Chapter 143

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a scalpel when Sebastian Holloway's voice sliced through it, deliberate and final. "If this is going to be a test, then both Evelyn Hartley and Lila Sinclair will perform the surgery. If Lila wins, she’ll bypass the exams and become a resident physician here, effective immediately. As for Evelyn…" His gaze hardened. "She’ll leave this hospital permanently, her name struck from any future consideration for employment."

A ripple of shock spread through the gathered staff. But Sebastian wasn’t finished. He continued, his tone laced with challenge, "To make this more interesting, I’ll donate my entire year-end bonus to charity as a gesture of goodwill—and I’ll also give you, Dominic, one month of my salary."

Dominic Pierce’s eyes gleamed with sudden interest. Lila’s face brightened, her confidence swelling at the prospect of victory. But just as they both began to savor the thought, Sebastian’s next words doused them like ice water.

"However," he said smoothly, "if Evelyn wins, she’ll be promoted to attending physician. Lila will resign, and Dominic—you’ll donate your year-end bonus and give me one month’s salary."

Evelyn’s breath caught. Her head snapped toward Sebastian, confusion and disbelief warring in her chest. What? When had she ever agreed to this? From the moment she joined the hospital, she had made it clear—she wanted to remain a resident physician, nothing more. Now, it was obvious Sebastian was playing a dangerous game, manipulating both her and Dominic. The realization made her jaw tighten.

Sebastian flicked a glance at Evelyn. When he caught the sharpness in her expression, a flicker of unease crossed his features, but he masked it instantly. Straightening, he turned back to Dominic, his face unreadable as he waited for a response.

Dominic and Lila exchanged uneasy looks. The stakes were tempting, but the risks were just as high.

After a long pause, Dominic spoke, his voice edged with caution. "And what if neither of them completes the surgery successfully?"

Sebastian didn’t hesitate. "The surgery will be scheduled for a week from now. If neither succeeds by then, they’ll get another chance. The first to complete it successfully will be declared the winner."

Dominic’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t done negotiating. Leaning forward, he pressed, "Even if Evelyn succeeds, she hasn’t been here long enough to qualify for an immediate promotion to attending physician. Hospital policy requires—"

Sebastian cut him off with a quiet chuckle, his eyes glinting. "Our hospital has always valued skill over tenure. If Evelyn can successfully perform a type-B aortic dissection on her own, are you really suggesting she doesn’t deserve the title?"

Dominic fell silent, his mind racing.

He weighed the risks. Refusing now would leave him with fewer options. If he backed down, Sebastian would never let Evelyn operate alone. And, as Sebastian had pointed out, Lila’s position was already precarious. By hospital rules, she shouldn’t even still be here. Forcing Evelyn into this was the only way to corner Sebastian.

Losing a year-end bonus would hurt Sebastian financially, but more importantly, Dominic saw this as his chance to expose Sebastian’s incompetence to the board. Once the shareholders lost faith, removing him would be effortless.

As for Evelyn’s chances of success? Dominic smirked inwardly. There was no way she could pull it off.

"Fine," he said at last, his voice firm. "Let’s do this."