ll take away your sight forever.”
Irene froze, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
And then she wanted to scream.
“Ms. Irene, Mr. Eric, I have good news!”
Professor Hoffman finally appeared, a bit delayed after checking on Oscar’s condition.
His excitement was unmistakable.
“Mr. Oscar is going to be okay!”
The crowd exploded with reaction.
Irene, who had just been blaming Alice for her son’s impending death, now stared in disbelief.
Ruby was silent.
Irene was the first to recover, and she grabbed Professor Hoffman’s arm.
“Professor Hoffman, you
- 91.
you cured Oscar?”
Hoffman’s voice trembled with emotion.
12:24 am
Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
“No, no–it wasn’t me. It was Alice.”
Shock rippled through the crowd like lightning.
Irene refused to accept it.
“Is your sense of humor acting up again, Professor Hoffman?”
“I’m not lying. I’ve never seen a surgery so perfect in my life.”
Hoffman’s face lit up with happiness.
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“I need to write a paper on this. Ms. Spencer, do you mind if I list you as lead author?”
Alice pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“If that’ll stop you from bothering me any further, then yes.”
Despite his age, Professor Hoffman bounced like a kid who just got the latest candy on the
market.
The crowd stood stunned, speechless.
After Professor Hoffman hurried away in excitement, Melanie emerged, her expression conflicted.
Irene, seeing her calm, quickly asked,
“Melanie, how’s Oscar?”
Melanie slowly lifted her eyes, as if waking from a fog.
“Mr. Oscar is fine.”
Those words brought tears of relief to Irene’s eyes.
“Oscar, my dear boy … he’s really okay.”
Ruby still doubted and asked again,
“Alice did the surgery?”
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Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
Though reluctant, Melanie closed her eyes and nodded.
There was no denying it.
Suddenly, all eyes fixed on Alice.
Her casual yawn didn’t escape notice.
She paused for a moment and spoke up.
“I’m not handling the aftercare.”
She made it clear that no amount of guilt–tripping would work on her.
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Just because she performed the surgery didn’t mean she would do everything that followed.
She only took on the surgery because Oscar’s case was unusual–something her mentor once described.
That explanation left everyone speechless again.
Without a word more, she pushed Eric’s wheelchair and walked away.
It was like if she lingered even a second longer, she’d be stuck there forever.
Melanie stood still, her eyes fixed on Alice’s retreating figure. Her expression shifted, weighed down by something dense and wordless.
When Irene and Ruby turned to look, a cold glint cracked across their gazes–sharp, unforgiving, and ice–thin.
…
At the villa, Alice finally let herself rest.
By the time the sky turned pale with morning light, she was already at Eric’s side, performing needle therapy.
He hacked up several mouthfuls of pitch–black blood, but the color in his face gradually returned.
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Chapter 9 Bruised Pride
Alice calmly packed away the needles and slid the kit into the drawer.
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“I’m heading down to eat. You’ve got a healing bath tonight–make sure the bath’s ready before I get back.”
Eric furrowed his brow. “Where are you going?”
Alice turned her head slightly, giving him a look that bordered on amused disbelief. His mind was sharp–so why the forgetfulness?
“You know I should be visiting my family now, don’t you?”
Stanley had already swung by three separate times earlier, clearly intending to say something. But when he saw Eric getting needled, he swallowed it down and left.
Alice had already guessed–the Spencers had sent someone.
If she didn’t return today, her so–called family would likely drag her back by force.
12:25 am DDD.
Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
Thinking of that, Alice looked over her shoulder and said, “Have a car ready.
Eric didn’t object.
But just as she turned to leave, he spoke again, his brow still furrowed,
“You plan on going alone?”
Alice paused, a flicker of disbelief passing across her face.
“Hold on–you’re not actually thinking of coming too, are you?”
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Technically, tradition said the husband should accompany the bride on her return visit. If he brought lavish gifts, it would earn her family bragging rights.
But Alice wasn’t making a courtesy call. She wasn’t going to play nice for this visit.
She didn’t need anyone putting on a show for her.
Eric couldn’t think of a reply. Her words had knocked the wind right out of him.
He drew in a slow breath.
“You helped my father last night. I owe you.”
Alice let out a soft, dry laugh. “That kind of debt would be wasted on the Spencers.”
In other words, she wanted to save that favor for something real.
Eric didn’t press the issue.
Then Alice’s eyes fell on him again. His condition wasn’t exactly stable. If anything went sideways, it was better to have him close, just in case she had to step in.
Her lips curved. “But if you really want to come, I won’t stop you.”
Eric turned toward Stanley. “Get the gifts ready.”
Stanley didn’t hesitate–he rushed off to rally the staff.
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Chapter 10 Pride or Importance
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Thirty minutes later, a Nolan vehicle rolled to a smooth stop outside the Spencers‘ villa.
The Spencers still owned a good amount of real estate in Mapleford, but thanks to the recent cash crisis and mounting project demands, they’d been offloading properties one by one.
This place was their last real gem in the city–easily the most extravagant.
Word had spread that Alice was returning today. Technically, all five brothers should’ve been there to receive her.
But instead, Scott had a race to train, for and flat–out refused to push his schedule back, even a little.
Damon’s mentor had flown in from abroad, and he’d gone to greet him–hoping to snag a prized painting for Linda.
And Boston? He was filming literally around the corner, but still didn’t bother to show his face.
So, inside the mansion, only Gary and Charlie were present.
Alice wheeled Eric through the front doors and into the living room. Her gaze swept the space once–cool, detached.
The room was spotless.
No tea.
No fruit.
Not even a hint of welcome.
Gary’s face was storm–dark, as if one more breath would set him off.
Charlie’s eyes burned with fury, the kind that felt like it came from somewhere deeper, colder–hellish, even.
“Now you come back!“2/8
