Chapter 211

Evelyn stepped out of the virtual surgery suite, her muscles tense from the intensity of the procedure. Sophia, who had been pacing anxiously outside, rushed forward, her face a storm of guilt and worry.

"I'm so sorry, Evelyn! I messed up—I shouldn't have locked the door. After I finally got rid of that little brat, I tried to find Dr. Caldwell, but he was in surgery. I couldn’t get him to unlock it in time."

Evelyn gave her a small, reassuring smile. "If you hadn’t shut that door, that kid would’ve barged right in. You did the right thing."

Sophia exhaled shakily, then bit her lip. "So… did you… finish the surgery successfully?"

She had been stuck outside without her phone, completely in the dark about how the competition had gone.

At the question, Evelyn let out a dramatic sigh, her expression shifting into one of weary resignation.

Sophia’s face fell instantly. "Oh no—it’s all my fault! I ruined everything!"

Seeing her friend’s distress, Evelyn couldn’t keep up the act. A grin broke across her face. "Got you! Of course I finished it. Successfully."

"Seriously?" Sophia’s eyes widened, hope flaring back to life.

Evelyn nodded, mischief dancing in her gaze. "Would I lie to you?"

Sophia groaned and playfully swatted her arm. "You’re terrible! Don’t scare me like that!"

Laughing, Evelyn looped her arm through Sophia’s. "Come on, let’s head back to the department."

As they walked toward the elevator, Sophia frowned. "I wonder if Lila managed to complete hers too. If she did, you’d be tied."

Evelyn’s lips curved slightly, but she didn’t respond.

Then, a thought struck her. "That kid earlier—who was he?"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Ugh, don’t even get me started. He’s the deputy director of Neurosurgery’s son. Whenever the guy can’t find a babysitter, he drags the kid here. But of all days, he had to show up today?"

Evelyn’s smile turned icy, a knowing glint in her eyes. She didn’t believe for a second that the boy’s appearance had been accidental.

What were the odds that he’d show up right as she was performing surgery? And that out of all the doors in that hallway, his basketball would slam into hers?

She kept those thoughts to herself, though. "Let’s go," she said simply.

When they returned to the Cardiac Surgery Department, they found nearly everyone gathered around the large conference table—except for the doctors on duty.

The moment they stepped inside, the room erupted into applause.