"What?" The experts thought they had heard wrong.
How could a fresh college freshman be the key to a successful surgery?
Was Mary just saying this to elevate her granddaughter's status?
"Mary, your granddaughter is far too young. She can't go into the operating room,"
the expert who had just spoken said awkwardly.
"Exactly, Mary. Letting a student in is a joke."
"That's Lance lying in there. You need to think this through."
"I know. It's precisely because it's Lance that I want to increase the chances of a successful surgery," Mary replied, already anticipating their resistance.
After all, Claire was a nobody in the medical field. The consensus from the consultation was already grim, and bringing a young girl into the OR would only seem absurd.
Even Dr. Duncan, who had always idolized Mary, found it ridiculous.
"Mary, Claire is still a student. It would be fine if she came to observe and learn, but she wouldn't be of any real help in there, would she?"
Dr. Duncan was questioning everything he knew.
His blind admiration for Mary made this sudden disappointment hit even harder.
If bringing Claire into the OR was just Mary's selfish motive, how were they supposed to stop her?
Use the patient's family?
But the patient on the table was Mary's own grandson. The family might just blindly trust Mary's judgment.
The hospital administration, however, would absolutely never agree to it.
"I know you don't believe a young girl could be that capable, but she holds a valid Medical License."
Mary knew they were misunderstanding the situation.
"She has been studying by my side since she was a child. More importantly, she hasn't just studied modern medicine—she's also mastered traditional holistic medicine."
"Her surgical skills might not match the extensive clinical experience of everyone here, but―"
Mary paused, her tone shifting. "Her true strength lies in her mastery of traditional techniques."
"Scoff..." Someone finally lost their patience.
"It's understandable that you want to promote your own family, Mary, but
telling us she knows both just
means she dabbles in a bit of everything."
"Claire is young. Even if she knows a little, it's just scratching the surface. What use could that possibly be during a major surgery?"
"Mary, they are both your flesh and blood. You need to think clearly."
"If this surgery goes wrong, Latham and Octavia will hold it against you."
She absolutely couldn't use such a critical surgery as a practice run to pad Claire's
resume.
The expert speaking had never really respected Mary and was clearly taking this opportunity to undermine her.
Mary wasn't the least bit angered by the accusation.
Her expression remained calm. "Lance is my grandson. I obviously wouldn't joke around with his leg."
"I'm simply proposing a plan with a higher success rate. If everyone disagrees and the family strongly opposes it, then we'll drop it."
"Everyone sitting here is a leader in the surgical field. I'm sure you all have your own opinions on this operation."
"If any of you had a better solution, you wouldn't have called me in today, would you?"
Mary's words made the expert's face turn pale.
He didn't have a better solution.
Unless they called in outside help.
But where would they find someone else at a time like this?
Mary was already the best surgical expert in Apex. Her title as 'The First Scalpel' wasn't just for show.
Although the argumentative surgeon had an issue with Mary's attitude, he couldn't deny her medical prowess.
Vice President Sterling, who sat at
the head of the table, listened to the
discussion before asking a
question. Your granddaughter's name is Claire?"