The Real Princess and the Fake Pauper

Chapter 1

As the nanny placed the final dish on the table, Maxwell carefully served a slice of steak onto Sapphira's plate.

"This may be our last dinner together... It's hard to believe that your biological parents are taking you back so soon..." Maxwell's voice was filled with regret. He couldn't help but think back to his illness three months ago when he needed a blood transfusion. It was during this time that Sapphira discovered they weren't related by blood.

The news had shocked the entire family.

After recovering, Maxwell had made every effort to find his actual daughter, Kassandra Scott. And as for Sapphira... a child with no blood relation to him...

The Scotts had posted information online about Sapphira's search for her birth parents. Yesterday, someone claiming to be her real mother had called and informed them that they would be taking her away today.

"The nanny made all your favorite dishes today..." Maxwell said, a knot forming in his stomach. "Eat up, you'll be going to your biological parents' place today. Who knows what the situation will be like..."

From the phone call yesterday, Maxwell had learned that Sapphira's real parents were currently unemployed and residing in Willow Creek.

Willow Creek was known to be one of the most impoverished and underdeveloped areas in the country. If Sapphira went there, she would never have the opportunity to enjoy the delicacies the Scotts prepared again.

Sapphira sat at the table, her clear eyes reflecting an understanding of his worries. She calmly set down her fork and knife and simply stated, "I'm full."

With a determined yet detached demeanor, she rose from the table, ready to leave this place that had never truly been her home.

Upon hearing this, Maxwell's wife, Lysandra, immediately became upset. "Stop spoiling that child! She doesn't appreciate all this food. Once she lives with her real parents, she'll learn how difficult life can be and realize how good she had it here!"

"Mum, please don't be upset. I'm sure my sister doesn't want to go back either. She must be feeling terrible right now..." Kassandra, who had returned to the Scott family a month ago, spoke up.

The previous day, she had overheard her parents' conversation and discovered just how impoverished Sapphira's biological parents were. They had no jobs, five unmarried sons living at home, and an ailing elderly woman who required care.

The burden they carried was unimaginable.

Feeling incredibly fortunate, Kassandra stood up and said, "I'll go check on her."

At the dining table, Maxwell shot Lysandra a reproachful glance. "Why harbor so much resentment? Bella is our child too."

Lysandra scoffed, "Every time I think about how we've treated this child like a precious gem all these years while Yoli suffered outside, my heart breaks..."

Sapphira walked into the living room, picked up her backpack from the couch, and prepared to leave this place she had never truly belonged to.

Kassandra quickly followed, her voice filled with anticipation. "Sapphira, my wedding with Rhys is on the first of October. Will you come?"

Her eyes held a mixture of hope, pride, and a hint of boasting. It was widely known that the children of the Scotts and the Panters were getting married. If Kassandra hadn't been found by Maxwell, Sapphira would have been the one engaged to Rhys.

"Rhys is truly an amazing person. He has been so good to me. If my parents hadn't found me, you would have been the one getting engaged to him, sis! You're not going to hold a grudge about this, are you?" Sapphira laughed lightly.

"Thanks to you, that worthless man found his rightful place."

Excuse me? What did she just say?

"I had planned to discard him like trash, but I didn't expect someone to pick up that 'garbage' so quickly."

"You... You..." Kassandra was about to lose her temper, but when she caught sight of a certain figure, her demeanor immediately shifted. She transformed into an injured bunny, her eyes reddening.

Lysandra entered the living room and witnessed this scene, her anger boiling over. "Sapphira! How dare you speak to your sister like that? Have you lost your mind?"

"Lost my mind?" Sapphira chuckled. "I believe the one who has lost their mind is you. And not only that, you seem blind as well. Perhaps you should get your eyes checked?"

Sapphira thought to herself how Lysandra had been living with this fake woman for a month and still couldn't see her true colors. What poor judgment.

"You..." Lysandra trembled with rage.

"Bella, I want to give you my favorite necklace that my parents gave me. After all, we're sisters, and now that we're parting ways, who knows when we'll see each other again..." Kassandra decided to let go of past grievances. She reached out to grab Sapphira, but just as her hand touched Sapphira's backpack...

In the next moment, something unexpected occurred.

A ruby necklace fell out of Sapphira's backpack!

Everyone present couldn't believe their eyes.

Kassandra covered her mouth in shock. "How is this possible..."

How could the ruby necklace she intended to give her sister fall out of her sister's backpack?

Sapphira smiled lightly, immediately realizing that Kassandra was trying to frame her for theft.

"How did Yoli's necklace end up in your bag?" Lysandra couldn't believe what she was seeing. She urgently called out, "Maxwell, come and see this! Sapphira is about to leave, but it seems she has stolen Yoli's necklace! I can't believe the daughter we raised for so many years is a thief!"

Maxwell rushed over, his expression dumbfounded. "What's happening?"

"It's fine..." Kassandra quickly intervened, speaking with understanding. "I was going to give this necklace to my sister anyway. Whether I give it to her personally or she takes it from me, it's all the same."

"How is that the same? She took your necklace without permission – that's stealing!" Lysandra seethed. "Sapphira, how could you do something like this?"

The surrounding nannies couldn't help but chime in.

"Miss, you're too kind-hearted! This necklace is worth ten thousand dollars!"

"This was specially designed for you by your parents' personal designer. It's one-of-a-kind in the whole world!"

"And it even has your name engraved on it!"

"This is your favorite piece of jewelry, and she almost took it. Yet, you aren't even blaming her..."

Kassandra, basking in the praise around her, assumed a knowing expression and explained, "She needs this necklace more than I do!" Those around her couldn't help but sing her praises, drawing comparisons between her and Sapphira. They felt even more convinced that Kassandra outshone Sapphira in every aspect.

Aside from Sapphira being slightly more beautiful, she couldn't hold a candle to Kassandra in any other way.

Lysandra took the necklace from Kassandra's hand, her heart aching, and said, "You naive child. Once she goes back to her family, they will drain her of all her wealth like a bottomless pit. Even if you gave her ten ruby necklaces, they still wouldn't be satisfied!"

Chapter 2

Lysandra cast a scornful glance at Sapphira, her eyes filled with disdain. "We've raised you to the best of our abilities all these years! This necklace is a gift for Yoli, and you can't just snatch it away! You better leave before I call the police!"

"Mom!" Kassandra nervously interjected, her voice filled with concern. "Sapphira's biological parents are unemployed. She has five brothers who need financial support, and a sick grandmother to take care of... Selling this necklace could bring in some much-needed money. She needs it more than I do..."

The maids were moved by Kassandra's kindness, recognizing her compassionate nature.

"Mom, since you gave me this necklace, I have the right to do whatever I want with it!" Kassandra firmly reclaimed the necklace from Lysandra's grasp, presenting it to Sapphira as if it were a precious treasure. "Bella, take it. I won't accuse you of stealing. It was meant to be yours anyway..."

Sapphira raised her gaze, her deep brown eyes studying Kassandra curiously from beneath her long, dark lashes. She pondered whether it was necessary for Kassandra to emphasize that she had "stolen" the necklace. The framing felt rather crude. Surely there was a more sophisticated approach?

"Sis, I'll handle mom... You should go now!"

Sapphira smiled, her captivating eyes seemingly seeing through everything. Kassandra couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. There was something unsettling about this side of Sapphira, her nonchalant demeanor as if she were in control of everything, like a regal queen making others uneasy and guilty.

Taking the necklace, Sapphira smiled faintly. The ruby was cheap, and she couldn't bring herself to care. The color, clarity, and craftsmanship of the necklace were all subpar. What kind of small workshop could produce such a piece?

Ten thousand dollars? In her eyes, the necklace was utterly worthless.

Just as everyone expected Sapphira to accept the necklace, she surprised them all by tossing it straight into the trash bin. Her actions were decisive and swift, not wasting a single second.

Everyone stood in stunned silence, including Lysandra, who remained shocked for a long moment before exclaiming, "Sapphira, what on earth are you doing?! This is your sister's most cherished necklace, and she gave it to you! You just threw it away like that!"

"What? Kassandra gave me the necklace, so I can do whatever I please with it. Isn't that what your beloved daughter just said?" Sapphira mocked with a cold laugh. "All these years, I never took anything you all gave me."

How could she possibly care about a measly necklace?

"All the clothes I'm wearing and the items in my backpack, I bought them myself."

Sapphira's words elicited a scoff from one of the maids. "You claim you bought these things yourself? How amusing. Isn't it your parents who provided you with the money?"

"Do I need to report the source of my money to a maid?"

"You..."

"You're just a maid we hired. Focus on doing your own job."

The maid seethed with anger but couldn't do anything about it.

"Alright," Maxwell sighed, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Bella, it's time for you to go. Let me escort you out."

"No need, Mr. Scott."

She deliberately addressed him as "Mr. Scott," creating distance between herself and the Scott family.

"Sir, don't we need to check her bag? She's carrying a lot of stuff..." The nosy maid couldn't resist reminding Maxwell.

"It's fine," Maxwell replied. After all, he was the wealthiest man in Tranquil City. Even if this kid had taken something valuable from his house, he wouldn't make it public. Besides, he found bag checks to be unethical and would never stoop to such a level.

Sapphira walked out of the front door with her backpack and noticed a black sedan parked outside.

What caught her attention was that the sedan bore clear signs of a collision. The trunk was dented, and the body showed scratches. Even the windshield had cracks.

The driver stepped out of the car rather clumsily, his glasses askew and broken. But when he saw Sapphira, he froze for a moment.

The girl before him possessed well-defined eyebrows, bright eyes, and an elegant nose. She was a walking beauty, reminiscent of Madam during her younger days.

However, this girl exuded more confidence and allure than Madam ever did.

"Miss, I apologize," the driver quickly approached Sapphira and sincerely apologized. "My car was rear-ended by a truck earlier. I couldn't avoid it in time and hit the guardrail. I didn't want to keep you waiting, so I didn't go home to change cars... But I've checked, and the car is perfectly fine. It just doesn't look its best..."

The driver's words provided Sapphira with valuable information. Could it be that her supposed poor family wasn't as destitute as the Scott family claimed? Could they even afford a car? If she wasn't mistaken, this car was a custom-made Rolls-Royce, one-of-a-kind in the world, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Sapphira smiled and asked, "You refer to me as 'Miss'?"

"Yes, you are the sixth child in the family, with five older brothers!" The driver added quickly, "I apologize for forgetting to introduce myself. I'm your family's driver. You can call me Jeremy."

So she had a dedicated driver? It seemed her biological family wasn't as dire as the Scott family portrayed.

"Miss, where is your luggage?" Jeremy noticed that Sapphira only had a backpack and couldn't help but inquire, "Is it inside? I can go in and help you retrieve it."

"No need. My luggage is right here." Sapphira had no plans to bring many belongings, so she responded lazily.

The driver nodded. "Then please wait for me in the car. I'll go inside and deliver the gift that the old lady asked me to give to your foster parents as a token of our gratitude. We'll leave promptly."

Jeremy opened the back door of the car, hoping to invite Sapphira inside. Unexpectedly, the door wobbled and fell off!

The truck collision had caused significant damage, rendering the car door useless.

The Scott family, who had just stepped outside, witnessed the entire scene.

Kassandra was utterly flabbergasted. She couldn't help but think, "What kind of junk is this? Are the doors made of paper or something? How could the driver have the audacity to drive around in this heap and make a fool of himself? Just how destitute is their family?"

Lysandra couldn't comprehend how Sapphira's biological family could be so disastrous. How could they allow their driver to show up in such a dilapidated vehicle to pick her up? Did they have no sense of dignity?

Wait a minute, their home was in a remote mountain area. It was highly likely they didn't even own a car! Perhaps this man borrowed this ride from a friend just to avoid looking bad?

But maybe his poor driving skills got the best of him, resulting in the car's wreck. If that were the case, things were about to get interesting because they would have to pay for the damages when they returned this mess!

Maxwell observed the man in front of him, covered in dirt and grime. There were evident oil stains on his suit. Was he a mechanic? Judging by his appearance, he didn't resemble Sapphira's brother. Could he be her father?

Perhaps he had rushed here from an auto repair shop, showing off by driving someone else's car?

If that were true, this man was incredibly vain. He didn't need to put on such a show in front of the wealthiest man in Tranquil City.

Although there was a Rolls-Royce logo on the hood, there was no way Maxwell, a man of stature, couldn't recognize that this car didn't resemble any model sold by Rolls-Royce. In all his years, he had never seen a Rolls-Royce like this one.

That logo must have been fake!

Chapter 3

The driver accidentally smudged his suit while inspecting the car. As he noticed the Scott family emerging from the mansion, he quickly retrieved a few gift boxes from the trunk.

These were specifically instructed by the master to be given to the Scotts. Sadly, due to a previous mishap, a couple of the gift boxes were squashed, making them appear rather unappealing.

"Are you Mr. Scott?" The driver approached Maxwell and politely offered the boxes. "These are a gesture from the young lady's parents. They insist that you accept them."

"You're too generous..." Maxwell hastily declined. "Bella has been wonderful to us over the years, these gifts..."

"We don't need your gifts! Just take her home, her family is waiting!" Lysandra interrupted, not sparing Jeremy a second glance, and retreated back into the house.

She thought to herself, "With such shabby gift boxes, there can't possibly be anything worthwhile inside. She certainly doesn't want other people's trash."

Kassandra suppressed a sarcastic smile as she followed Lysandra. Her face exuded an air of superiority, as if she had just emerged victorious from a war. She never realized that Sapphira's biological family was in such dire circumstances, but secretly, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

The Scotts' maids looked at them with disdain, contempt, or pity, and they all returned indoors. Only Maxwell remained standing there, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Well, have a safe journey... I won't accept these gifts. Let's just say I've sent them back to your masters. Consider it a small token from me..."

"But..." The driver was at a loss. The master had specifically instructed him to ensure that the Scotts accepted the gifts. However, what Maxwell meant was that Sapphira was no longer a part of the Scott family. If she went to her biological parents' house, she would have no connection to the Scotts.

"Mr. Scott, please accept these gifts. Mr. Scott?"

The driver initially wanted to mention that the boxes contained deeds to several villas, keys to several shops, a billion-dollar loaded bank card, and rare medicinal herbs that couldn't be found anywhere else. But as he watched Maxwell walk back into the house, the driver paused, puzzled. It seemed like none of them actually liked Ms. Bennett. Was it all in his imagination?

Sapphira casually fixed the car door back into place. "Let's go."

Jeremy was taken aback as he watched her get into the car. Did Ms. Bennett just fix that door on her own? How did she do it?

On the road, Sapphira gazed out of the window with a serene expression, radiating an aura of beauty.

The driver occasionally glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. The more he looked, the more she reminded him of the madam when she was young. Every move she made exuded grace and beauty.

"Aren't we heading to Willow Creek?" Sapphira suddenly asked, her gaze falling upon the driver.

"Willow Creek?" The driver snapped back to reality. "Oh... that's the master's hometown. Your home is in Summerfield."

Summerfield, the most prosperous city in the country.

The city was divided into four districts: East, West, South, and North, with the North being the least developed.

Within the North were four counties: Misty Hollow, Lavender Hill, Golden Fields, and Seraphim Haven, with Seraphim being the least developed.

Below Seraphim Haven were four towns: Sapphire City, Emerald City, Golden City, and Tranquil City.

Maxwell was the wealthiest man in Tranquil City. After years of accumulating his wealth, Maxwell finally moved from a third-tier city to Summerfield this year. He became the richest man in Tranquil City, the least developed area in Summerfield.

Compared to more affluent regions, his wealth might have seemed insignificant, but compared to poorer areas, he was quite wealthy.

His personal fortune had surpassed ten million dollars, which was why his wife Lysandra carried an air of arrogance and looked down upon others.

After Kassandra entered the room, she unintentionally glanced out of the window. What she saw left her in complete shock. "Mom, their car..."

Chapter 3

"What about it?" Lysandra followed her gaze, then nonchalantly said, "Yoli, let me tell you, from now on, you and Sapphira have nothing to do with each other! You can't treat her like your sister anymore. Delete and block all her contact information. Even if she tries to borrow money from you through other means, you mustn't lend her any, understand?"

"No... Mom. What I meant was, the license plate of that car... it seems like it's from our city. The plate number starts with S-A... followed by five 1's?" 

In Summerfield, such a license plate number was quite distinctive!

Since the car was parked in front of their mansion, Lysandra only saw the side of the car and not the license plate. But upon hearing Kassandra's description, she simply laughed, thinking her daughter was naive.

"Yoli, you should know, in our town, anyone with a license plate that has five identical numbers is a person of importance! Sapphira's family lives in Willow Creek, you must've mistaken it!"

Lysandra thought to herself, "Even their car plates are nothing special... How could Sapphira's family possibly have such a prestigious number?"

"Unless they live in Reflections Villa!" Lysandra scoffed.

Reflections Villa was the most renowned and expensive prime residential area in Summerfield, located right in the city center where land prices were astronomical!

In the Rolls Royce, the driver spoke respectfully, "Ms. Bennett, we're still 20 kilometers away from your home, Reflections Villa. If you're feeling tired, feel free to take a break."

Sapphira was taken aback by this revelation. She thought, "My home is in Reflections Villa? In the most luxurious villa area in Summerfield?"

"Can we make a stop at Hope Hospital?"

Hope Hospital was the city's premier medical facility, boasting the best resources, and it wasn't far from Reflections Villa.

"Ms. Bennett, are you feeling unwell?" The driver asked anxiously. "I can speed up..."

"I want to visit the Scott family's grandmother."

In the Scott family, only Ella Scott had shown genuine kindness to Sapphira. Since learning that Sapphira wasn't her biological grandchild, Ella had fallen ill and was hospitalized.

Jeremy didn't expect her to be such a dutiful child, so he agreed to her request, and his perception of her improved considerably.

Ten minutes later.

Jeremy parked the car at the entrance of Hope Hospital. Sapphira whispered to him, "Please wait for me nearby."

"Sure," Jeremy replied.

In room 301 of Hope Hospital's inpatient department, a frail old lady with white hair lay there. Due to her prolonged illness, her face appeared gaunt, and her figure was emaciated.

When Sapphira entered, the old lady was still sound asleep, her eyes tightly shut, her face devoid of expression. The deep wrinkles on her forehead accentuated her weathered appearance.

Sapphira approached the bedside with gentle steps, a bitter sensation slowly enveloping her heart. When did the once vibrant old lady reach such a state?

"Bella." The young doctor attending to the patients looked up at her, then busied himself with some notes. "You're right on time. We wanted to speak with you."

He set down his pen, raised his handsome face, and his captivating eyes locked onto hers.

"As you know, none of the current treatments for heart disease are effective for the old lady. We used to increase the dosage to prolong the effects, but now even that doesn't work anymore."

"You're well aware that when a person's heart fails in the final stages of an illness, it's like the heart's function has deteriorated beyond repair. It's truly a miracle she has made it this far..."

Chapter 4

Sapphira's focus remained fixed on the old woman as she swiftly hurled a small bottle at the doctor, cutting off Eli's question about its origins. The label on the bottle read "CircuStrength," which sent shockwaves through Eli's system. He knew all too well the rumors swirling around this mysterious drug. It was said to work miracles for heart diseases, with just one pill costing a staggering hundred grand.

But the exorbitant price tag wasn't the only thing that made CircuStrength so coveted. It was incredibly rare, with only one pill being auctioned off each month. How on earth did Bella manage to acquire something so scarce?

Eli attempted to voice his concerns, but Sapphira silenced him with a warning look. She knew what he was going to say – that Bella had already done more than enough for the Scott family, and there was no need for her to go to such lengths.

"Am I wrong?" Sapphira interrupted, her eyes piercing through Eli. "Her own flesh and blood haven't taken care of this old woman like you have."

Eli's journey at Hope Hospital had humbled him greatly. Born into a medical family, he had initially carried an air of arrogance and self-assuredness. But then he met Sapphira, and everything changed. Her brilliance and intuition shattered his ego time and time again.

He vividly remembered the countless instances when Sapphira effortlessly solved complex cases or accurately diagnosed patients with a single glance at their X-rays. And most astonishingly, she had repeatedly revived Ella from the brink of death, defying Eli's own predictions that she couldn't be saved.

Sapphira, this remarkable high school student, had become Eli's constant source of awe and inspiration. Through his internship, he also witnessed how the Scott family neglected her. That's when he reached out to her, and their friendship blossomed.

He knew that a heart transplant was the best solution for Ella's condition, but her age and other complications made it impossible. Sapphira hoped that CircuStrength would at least improve Ella's physical state, preventing her from succumbing to frailty.

But the Scott family had no idea about any of this. To them, as long as they paid for the most expensive ward, they believed they were fulfilling their duty.

"If it were up to the Scott family, they wouldn't spend a hundred grand on this old lady," Sapphira mused, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Alright, I'll keep an eye on her," Eli reassured Sapphira, his gaze shifting to Ella. "You go ahead."

Sapphira hesitated for a moment, her eyes locked on Ella's fragile form. She had so much she wanted to say, but instead, she bit her lip and silently exited room 301.

Meanwhile, chaos consumed the hospital corridors. Doctors rushed past, their faces etched with worry.

"What's happening? Why did Colson's condition suddenly worsen?" one doctor questioned anxiously.

"I heard he stopped taking his medication to force his son to show up," another doctor replied, exasperated by the situation.

"This is absurd!" the first doctor exclaimed, frustrated by Colson's reckless behavior.

As Sapphira walked away from room 301, she accidentally collided with a doctor hurrying towards room 306. Glancing inside, she caught sight of the old man lying in bed, his condition visibly deteriorating.

"He's willingly risking his life by stopping his medication," Sapphira muttered to herself, incredulous. "What should we do? Should we inform his family?"

"They're on their way," a doctor responded, resignation evident in his voice. "We have no choice but to wait for them and let them decide whether to proceed with surgery."

Standing at the doorway of room 306, Sapphira couldn't help but interject softly, "By the time his family arrives, it might be too late."

The doctors, at their wit's end, turned to face the source of the voice. They were met with the sight of a young girl, seemingly in her teens, standing with unwavering composure. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence and determination.

"What does a little girl like you know?" the male doctor scoffed, dismissing Sapphira's presence. "This man's condition is critical. If we had a solution, we would have acted already."

Sapphira arched an eyebrow, her casual tone belying her knowledge. "Rheumatic heart disease, isn't it?"

"You can identify his disease?" the doctor asked, taken aback by Sapphira's insight.

Another female doctor joined in, her surprise evident. "Does this child possess medical expertise?"

"If it's rheumatic heart disease, then you should know that valve replacement surgery is necessary. And for this man, it wouldn't be his first time undergoing such a procedure," Sapphira stated matter-of-factly.

The doctors in the room stood frozen, their disbelief palpable.

"Does this little girl really know medicine?" one whispered.

"She even mentioned 'perivalvular leakage'..."

The realization hit them hard. The old man had stopped taking his medication, resulting in insufficient antibiotics to combat infection and prevent leakage.

"Why are we arguing with a little girl? How much longer until the family arrives?" Dr. Walter, the hospital's esteemed heart specialist, intervened with authority.

Dr. Walter's words commanded respect, and the room fell into silence before someone replied, "If they hurry, they should be here in about twenty minutes."

Twenty minutes felt like an eternity. Dr. Walter calculated the time, knowing that Colson couldn't hold on much longer. The man had already undergone a mitral valve replacement surgery overseas, followed by another procedure due to complications. But infection had set in, and now his condition had deteriorated rapidly.

Hope Hospital boasted a renowned cardiac surgery department, led by Dr. Walter himself. That night, he had performed a complex surgery under immense pressure, achieving what seemed like a medical miracle. But complications persisted, and Colson's condition worsened with each passing day.

Now, his body was succumbing to heart failure, plagued by infective endocarditis and further valve leakage. The chances of a successful surgery were slim, less than 10%. All they could do was wait, pray for the family's arrival, and hope for a miracle.

Chapter 5

With the family's consent form signed, the doctors were free to go all out in their efforts to save the patient. Even if they couldn't pull him through, they wouldn't be held accountable because they had given it their best shot.

But looking at Colson's current condition, waiting for his family to arrive was not an option. Time was running out, and he could stop breathing in just ten minutes.

"Dr. Walter, should we wait for his family?" Iliana, a young associate chief physician, cautiously suggested. "If we proceed without authorization..."

If something went wrong, Mr. McMillian would surely give them a hard time.

But it wasn't just about their desire to save him. Colson's life could end right here, today.

"I suggest we administer a calming shot and another to soothe his heart. We can make a decision when his family arrives!" Iliana proposed again.

The other doctors didn't have any better ideas, so they silently turned to Dr. Walter, waiting for his response.

Seeing Dr. Walter's lack of reaction, Iliana instructed the nurse, "Go and get the medications."

The nurse was about to retrieve the medicines.

At that moment, Sapphira, standing by the door, spoke up once more, "If you inject him with those now, he'll surely die."

Administering the medications would be a death sentence. Colson's fragile physical state couldn't handle the drugs. After a brief period of lucidity, he would stop breathing within half an hour.

"Who are you? Get out of here. We're busy, and we don't have time for chitchat," Iliana snapped, annoyed with Sapphira's presence.

"Incompetent doctors," Sapphira didn't waste a second and was about to leave.

Surprisingly, Iliana couldn't help but react, "Who are you calling 'incompetent doctors'? Stop right there!"

"Iliana, don't pick a fight with a little girl. Colson's condition is more important," another doctor advised.

"She called me incompetent!" Iliana was furious, her eyes filled with discontent as she glared at Sapphira. She was the most talented and youngest associate chief physician among them, with numerous awards and praise. How dare this girl question her medical skills?

"She doesn't understand the situation. Why bother with her?" the chief doctor anxiously interjected, only concerned about how to handle the old man's problem.

The patient couldn't die in the hospital because everyone present would be implicated. They couldn't operate, nor could they let him die. Their only option was to administer the sedatives and heart-soothing injections.

"Who did you just call an incompetent doctor?" Iliana approached Sapphira defiantly. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Who else but you?" Sapphira looked at Iliana, clearly not taking her seriously.

"You..." Iliana was seething with anger.

Sapphira crossed her arms over her chest and casually remarked, "At this point, surgery is the only option for him."

"Surgery? You make it sound so simple, kid." Iliana laughed in anger. "This old man has already undergone five heart surgeries. There isn't a shred of intact heart muscle left. No hospital or doctor in the country would dare to operate on him for the sixth time!"

"Forget it, Iliana," the male doctor tried to calm things down, but Iliana's temper was out of control.

"No similar cases have been documented in medical literature, both domestic and international! Since the inception of medicine, he's the only one!" Iliana firmly stated. "Do you know how difficult the surgery is? We've consulted with many renowned heart surgeons, but no one could propose a better treatment!"

Sapphira raised her eyebrows and replied, "That's because you're incompetent."

"So, you think you can save him? Confident little girl?" Iliana sneered. "Then you give it a try!"

Sapphira glanced at the old man on the bed, exuding unbridled confidence. She casually said, "You can't afford me to perform the surgery."

"Huh." Iliana found it ridiculously funny. "This old man is no ordinary person. No amount of money is an issue for him. If you can save his life, money is not a problem. Even I am willing to kneel down and call you God!"

Sapphira raised her eyebrows. "Alright, you said it."

"Hey, you're really confident, aren't you!" Iliana didn't take her seriously. "Did you graduate from high school? Do you know where the heart is? Surgery is not about making a few random cuts with a knife. Do you think this is like cutting a steak in a restaurant, and you can just do whatever you want? I don't care where you're from, apologize and leave, then I'll pretend this never happened!"

Sapphira glanced at the work badge on Iliana's chest and dismissively said, "You're an associate chief physician in cardiology, and you don't even know how to perform artificial valve replacement surgery. And you want me to apologize?"

"You..." 

"Calling you a quack doctor is an understatement."

"Did you guys hear what this brat just said?" Iliana was gritting her teeth in anger.

The female chief physician murmured to herself, "She actually knows about artificial valve replacement surgery..."

Such a professional term, coming out of a little girl's mouth. Could she really know medicine?

The male doctor also realized this. He looked at Sapphira with surprise and shock, whispering to Iliana, "Why not let her try? Maybe she really has a way?"

"You've lost your mind! You actually believe what a little girl says!"

Before Iliana could finish, she overheard another doctor whisper, "If anything goes wrong, we can blame her..."

"She's not a doctor at our hospital!" Iliana turned around and lowered her voice. "Do you know who this old man is? If anything happens, all of us here will be responsible! Do you think you can just find a little girl to be the scapegoat?"

She glanced back at Sapphira, her eyes full of disdain. "If she really knew her stuff, she'd be famous by now, and she'd be the one running this place! Would we even be needed here?"

The male doctor shrugged helplessly. "But right now, we don't have any better options..."

"Or maybe..." the female director cautiously suggested, "We could ask Dr. Eli for his opinion?"

Dr. Eli was known for his brilliance in the hospital, but...

"Dr. Eli is really full of himself. If it's not his patient, he won't lift a finger to help us."

Iliana knew this all too well, which is why she never bothered him with any issues. He had a bad temper and was likely to kick people out without caring about embarrassing them.

"So what should we do now?"

Outside the ward, a group of people huddled together, whispering about something. The sound caught their attention, but they weren't sure if their voices were too loud.

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