"Marion, Isaac only gave me special consideration because my dad helped the Henson family. Please don't take it the wrong way."
"If this is going to make you fight with Isaac, then let me give the title back to you—"
"What are you saying?" Isaac cut her off gently. "The Chief Physician title was the hospital's decision. Your qualifications and ability are above hers. You've earned it, you don't need to give it up."
He turned to me, his patience gone.
"Marion, take a page from Joyce. Think of the bigger picture. Not like you, throwing away your dignity over a bit of empty prestige."
"Go clear out your desk for Joyce. A pregnant woman should act like one. Your focus should be resting and carrying the baby, not competing over who's better."
Watching him defend Joyce with everything he had, the last small flicker of hope in me went out completely.
I was about to speak when he gave me a look, like he was doing me a favor.
"All right, be a good girl and do as you're told. Next week there's the surgery for the state official. Joyce operates, you assist. This is the surgery that decides whether the hospital gets top-tier status, so treat it with care. Getting to assist a Chief Physician this young is an honor for you."
Joyce flushed, all fake modesty. "Isaac, wouldn't that look bad? Marion is the authority in cardiology."
"There's nothing bad about it. You're the talent this hospital is investing in. No matter who it is, they cooperate with you, no conditions."
The words landed like a slap across my face.
That surgery was a plan I'd spent three months preparing.
From the pre-op assessment to the surgical workflow, I'd finalized every piece of it myself. The state had named me by name to lead it.
And now she was ordering me to assist Joyce?
My stomach clenched, and my nails nearly dug into my palms.
Just then, a text came through on my phone.
【Director Butler, this is the Director of Puren Hospital. I've heard all about your Chief Physician qualification being canceled. You're welcome to join us anytime.】
Puren Hospital was one of only two top-tier hospitals in the city.
Advanced equipment, and physicians of the highest caliber.
Three years ago, Puren had tried to recruit me. But for Isaac's promotion to director, I'd turned them down.
A moment later he sent an email. The compensation package.
Position: Chief of Cardiology.
Title: Chief Physician.
Salary: $800K a year.
A private research lab, fully funded.
I looked at those lines, my eyes burning.
Six years. I'd been at this hospital six years.
Killing myself for it, and still only a department deputy chief, making less than $300K a year.
The research funding I'd earned myself, and I didn't even have the right to bring it into a lab.
Every time I wanted to run a project, I had to beg and grovel my way through report after report.
And Puren was handing me, just like that, the Chief Physician title I'd dreamed of.
This wasn't an olive branch.
This was them recognizing what I was worth.
I replied: 【But I'm pregnant now.】
The answer came instantly: 【Director Butler, our hospital does not discriminate against women or pregnant staff. Come, and I'll make all the arrangements for you.】
I sent back one word: 【Yes.】
The whole walk back to my department, I felt eyes burning into me.
Sympathy, pity, quiet glee.
And a bleak kind of dread, the fear of sharing my fate.
I heard a heavily pregnant nurse crying softly.
"Marion's the director's wife and even she got cut when she got pregnant. I'm just a nurse. Am I going to lose my job after I give birth?"
The person beside her had no comfort to offer.
I paid it no attention and went straight back to my office, and started packing my things.
Head Nurse Finch pushed the door open, furious on my behalf.
"Marion, you're just going to leave? Who do they think they are? Why not file a complaint with the State Health Department?"
