Then they wouldn't have been so completely oblivious to Claire's capabilities.
"I consent."
Latham only had one son, and he absolutely refused to let him become disabled.
The cost of losing a leg was far too steep.
He firmly believed his wife should prioritize their son's well-being over her grudges.
Octavia, however, was still paranoid that Claire would seek revenge. "Can you guarantee the surgery will be a success?"
"You might not know our family history. Claire is indeed our adopted daughter, but the moment our biological daughter returned, she left the James family."
"There have been misunderstandings between us over the years, and I'm terrified she might let her emotions get the better of her and make a fatal mistake on the table."
Octavia might as well have tattooed 'Claire is going to murder my son' on her forehead.
Dr. Duncan didn't know the exact details of the family drama, but the adoptive mother's sheer disdain for Claire was unmistakable.
He frowned slightly. "No one can guarantee a surgery will be one hundred percent successful."
"If you are looking for a doctor who can make that promise for Lance, you will have to look elsewhere."
"Or perhaps try taking him overseas."
The irritation in Dr. Duncan's voice was palpable.
Catching the shift in tone, Latham quickly intervened. "That's not what she meant. Of course, we trust my mother, and we trust Claire."
Seeing that Mary's son still possessed some common sense, Dr. Duncan let out a sigh of relief.
"Since Claire is not an official doctor at this hospital, you need to speak with her personally. If she agrees to assist, there is a formal waiver that needs to be signed."
"A liability waiver?" Octavia interjected sharply.
Signing that would just give Claire more leverage over them. Octavia was furious. Latham glared at her. Octavia's lips parted as if she wanted to argue.
"If you want our son to die, keep stalling."
With Latham laying it out so bluntly, Octavia didn't dare gamble with her son's life any further.
"Dr. Duncan, we're willing to sign. Where is Claire? We'll go talk to her."
Latham didn't know if Claire was intentionally making them grovel.
But now was the time to bow their heads, and he had no intention of running from it.
Dr. Duncan led them to Claire.
Claire was currently eating an energy bar.
After running around all night, she was getting hungry. If she didn't get some calories in her system now, she had no idea how many grueling hours she'd have to endure in the operating room.
Seeing Claire casually snacking made Octavia's face twist with disapproval.
"Don't judge her for eating right now.
Surgery requires an immense
l.ne
of stamina. She's young, her
metabolism is fast and she burns energy quickly
"Getting some calories in now is entirely for the sake of the operation."
Dr. Duncan instantly picked up on Octavia's sour expression and defended Claire.
Octavia was speechless. She hadn't even said anything yet. Were doctors mind- readers now?
"Of course," Latham said quickly, terrified Octavia would utter something offensive.
He already knew Claire wasn't the docile girl she once appeared to be.
If they really angered her and she refused to operate out of spite, what then?
He also knew his mother was
getting older. A routine procedure was fine, but a grueling, marathon surgery might be too much for her to handle physically.
He didn't want his son to be maimed, nor did he want his mother collapsing at the operating table.
She was his mother, after all; no one wanted to be forced to choose between their mother and their son.