Medical Center.
Adam hung up the phone, feeling cheerful.
It wasn't just because of Max's tone.
It was more about why Max did what she did.
Going to the stables to see Caroline's pet horse, Chestnut, Max could've easily gone with Caroline alone.
So why invite Adam?
It wasn't because Max suddenly felt like keeping a promise out of childlike enthusiasm.
No, she was worried that at the stables, they might run into Caroline's old friends.
And if those friends humiliated Caroline, Max was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it.
Of course, in normal social settings, Max—the queen of sharp wit and dirty jokes—could take down a whole group of them single-handedly.
She'd have poor Caroline's back, no problem.
But at a place like the stables, where Max, who hadn't fully experienced the life of the ultra-rich, felt a bit out of her depth, she wasn't so sure.
There are people who can navigate any situation effortlessly, even if they know nothing about it, without ever feeling intimidated.
But that's definitely not Max, who's too shy to even hand out her business card to a friendly employer.
To protect Caroline, Max naturally called in the biggest backup she knew—Adam. With Adam there, she believed no one could humiliate them.
She'd have the confidence to flip off those "bitches" she used to look up to without a second thought. 😏
And why was Adam happy?
Well, naturally, it was because Max was willing to go this far for Caroline. She's such a kind, lovable soul.
Adam felt gratified that their sisterly bond hadn't been broken by the butterfly effect of his actions.
Hmmm.
But honestly, Max was overthinking it. She didn't need Adam to go and boost her confidence.
As long as Max and Caroline teamed up, they were already unstoppable.
Still, Adam wouldn't say anything about it.
That kind of invincible team confidence takes time to build.
Clearly, they weren't there yet.
Adam looked forward to the day they'd get there. 😊
---
Operating Room.
"These blood vessels are more fragile than in the model. Dr. Duncan, are you sure you can handle it?"
Dr. Shepherd looked at Adam seriously.
"I can," Adam nodded.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Dr. Shepherd hesitated.
"We need to make a decision now," Chief of Surgery Richard, acting as the assistant, said solemnly. "Derek, you're the lead surgeon. It's your call!"
Although the most delicate and dangerous part of the surgery was about to be handed over to Adam,
And Chief Richard had already acknowledged Adam's skill,
Adam was, after all, just an intern in name. He didn't have the authority to take on that responsibility.
At this point, it all came down to Dr. Shepherd, the lead surgeon, to decide.
If Dr. Shepherd trusted Adam, he'd take the pressure and let Adam proceed.
If he didn't trust Adam and wasn't confident in doing it himself, they'd have to stop the surgery.
That's the basic protocol.
Even as the chief, even though he really wanted this surgery to succeed, he had to follow the rules.
Dr. Shepherd looked at Adam.
Adam smiled back.
The air in the operating room grew quiet.
Everyone's eyes were on the two of them.
"Give Dr. Duncan the No. 10 scalpel," Dr. Shepherd instructed.
"Phew."
Hearing this, Chief Richard's face, hidden behind his mask, broke into a grin like a black lotus blooming under the heavens. His exposed eyes were full of joy as he smiled at the nurse. "You heard him. Give Dr. Duncan the No. 10 scalpel. We're officially starting."
Adam took the No. 10 scalpel from the nurse's hand and said with a smile, "Please suction here, thank you."
The nurse responded immediately.
In the observation room, the watching doctors leaned forward, eyes glued to the surgery below, not daring to blink.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Adam closed his eyes for a few seconds. When he opened them again, he was calm and moved the scalpel with practiced ease, making everyone's eyelids twitch.
Do you have to be so smooth?
Can't you go a bit slower, a bit steadier? 😅
Adam's heart was steady, and his hands were rock-solid.
But most of the onlookers could hardly handle it.
Of course, some were enjoying the show.
Like Cristina.
She stared at Adam's movements, practically wishing she could take his place.
As it turned out, when Adam said he could do it, he really could.
The blood vessels were indeed more fragile than in the model.
But under Adam's masterful, almost surgical artistry, everything went smoothly—no waves, no surprises, just a perfectly executed surgery.
"Dr. Shepherd?"
Adam stepped back, having completed his part, and looked at Dr. Shepherd.
"Is the saphenous vein graft in place?"
Dr. Shepherd nodded at Adam and turned to Mark Sloan.
"I'm ready," Mark Sloan said, glancing at Adam.
"Dr. Bailey?"
"Ready."
"Chief?"
"Anytime."
"…"
Dr. Shepherd took charge again, checking in with each doctor responsible for their area. Everything was going smoothly. He took a deep breath. "Alright, it's time. Remove the clamps! Dr. Bailey, check the nerve stimulator."
"Somatosensory evoked potentials are dropping," Dr. Bailey reported, stepping away from the table to monitor the equipment.
"Raise the blood pressure. We need to maximize blood flow," Dr. Shepherd instructed.
"Twin A's hamstrings are trembling."
"Twin B's calf muscles are twitching."
"Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen—four legs, all functioning normally!"
Dr. Shepherd made the final announcement.
Clap, clap, clap!
Everyone burst into applause.
Dr. Shepherd was beaming too. After all, this was a surgery he could proudly add to his career highlights.
The only slight disappointment was that the most critical part was done by Adam.
"Great job, Dr. Duncan," Dr. Shepherd said, a bit regretful but gracious enough to acknowledge Adam's contribution.
Everyone was happy.
---
Surgery Over.
As the attending physician, Adam was responsible for wrapping things up.
To prevent the newly separated twins from getting into a fight and reopening their wounds, Adam made sure to keep them apart.
That woman, Elena, could finally be by the side of Peter, the emotional confidant she'd chosen.
"We can finally be alone together," Elena said, reaching out to hold Peter's hand.
"Mm," Peter responded flatly, not even looking at her.
"Peter?" Elena's heart sank, a shadow creeping in.
"It's been a long day," Peter finally turned his head, offering a brief explanation.
"Alright, then. I'll come back tomorrow. Rest well," Elena forced a smile, gave him a stiff, awkward kiss, and left, carrying a heavy sense of unease.
"Doctor."
After Elena left, Peter called out to Adam.
"Need anything?" Adam looked at him.
"How's Jack?" Peter asked. "Can you move me to his side? Don't worry, we won't fight anymore."
"I'll check," Adam said, not agreeing right away.
A little while later, Adam helped move Peter over.
In the Ward.
When Peter arrived, Jack turned his head slightly, a faintly mocking expression on his face. "Couldn't handle it already?"
Peter didn't say anything. He just raised his hand halfway between them, looking at Jack with hopeful eyes.
Jack turned his head away, refusing to look at Peter, but his hand had already reached out to grasp Peter's.
Adam and a few nurses watched the whole scene.
While the nurses were visibly touched, Adam's expression was a bit odd.
But he didn't say anything.
And he'd learned something from this experience.
As Lu Xun said: "Learn from history, and use others as a mirror."
After this twin separation surgery, Adam couldn't help but shift his perspective to Elena.
It made him think of Max and Caroline.
And so, he quietly reminded himself: Stay steady, don't get carried away!
(End of Chapter)