Chapter 144

Sebastian Holloway wasn’t the least bit surprised by Dominic Pierce’s response. His expression remained unreadable as he gave a slight, acknowledging nod. “Then it’s settled. The petition will take place in a week.”

With that, Sebastian stood and left without another word. Throughout the entire exchange, neither Evelyn Hartley nor Lila Sinclair had been consulted—not that their opinions mattered now. This was no longer just a petty rivalry between Evelyn and Lila. It had escalated into a high-stakes power struggle between Sebastian and Dominic.

Dominic rose from his seat as well. “Alright, everyone, back to work. Lila, with me.”

Lila’s face was ghostly pale as she followed Dominic out of the room, her mind still reeling.

When they reached Dominic’s office and the door clicked shut behind them, Lila’s composure shattered. Her hands trembled as she blurted out, “Dr. Pierce, how could you agree to Mr. Holloway’s proposal? I—I—” She swallowed hard, her voice cracking before she exhaled sharply, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “What am I supposed to do now?”

Dominic remained infuriatingly calm. He understood her panic perfectly. “Given the circumstances, if I hadn’t agreed, this issue would have dragged on indefinitely. I had no choice but to accept.”

Lila bit her lip, her face draining of color as she voiced her deepest fear. “But… I’ve never performed a type-B aortic dissection surgery on my own before! There’s no way I can do this!”

She knew her limits all too well—she hadn’t even assisted in a major surgery yet, let alone one this complex. With only a week to prepare, how could she possibly succeed?

Dominic chuckled softly, his tone unexpectedly encouraging. “Everyone starts somewhere, Lila. Every surgeon has faced this kind of challenge. Do you really want to stay an intern forever?”

He leaned back in his chair, giving her a reassuring look. “Relax. I’ll teach you everything you need to know. Even if you aren’t ready in a week, it’s fine. Your sister won’t succeed either, so you’ll have time to practice. All you need to do is perform the surgery successfully before she does.”

Lila’s tense shoulders eased slightly as she considered his words. After a moment, she had to admit—Dominic had a point.

If she couldn’t pull it off, Evelyn certainly wouldn’t be able to. At least Lila had spent over a year at Grand Plains General, observing countless surgeries under Dominic’s meticulous guidance. In terms of both skill and experience, she was undeniably superior to Evelyn.

The thought brought her a sliver of relief.

Dominic, noticing the shift in her expression, added, “And think about it—if you succeed, you’ll be promoted to a full-fledged resident without even taking the exams. Isn’t that exactly what you’ve been working toward? This is your chance. Don’t you want to seize it?”

Lila pressed her lips together, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Dr. Pierce. I will succeed—no doubt about it.”

Dominic’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “That’s what I like to hear. I have complete faith in you.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “For the next few days, don’t come to work. Focus entirely on training.”

“Understood.” Lila nodded firmly.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hospital, Evelyn stepped out of the office and found a quiet corner to call Sebastian.