Female Novel
Chapter 133
Click!
Veronique switched on all the lights above the operating table.
Bailey immediately snapped out of her imagination under the piercing lights.
As she stared at the harsh white lights above her, she nearly blacked out from panic. Her entire bodybegan to quiver.
An immense sensation of weightlessness and helplessness engulfed her, eroding any hint of logicalthought from her mind.
Bailey hurriedly clutched the rails of the operating table. With pale, quivering lips, she muttered, “I can'tdo this, Vero. I simply can't get over that psychological barrier. Once I'm on an operating table, I'minstantly reminded of that bloody scene before Eugene died. He was just a child, for God's sake! I-Ican't conquer my demons. Let's just leave. Please.”
After that, Bailey forced herself to turn around and leave.
However, Veronique hastily grabbed her by the elbow.
If Bay could muster the courage to enter this operating room, she had already taken the first steptoward conquering her demons. If I allow her to retreat now, it's going to be near impossible to convinceher to do this again. Everything still depends on how she reacts when she touches a scalpel. I can'tallow her to give up now when we're so close.
With those thoughts in mind, Veronique coaxed, “Listen to me, Bay. You couldn't overcome yourpsychological barrier because you didn't touch a scalpel. Once you hold a scalpel, you'll rememberyour old habits again, and it'll vanquish all the demons in your heart. Trust me!”
Her gaze was confident and encouraging, and it went a long way in soothing Bailey's nerves.
“But—”
Veronique did not give Bailey a chance to argue and instead turned her around by the shoulders.
Then, she stretched out her hand and grabbed a rabbit out of a cage. Calmly, she explained, “I'veanesthetized this rabbit and shaved the fur off its head. Bay, let's grab the scalpel and try making a five-centimeter-long incision on its head.”
Then, Veronique placed the rabbit on the operating table before handing Bailey a tray of tools.
The tray held every surgical tool one could think of. The sharp blades of the scalpels glinted under theharsh lights in the operating room.
Bailey shook her head furiously and broke free from Veronique's hold. Clutching her head, she wailedin anguish, “Take them away! All of them! Please!”
Veronique pursed her lips in frustration. Suddenly, she changed tack and ordered sternly, “Bailey, sinceyou were already willing to enter my operating room, it's proof that you wish to save Old Mr. Chivers.We can't turn back now. If you don't save him, he'll definitely die.”
Shudders racked Bailey's slender frame.
She's right. I came here to conquer my demons. I want to hold a scalpel again and save Old Mr.Chivers' life. That is how I can repay him for his kindness toward Granny and Mom. How can I give upnow when I haven't even tried?
Urging herself to calm down, she eventually felt her nerves relaxing.
Bailey declared, “Fine. I'll give it a try.”
With that, she reached out shakily for a scalpel for skull surgery.
It was evident from her gaze that she was fighting an emotional breakdown the moment she touchedthe scalpel handle. Everything appeared to be clouded in a red haze, and Bailey thought she smelledblood.
The familiar nightmare was about to eat up her soul.
She saw blood oozing out of Eugene's skull, warm and sticky. In her nightmare, however, the bloodwas like a corrosive poison that eroded everything in its path.
Bailey's heavy breathing echoed through the silent operating room.
She placed a hand over her racing heart, forcing herself to move the scalpel closer to the rabbit's skull.
Her hands shook so violently that the scalpel could not land on its mark.
Upon seeing the sight, Veronique could not help but sigh to herself.
If Bay's acting like this, forcing her to hold a scalpel is pointless. Her hands are shaking so hard. Howcan she perform high-risk and complicated craniotomy at this rate?
“That's enough, Bay. Don't force yourself.”
As she spoke, Veronique reached out to hold Bailey's wrist, trying to get her to retract her scalpel.
To her surprise, Bailey pushed her aside and said, “No.” Taking a deep breath, Bailey inserted thesharp scalpel into the rabbit's head.
Blood immediately oozed out of the incision.
Bailey's face paled as she drew the scalpel further downward. Eventually, her face was devoid of color.
More and more blood gushed out of the opening on the rabbit's skull. Bailey could not bring herself togo any further and let go of the scalpel in her hand.
Clang!
Just as the scalpel clattered on the floor, Bailey lost all strength in her legs as she collapsed on the coldground.
No. I still couldn't do it. I can't forget that horrifying, bloody scene at all.
As long as she saw blood, Bailey could not help but remember the gory scene right before Eugene
died.
That ghastly incident had also ended her medical career for good.
Bailey wished she had never tried to battle her fate in the first place.
She buried her head between her knees. Shivering uncontrollably, she mumbled, “I'm sorry, Eugene.I'm so sorry I couldn't save your life. I'm sorry I put you through so much pain and made your mothersuffer the pain of losing a child. I'm so sorry to both of you.”
Meanwhile, Veronique had just staunched the bleeding on the rabbit's head. She was about to bendover and help Bailey to her feet when she realized that the latter's body temperature was dangerouslylow. Bailey was also sweating profusely.
Veronique began to panic. She was worried Bailey would drown herself in remorse and guilt andeventually drive herself mad.
Quickly hugging Bailey's cold body, she coaxed through sobs, “Come on, let's not think about itanymore, okay? You've done your best. No one has any right to blame you or point fingers at you. Let'sjust pretend none of this ever happened. Didn't the Luther family hire Cadence to operate on Old Mr.Chivers? We'll let him worry about that himself. Let's not think about such upsetting matters.”
She barely finished her sentence when someone kicked open the operating room door. A tall, muscularfigure then dashed into the room.
Instinctively, Veronique looked up. Surprise flashed through her eyes when she got a good look at theintruder.
She stammered, “M-Mr. Luther, w-why are you here?”
Ignoring her question, Artemis glanced at the operating table before rushing to the women andremoving Bailey from Veronique's arms. He tucked Bailey's cold body firmly against himself andquestioned, “What happened? Isn't she Anonymous? Why is she so averse to the operating table?Why does she break down once she holds a scalpel? What on earth happened to her three yearsago?”
Staring at him in shock, Veronique blurted, “How did you know she's Anonymous?”
When her words fell, she immediately realized she had fallen for Artemis' trap.
He was clearly trying to trick me into confirming her identity, and I stupidly sashayed into this well-laidtrap. D*mn it! How can I explain my way out of this? Artemis Luther is a right fox! Ugh! His head is filledwith so many sly ideas it vexes me. novelbin
Artemis merely scoffed in response. Initially, he had not confirmed Bailey's identity as Anonymous andhad used his questions to test Veronique. To his pleasant surprise, his trick had worked.