Chapter 5 Oliver Stainley

Suzanna's face went pale, her lips quivering as if she were the damsel in distress. "How can you say that, Francesca? I know it's all my fault Benedict hasn't been there for you, I feel so guilty." Francesca wasn't in the mood for this nonsense. She turned to the doctor nearby and said bluntly, "I want to see her medical report. Now." The doctor froze, clearly unsure. Patient privacy was no small matter, and it wasn't his decision to make. "Just show her," Benedict cut in, his voice firm. "She is family." Suzanna's mask slipped for the briefest moment, her expression stiffening before she plastered on a nervous smile. Francesca caught it, but she didn't say a word. A moment later, a nurse handed her the report. Francesca skimmed it with her poker face. It was exactly as expected; serious kidney failure. A transplant was recommended. The doctor, sensing Francesca's silence, spoke up. "Ma'am, Miss Mitchell's condition is very serious. Without surgery, her life could be at risk." Benedict didn't hesitate. "Francesca, if you agree to donate your kidney to Suzanna, I'll make sure you get half the Landon family's assets after the divorce." Suzanna gasped, playing the self-sacrificing saint. "No, Benedict! Don't do this for me. You've already done enough." Benedict shook his head, his tone resolute. "No, Suzanna. I owe this to your brother. He gave his life for me. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you." Francesca almost laughed. This was better than a cheesy soap opera. She had known from the start that Suzanna's illness wasn't real. The pale face was makeup, and the frail demeanor was all an act. If she were actually that sick, she wouldn't need to fake it. But none of that mattered now. Francesca decided to play along. "Fine," she said, her tone sharp. "If it's that serious, let's do the surgery now." Benedict blinked, clearly stunned. "Wait, you're agreeing to donate your kidney?" Suzanna, equally shocked, opened her mouth to respond, but Francesca cut her off. "Of course," Francesca said with a calm smile. "But it's not my kidney. I've already arranged for an RH-negative donor. Everything's been checked, and there's no risk of rejection. Problem solved." Since Ian discovered Francesca's rare RH-negative blood type, he had made it a point to track down others like her across the country. He wanted to be prepared in case a donor was ever needed. There were always a few people struggling financially who would agree to part with a kidney for the right price. "Really?" Benedict's face lit up. Relief washed over him. Francesca wouldn't need to sacrifice herself, and Suzanna could still be saved. This couldn't have worked out better. Suzanna, on the other hand, looked like she had swallowed a lemon. Her so-called illness was a complete sham. She had planned this elaborate scheme to not only fake her surgery but to get rid of Francesca altogether. The attending doctor had agreed to slap a fake scar on her, while Francesca's kidney would be "removed" and sold off for profit. Now Francesca's unexpected move had thrown everything off. And then came the bombshell. "Oh, one more thing," Francesca said. Her tone almost casual, but her eyes sharp. "I don't really trust the doctors here, so I brought in Oliver Stainley from Iriefield Sayo Clinic to handle the surgery. He's in the director's office right now. I'll go get him." The attending doctor opened his mouth, probably to object, but shut it just as fast. The name "Sayo Clinic" carried too much weight, so he clamped his mouth shut. And Oliver was a legend in the field, leagues ahead of anyone else in urology. Going up against someone like that wasn't even an option. Suzanna, meanwhile, felt her stomach drop. Fear crept over her like a cold sweat. She wasn't actually sick, but at this rate, she might as well be. Now that the doctor had changed, she couldn't help but wonder what if they actually performed the surgery and switched her kidney. Suzanna's fear wasn't without reason. Oliver from Sayo Clinic was a world-renowned urology specialist. His surgical skills were top-notch, with an impressive success rate. He had also done extensive research on kidney transplant surgeries, making him a leading expert in the field. If Oliver really took over as the chief surgeon, there'd be no way for Suzanna to escape. She could bribe the attending doctor, but Oliver wouldn't be swayed by that.