“That’s right—Star, the very same surgical expert who once turned you down,” Alexander said with a chuckle, his tone light but clearly amused.
Ethan’ expression remained composed, but the subtle clenching of his jaw betrayed his underlying tension.
There were few people who dared refuse him. Star was one of the rare exceptions—and not just once, but twice.
The memories surfaced unbidden. Years ago, when Emily’s mother had faced a life-threatening heart condition, Ethan had sought out Star, captivated by her unparalleled reputation and surgical expertise. His team had reached out to her twice, practically pleading for her assistance.
But both times, Star had refused outright. No deliberation, no explanation—just a curt rejection.
At the time, Ethan had been furious. It wasn’t just about the denial; it was the audacity of it. Star had the nerve to disregard his request as though he were any other ordinary petitioner.
“Did she go to Grand Plains General Hospital today?” Ethan asked, his tone measured despite the tension simmering beneath.
Alexander responded enthusiastically, “She did. From what I heard, she tackled a surgery on an 85-year-old patient. A high-risk case. If their head of cardiac surgery had handled it, the success rate would’ve been around forty percent at best. But Star? She analyzed the case, reviewed the reports, and declared the success rate could reach ninety percent.”
He paused, a note of admiration in his voice. “Bold, right? But she pulled it off. The surgery was a success, and it took her just four and a half hours. She’s as good as they say—maybe better.”
Ethan let out a faint scoff. “Bold indeed,” he muttered.
Only someone with Star’s confidence—and brilliance—would have the audacity to turn him down not once but twice.
Alexander chuckled. “Someone managed to get a photo of her this time. Just her profile, though—masked and wearing glasses. But it’s clear she’s young. Probably not even thirty.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow at that.
“Not even thirty?” he repeated, his tone skeptical.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Alexander continued. “Her visit caused such a stir that the Grand Plains General Hospital’s website and app crashed. Everyone’s clamoring to get her for their surgeries now.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, unsurprised. This kind of frenzy was exactly the type of chaos Star’s reputation could ignite.
Their conversation wrapped up shortly after, but something nagged at Ethan.
On impulse, he opened his laptop and searched for the photo Alexander had mentioned. When he finally saw it, his brows furrowed. The figure in the image—masked, bespectacled, and enigmatic—seemed hauntingly familiar.
Still, he shook his head, dismissing the thought. It was absurd. He must be overthinking.
________________________________________
Later that evening, Ethan casually brought up the topic as he crossed paths with Jessica.
“I heard Star visited your hospital today,” he remarked, watching her closely.
Jessica’s face lit up with excitement, her response quick and seemingly genuine. “Yes! Everyone in our department was thrilled to see her. She’s so admired.”
Ethan studied her reaction carefully.
She seemed completely at ease, her enthusiasm natural. His suspicions began to wane. Clearly, he had been overthinking things. A similar build or vague resemblance didn’t mean anything. There was no way Jessica and Star could be the same person.
While Ethan mulled this over, Jessica’s expression briefly shifted, though she recovered just as quickly.
She wasn’t sure why Ethan had brought up Star, but she chose to remain composed. Responding naturally was the safest course of action.
Still, her mind drifted to the events of the previous year.
Ethan’ assistant had emailed her, requesting her presence in Askya to perform a surgery on a high-profile patient. Upon reviewing the case, she had deemed it straightforward enough that her involvement wasn’t necessary.
She understood how the wealthy operated—always insisting on the best, even for the simplest of procedures.
At the time, her reputation had been soaring, so it wasn’t surprising that Ethan’ team had reached out. Without much thought, she had declined.
A few days later, Ethan himself had emailed her.
She had refused again.
Now, as Ethan brought up Star, Jessica couldn’t help but wonder if he had connected the dots. But as he remained silent, she reassured herself that the moment had passed.
Exhausted from the day’s events, she retired to bed early.
________________________________________
Hours later, the stillness of the night was broken by her rumbling stomach. Begrudgingly, Jessica got out of bed, her steps sluggish as she made her way to the kitchen.
Opening the refrigerator, she scanned its contents. Nothing looked appealing. Sighing, she was about to shut the door when a faint noise behind her made her freeze.