Chapter 22: A Life on the Edge of Threat

"I hear you, Director."

A woman's voice came through the phone, cold and sharp. The caller instantly froze, his face turning pale as if half his soul had just been ripped away.

But the woman didn't give him a chance. Her voice flowed on, pressing relentlessly.

"So you're the mastermind? You thought I wouldn't find out? Are you afraid I'll expose your secret?" Her voice was challenging, stabbing straight into the heart of the conversation. "Listen carefully. If you truly have the guts, face me directly. Don't drag innocent people into your dirty game!"

Tut! Tut! Tut!

The call ended abruptly. Calmly, Alina handed the phone back to Raka.

"He won't dare bother you again," she said quietly, full of certainty. "If he tries to push you around, don't hesitate to fight back."

Raka fell silent. There was both admiration and fear in his eyes. The woman standing before him was truly something else. But... the situation wasn't that simple.

"But… my mother..." he muttered weakly, full of worry. "She's still in the ICU... and the treatment costs are enormous. The Director could stop her care or make the paperwork difficult at any time. I'm afraid he'll use her as leverage."

Alina clenched her fists. "As long as that director has full control over the hospital's funds and policies, he can do whatever he wants." Her gaze sharpened, full of resolve. "But the sooner we fight back, the less chance he'll have to touch your family."

Raka stared at Alina for a long moment, as if seeing a glimmer of hope in the midst of the darkness.

---

Meanwhile, elsewhere, a middle-aged man slammed his phone onto the table, nearly shattering it. His face flushed red, his eyes bulging with fury.

"Who the hell is that girl?! How dare she challenge me!" he snarled, his teeth grinding with rage. "We'll see... Let's see if she can still act tough after this."

Without thinking twice, he pressed the intercom button on his desk. His voice echoed sharply through the hospital's speaker system.

"Dr. Nathan, to my office. Now!"

In an instant, the hospital's atmosphere tensed. Nurses and doctors exchanged glances, whispers filling the air between their duties.

"What's going on? Why is the Director so furious?" one nurse asked.

"No idea... I've never seen him this angry. Could Dr. Nathan have made a fatal mistake?"

"No way! Dr. Nathan is the most meticulous one here. If he's getting scolded, something's definitely up," another replied.

Not long after, a man in a white coat hurried toward the director's office. His face was calm, but his quick steps betrayed his unease.

Once the door closed, the tension thickened. The Director stood with both hands braced on the desk, breathing heavily, eyes sharp.

"Why did you call for me, Sir?" Nathan asked carefully.

"You know your protégé? Aileen!" the director spat. "She had the nerve to threaten me! That insolent girl!"

Nathan frowned. In his mind, Aileen wasn't the type to go looking for trouble. Lately, her attitude had changed a bit since the accident... but openly defying the director? That seemed impossible.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I'll speak to her," Nathan replied calmly, though his mind was swirling. "But... if I may ask, what exactly is the issue between you and Aileen?"

The director stiffened. His usually authoritative face grew suddenly awkward.

"Forget it. Stay out of this," he said quickly, almost nervously.

Nathan bowed politely. "Understood, Sir."

But inside, a decision had been made. "I have to find out what's really going on."

---

Shortly after leaving the office, Nathan called Alina.

"What did you do, Aileen?" Nathan asked bluntly, his tone half disappointed, half worried. "Why would you dare defy the Director's orders?"

On the other end, Alina scoffed softly.

"I didn't do anything, Doctor," she replied casually. "I just stood up for someone being bullied. Is that wrong?"

The words came out firm, without a hint of doubt. But before Nathan could say more, another explosion rocked the building. The attacks were intensifying. A nurse ran up to Alina.

"Dr. Aileen! Critical patient—trapped under debris!"

Without hesitation, Alina rushed toward the emergency bunker. Her eyes immediately landed on the new patient—a young soldier. His neck injury was severe.

"Dino, twenty-four years old. Blood pressure dropping," came a quick report.

A long metal shard was embedded in the right side of his neck. The placement was dangerous, just centimeters from the carotid artery and spinal cord.

One nurse panicked. "Dr. Aileen, this wound is too close to the nerves! Should we wait for a neurosurgeon?"

Alina bit her lip, checking Dino's weakening pulse. His face was deathly pale.

She quickly called Leo. "Leo, critical patient! I need a neurosurgeon now!"

But Leo's voice was rushed and full of static. "Sorry... I'm... dealing with a brain hemorrhage patient... I can't leave... It's on you!"

"Leo! This is serious! I'm not a neurosurgeon!"

"I know... but you're his only chance."

The call cut off. Whether from lost signal or choice, she didn't know.

"I've handled neck injuries before... maybe that's enough," she muttered.

Then she turned to the team. "We operate now. If we delay, he won't survive."

The medical staff prepared the operating table and took their positions.

Alina took a deep breath, gripping the scalpel firmly. "Alright. Let's do this. Even if the odds are slim."

She quickly put on gloves. Cold sweat trickled down her temples—not from fear, but from the weight of a human life in her hands. Alina was about to push beyond her limits.

"Prep the tools. Sterilize the wound area," she ordered firmly. "Keep his blood pressure stable throughout."

The team moved swiftly. Despite the distant rumble of explosions, the bunker's emergency room felt eerily silent. All eyes were on Alina.

Not because they doubted her—but because they knew... this wasn't her field. One small mistake, and Dino could die.

Alina took a deep breath. In her heart, she whispered, "Stay calm. Focus. This isn't about titles or specialties. It's about saving a life."

She gripped the scalpel tightly. With careful movements, she began exposing the area around the metal shard, making sure it didn't hit the main artery.

"Spatula. Suction," she said softly.

Time seemed to slow. Blood trickled out, but so far, everything was under control. Alina kept working, her hands steady, her mind racing against the clock.

Suddenly, the monitor beeped. Dino's heartbeat weakened.

"Blood pressure dropping!" a nurse cried out.

"Increase the IV drip! Quickly!" Alina remained calm, though her chest tightened. She glanced at Dino's pale face, then refocused. "We're almost there... stay with us."

With precise movements, she carefully extracted the metal shard. Everyone held their breath. One wrong angle, and the artery could rupture.

Shrrk.

The shard came out cleanly. But it wasn't over. The wound gaped open, needing immediate closure.

"Suture the inner layer first. Then close the outer. Don't let his blood pressure fall again."

The team worked quickly. Though they weren't the primary surgical team, tonight, they moved like seasoned professionals.

Minutes that felt like hours passed. When the final stitch was in place, Alina stepped back. Her breathing was ragged, sweat soaking her back.

"Stabilize him. Monitor for the next two hours. Any changes, call me immediately."

"Yes, Doctor!"

Relief filled the room. Dino was safe... for now. Alina peeled off her gloves, slumping into a nearby chair. Her chest rose and fell—not just from exhaustion, but from realizing she'd just pulled off the nearly impossible.

A quiet voice spoke from behind her. "You're incredible."

Raka stood in the doorway, watching her in awe.

Alina glanced over. "Don't call me crazy. I already thought that myself."

Raka gave a small smile. "Not crazy. Just... I've never seen a doctor that brave."

Alina sighed. "It's not about bravery. If I didn't step in, who would? We don't have time to wait for heroes."

Silence hung for a moment before Raka asked softly, "So... after this, will you still challenge the Director?"

Alina stood, her sharp gaze meeting his. "Not just challenge him." A faint smile crossed her lips. "I'm going to take him down."