“So she’s Mary’s granddaughter. No wonder she’s so exceptionally gifted.”

“Dr. Hastings is a visionary. Having her granddaughter build a foundation in Traditional Medicine before transitioning to clinical practice is a genius move.”

“Absolutely. That foundational knowledge is exactly why she could execute that hemorrhage control technique today. Incredibly practical.”

The corridor echoed with praise for Claire.

Was it purely because of her lineage?

No. It was because the skill she had just demonstrated was something most of them couldn’t replicate if they tried.

Being Mary’s granddaughter was simply the cherry on top.

If Claire had led with her grandmother’s name, they would have dismissed her as a trust-fund kid coasting on family glory.

It would have only tarnished Mary’s pristine reputation.

“Claire, do you think your grandmother would be open to giving a guest lecture at The Cabinda University?” Yates asked, never one to miss an opportunity.

“She recently accepted a position at Apex City Hospital and is lecturing at the Apex Traditional Medicine University, so her schedule is pretty packed.”

“But you’re welcome to reach out to her. If she has the time, I’m sure she’d consider it.”

She left the door open, but Yates could read between the lines. Mary was fiercely loyal to her hometown.

When news of her retirement first broke, The Cabinda University had practically begged her to join their faculty.

She had flatly declined.

Mary loved Apex, and no one could force her hand.

Yates was only trying again because Claire was officially enrolled at their institution.

Maybe Mary would do it for her granddaughter’s sake.

“Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

Whether Mary agreed or not, they still had Claire locked into their university. She wasn’t going anywhere.

Just then, the frantic parents of the injured boy burst into the hallway.

“Where’s our boy?!”

“Is our Hudson okay?!”

Mr. and Mrs. Carter looked like hardworking blue-collar folks. Mr. Carter’s clothes were stained with grease from the kitchen, and white his wife looked slightly more put together, they both wore

expressions of pure terror.

“Who is Hudson?” a few of the younger doctors whispered.

Vice President Finn, having changed out of his scrubs, immediately recognized the familial resemblance.

“Are you Hudson Carter’s parents?”

“Yes, yes! We’re Hudson’s parents. Is he okay?”

Mrs. Carter locked eyes with the surgical team, then stared at the heavy operating room doors.

Her knees buckled. “Is my baby dead?”

Mr. Carter caught her before she hit the floor. “Don’t panic, honey! Let the doctor speak. Our boy is a fighter, he’s going to be fine!”

“He is fine. The surgery was a complete success.”

While Finn personally credited the medical team’s skill rather than luck, he wasn’t about to argue with terrified parents.

“Oh, thank god,” Mrs. Carter gasped, clutching her chest as the color returned to her face.

Mr. Carter however, zeroed in on the

specific

He looked at Finn with

wide panicked eyes. “Doc cane?

boy

stil you know, have kids?”

“Didn’t that branch hit him right in the junk? What exactly do you mean by ‘a complete success’?”

Finn hesitated for a fraction of a second. “The removal procedure was successful.”

“You removed his junk?!” Mr. Carter’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the floor.

“Carter!” Mrs. Carter shrieked, dropping to her knees. She frantically patted his cheeks to wake him. “Don’t you dare have a heart attack!”

“So what if he lost his manhood? As long as he’s alive, that’s all that matters!”

Before any of the doctors could step in, Mr. Carter gasped and snapped his eyes open.

“My boy is ruined?”

Claire watched the chaotic scene, utterly bewildered. They had literally saved his life. Bid his reproductive

Capability really eclipse hisurvival?

Barring any severe complications during recovery, Hudson was going to be completely fine.