Page 33 of The Surgeon's Secret

“Severe head injury, possible brain swelling. We’re stabilizing her as best we can, but we need you. She’s in bad shape, Dr. Bond. It’s touch and go. Also, she’s one of ours.”

“Who’s the patient?” Lexi’s pulse quickened as her feet moved almost of their own accord toward the nearest elevator.

“Catherine Spencer.”

The name hit her like a punch to the gut.Catherine. Lexi’s breath caught in her throat, her mind flashing to the manynights she’d spent with her—soft laughter, tender touches, the promise of something more than just an affair. Her heart ached as her thoughts immediately spiraled.

She gripped the phone tighter, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll be right there.”

She hung up, her hands trembling slightly as she made her way toward the OR. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, none of them making sense. She’d never imagined something like this could happen, that the woman she’d come to care for so deeply would be lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life. The weight of it pressed on her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

When Lexi arrived at the ER, the frantic energy of the department was palpable. Nurses and doctors rushed around, their movements a blur as they prepared for the critical surgery ahead. Lexi’s eyes immediately found the trauma bay where Catherine lay, unconscious and pale, a faint beeping from the heart monitor the only indication that she was still alive.

The scene before her was overwhelming. Her mind raced as her body instinctively moved to scrub in and get ready for the surgery she knew she had to perform. But before she could step toward the operating room, a voice stopped her.

“Dr. Bond,” a nurse called to her, “you’re needed in OR Three. Now.”

Lexi nodded, but as she moved toward the door, she caught a glimpse of Josephine in the corner of the hallway, her posture rigid and her gaze locked onto her. Lexi’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her half-sister, their strained relationship always hanging tensely between them.

Josephine didn’t say anything at first. She just stood there, her arms crossed over her chest, watching Lexi closely. Lexi stopped in front of her, forcing herself to focus on the task ahead.

“Josephine,” Lexi said quietly, her voice strained, “I need to get to the OR. Catherine…she’s in serious condition.”

Josephine’s eyes darkened, her expression unreadable. She stood still for a moment, her gaze unwavering as she spoke. “You can’t operate on her.”

Lexi froze, her pulse picking up at the sudden shift in Josephine’s tone. “What? Josephine, she needs me. I’m the only one who can do this right now. I can’t walk away.”

Josephine took a step closer, lowering her voice. “This is a conflict of interest, Lexi. You’re too close to her—personally. You’re emotionally involved. You’re not in the right frame of mind to make decisions. I can’t let you perform the surgery.”

For a moment, Lexi’s world came to a standstill. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was the best neurosurgeon available, the only one who could save Catherine, and her half-sister—someone who knew the bare minimum about their secret—was standing in her way.

“You’re right,” Lexi said, her words tight with frustration. “I am emotionally involved. But right now, that’s irrelevant. Catherine’s life is at risk. I’m the only one here who can help her. If you stop me, she’ll die.”

Josephine’s gaze softened just a little, but her decision was clear. “I know you’re the best at what you do, Lexi. But I’m responsible for the entire hospital. I can’t let personal emotions get in the way of professional judgment.”

Lexi fought to keep the anger from spilling over. This wasn’t about Josephine. It was about Catherine. She was fighting for her life, and Lexi couldn’t let anyone stand in her way.

“I understand why you think you’re making the right decision,” Lexi said, her voice even, though her insides were anything but calm. “Butyouhave to understand something, Josephine. If you don’t let me do this, in my professionalopinion, while we wait for another neurosurgeon to get here, Catherine will die. I won’t stand by and let that happen.”

The weight of her words seemed to hang in the air between them, and for a long moment, Josephine said nothing. Lexi could see the conflict in her eyes, the professional responsibility clashing with the truth in Lexi’s words.

Finally, Josephine’s shoulders slumped, her walls coming down just a little. “Fine,” she said softly, her voice carrying a trace of resignation. “You can operate. But I want updates every step of the way. I’m still in charge here, Lexi.”

“I won’t let you down,” Lexi replied, her voice low but determined. She didn’t have the time to argue further. She had a life to save.

Catherine.

“I’ll go now.”

Josephine stepped back, allowing Lexi to pass. As she did, Lexi felt a strange shift in the air between them. The tension of the unresolved issues between them didn’t dissipate, but in that moment, they were aligned in one goal: saving Catherine. The weight of that was greater than any family drama or personal discomfort.

Catherine needed her. And Lexi wasn’t going to let her down.

As Lexi entered the operating room, she quickly scrubbed in and took her place at the head of the table. The surgical team was already in motion, ready to assist. Her hands were steady, but her mind was anything but calm. She glanced at Catherine, lying unconscious, the beeping of the heart monitor a stark reminder of how close to death she was.

“Let’s begin,” Lexi said, her voice steady despite the racing thoughts in her mind. She couldn’t afford to let anything distract her now. Catherine was counting on her. And Lexi wouldn’t fail her.

Catherine lay unconscious, her face pale and her body eerily still. The machines beside her beeped rhythmically, but the numbers on the monitor told Lexi all she needed to know—she was in critical condition, and time was running out.

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