But noticing the look on my face, he softened his tone a little. “Anyway, good thing you're here. Laura really doesn’t want a male doctor. Can you just help her with the removal first? I’ll explain everything later.”
I drew in a deep breath, trying to keep it together. My colleagues were watching. I didn’t want them to see me break.
“In the eyes of a doctor, there’s no gender. All our ER staff are professionals—”
Milton didn’t let me finish. He cut me off, brows furrowed in frustration.
“Can you not make a scene right now? She’s in pain. Can’t you be more considerate?”
The tension was thick enough to cut with a scalpel, so one of the other doctors quickly tried to mediate.
“It’s just a simple hysteroscopy. Should I call one of the other OB/GYNs on duty?”
Milton looked like he was about to say something. But then Laura let out a carefully timed groan of pain, making his face instantly change and say, “No. Let Elaine do it. Laura can’t wait much longer.”
Everyone in the room turned to me, waiting for my decision.
I looked across the room at the man who had turned his back on me, now comforting another woman. I had no interest in dragging this out any further. So, I turned to the nurse and gave a crisp instruction.
“Prep the OR. Set up for a hysteroscopy. Give the patient local anesthesia.”
As I turned to leave, Milton grabbed my sleeve with agrim on his face.
“Wait. Where are you going?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and met his eyes without flinching.
“To prep your precious Laura for surgery. That alright with you?”
With that, he looked away, avoiding my gaze, the crease between his brows deepening.
Elaine's POV
"Don’t talk nonsense! You’ll ruin that girl’s reputation."
I stared at him for a few seconds, stunned, but said nothing. In the end, I just turned and quietly walked away.
Outside the ER, a young nurse hurried over, curiosity written all over her face.
"Doc, do you know those two? That guy was talking to you like he was giving orders or something."
I gave a half-smile and calmly said, "Didn’t you notice? That’s my husband, standing there with the girl I’ve been financially supporting."
The nurse froze, eyes wide. She muttered under her breath, "That’s… insane."
Since it was just a local anesthetic, Laura had been conscious throughout the procedure. Once I removed the object lodged inside her, she suddenly spoke, timidly, "Elaine, can we talk? Just the two of us?"