Fired for a Lie, Freed by the Truth

Working during my shift, looking at an ECG chartsomeone reported me for trading stocks.

The hospital immediately moved to fire me to appease the public outrage.

Thiago, you've crossed the line this time. You're a doctor. How could you trade stocks during work hours?

The administrative director looked genuinely regretful.

I'd already explained myself countless times. No one listened.

I glanced out the glass window at Williams, the new doctor walking past, and suddenly spoke with complete calm.

"Is this about the promotion slot?"

The administrative director froze.

"There's only one promotion slot this year. Because Williams's dad is the deputy director, the promotion has to go to him. So you have to fire me. Is that it?"

I asked again.

The administrative director hadn't expected me to call it out so bluntly. He looked uncomfortable.

"That's not what's happening here..."

I laughed.

I'd worked at this hospital for ten years. I'd performed nearly two thousand surgeries as lead surgeon. I'd handled countless difficult cases. I'd trained countless new doctors for the hospital.

Even when Williams first joined the hospital, I was the one who trained him.

During that time, there had been many promotion opportunities. All went to others.

Every time, the hospital told me the same thing: just wait a little longer.

I waited ten years.

But now, to let Williams get promoted without any competition, they wanted to fire me.

I looked at the administrative director, removed my ID badge, and placed it on the desk.

"You don't need to fire me. I quit."

"Just because Williams's dad is the deputy director?"

I asked one more time.

The administrative director looked embarrassed at being exposed, awkwardly rubbing his nose.

Still spouting official nonsense.

"Don't misunderstand the hospital's position. You've worked here for ten years. You know very well how good the hospital has been to you. The hospital personally cultivated you into what you are today. How could we possibly want to let you go?"

"How about thisI'll discuss it with the hospital leadership. We'll forget about the firing and keep your position. Just a disciplinary action. Take some time off at home to rest."

Listening to his tone, as if he'd shown me extraordinary mercy and I should be grateful.

I wanted to laugh.

"So you do know I've worked here for ten years."

"In those ten years, I've performed nearly two thousand surgeries as lead surgeon. I've trained over thirty new doctors for the hospital. Even now, almost everyone in neurosurgery was brought up by me personally."

"Every busy holiday season, I practically lived in the operating room. Last New Year's, I covered night shifts alone for an entire month."

"Ten whole years. Except for when my grandfather died two years ago, I never took time off."

"During those ten years, the hospital had promotion quotas every year. Colleagues around me came and went. Some were people I trained myself. They all got promoted. I stayed in the same place."

"I asked the hospital about it. What did you tell me? You said I was still young. I could wait."

"But what about now? I'm nearly forty."

"Just because there's only one promotion slot this year, and Williams's dad is the deputy director, I deserve to be kicked out?"

I slowly stood up, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I waited ten years. How much longer do you want me to wait?"

The administrative director's expression soured.

"Dr. Thiago, you're a veteran of this hospital. You should know the hospital faces difficulties too. As a doctor, isn't saving lives the most important thing? Why obsess over a little empty title?"

"You should be understanding toward the hospital."

"I understand the hospital. Who understands me?"

I laughed bitterly.

"If doctors should save lives and everything else is just empty titles, then why is Williams so obsessed with this promotion? Why don't you hospital administrators voluntarily resign and go back to frontline work?"

I'd completely torn off the facade. The administrative director's face darkened too.

"Thiago, if you insist on putting it that way, there's nothing more to discuss."

"I'll tell you straightyou were born without advantages. You don't have a good father. Who else can you blame?"

"You can only blame yourself."

"If you still want to stay at this hospital, go home quietly and rest."

"Otherwise, wait to be fired."

Born without advantages. No good father.

My heart felt like it had been stabbed.

I took a deep breath and placed my ID badge on the desk.

"You don't need to fire me. I quit."

The administrative director frowned deeply.

The hospital's neurosurgery department was entirely supported by me right now.

They didn't actually want to fire me. They just wanted to use this as an excuse to cancel my promotion opportunity.

Seeing that I really intended to resign, he panicked.

"Thiago, the hospital has invested so many years in training you. Over a little empty title you're going to resign? Do you think that's appropriate? You're not young anymore. How can you still be so impulsive? Do you really think that leaving the hospital this way, with your character and medical ethics, any other hospital will want you?"

"When the time comes, the hospital can issue an industry-wide notice. You'll simply disappear from this profession. Is it worth it just to prove a point?"

"I'd say, wait a little longer. Next yearat the latest next yearyour promotion will come through."

Wait a little longer...

Over these ten years, the phrase I'd heard most was "wait a little longer."

Last Christmas, the hospital was incredibly busy. The mother of a city government official had a sudden brain hemorrhage and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Only I could save her.

The deputy director told me then that by spring this year, he'd definitely get me promoted.

Now, he'd personally let his son take my slot.

And he wanted to use smearing my name as a way to nail me to the pillar of shame.

"Thiago, the hospital still values you highly. You need to be grateful..."

He was still spouting official talk.

I interrupted him.

"Values me?"

"Because of 'valuing me,' I've waited ten years. In those ten years, I've worked tirelessly and given everything. But how has the hospital treated me?"

"They've stripped away my promotion opportunities again and again. I've watched people ten years younger than me, interns I personally trained, get promoted to attending physicians while I'm still an ordinary doctor. And you still want me to be grateful?"

How ridiculous.

I pulled at the corner of my mouth, as if I'd heard the world's biggest joke.

"I used to think that once I got promoted this time, I'd dedicate my entire life to the hospital."

"Now I realize how laughable I was."

I looked at him, my expression settling into calm.

"I really should thank you, Director Harrell."

Thank you for waking me from my stupidity.

I turned and left, walking numbly toward my office.

As soon as I sat down, Williams came in cheerfully with pastries, distributing them to all the colleagues.

Everyone congratulated him.

"Williams, is the promotion settled?"

"Congratulations!"

"You're only 24you're the youngest person in our hospital to be promoted to attending physician!"

"Our department's counting on you from now on."

Williams smiled shyly.

I sat in the corner. Someone saw me and muttered uncomfortably under their breath.

"What about Dr. Thiago's situation? Are they really going to fire her?"

"I heard she just went to see Director Harrell. Is there still a chance to turn things around?"

"I heard that even if they don't fire her, she'll still get a disciplinary action."

"What can Dr. Thiago do?"

"What else can she do? Her parents are old and need support. Her kid's still in school. Middle-aged people's pain is mortgages, car loans, kids, and elderly parents."

"Forget about disciplinary actioneven if they really fired her, she'd have to beg the hospital on her knees."

The office was very quiet.

Their voices weren't loud, but every sentence was clear, like knives stabbing into my heart.

The facts were harsh. Because of heavy family burdens and the hospital's job stability, I'd endured year after year.

I kept my head down, my chest tight with frustration.

Just then, a bag of pastries appeared in front of me.

I looked up to see Williams's smiling face.

"Dr. Thiago, these are my pastries. Please try them."

Before I could respond, he smiled again.

"Who knowsmaybe we won't see Dr. Thiago anymore after this."

He blinked, as if concerned, but his eyes carried malice.

"Where are you planning to go for your next job, Dr. Thiago? Do you need my help?"

Other colleagues heard the commotion and looked over.

Their eyes were full of schadenfreude, watching Williams's mockery and passive-aggressive jabs at me.

His smile grew more brazenthe triumphant superior humiliating a complete failure.

I didn't say anything.

Seeing my silence, he lost interest and left.

I looked at that bag of pastries. It was glaring and painful.

The smiley faces on it seemed to mock my failure.

[You have one new email]

The computer screen suddenly flickered. I clicked on it.

Sender: Louise, Director of Human Resources, Aisha Hospital Group Headquarters.

The content was simple.

[Hello Dr. Thiago, I am Louise, Director of Human Resources at Aisha Hospital. We are currently in urgent need of a Chief of Neurosurgery. I have long admired your reputation and would like to establish cooperation with you. Salary range: 0-000,000-0-050,000. Looking forward to your reply.]

Her contact information was attached below.

Seeing those four wordsChief of NeurosurgeryI suddenly smiled.

That was the promotion I'd sought but never obtained at this hospital for ten whole years.

I looked at the glaring bag of pastries on the desk.

And fell into memory.

In my third year at the hospital, they approved three promotion slots.

They went to two male colleagues whose performance and ability were far inferior to mine.

At the time, the department head sighed privately to me, "In this field, female doctors just don't have it as good as male doctors. But your abilities are definitely there. Wait a bit longer. We'll see about next year."

In my fourth year, I participated in a major surgerya brain aneurysm operation for a celebrity. It was very successful. The hospital's reputation skyrocketed. The deputy director excitedly patted my shoulder and said, "You're the pride of our hospital! This year I'll definitely push for your promotion!"

But in the end, the promotion slot went to the doctor who'd been my assistant.

He explained to me, "John has been at the hospital for several years. He's a few years older than you. Be understanding toward him. This promotion slot goes to him first. The hospital is like a small societyyou need to understand interpersonal dynamics. But don't worry. Next year, the slot will definitely be yours."

I believed his words. I waited year after year.

Ten full years. Still no promotion that should have been mine.

And this time, I didn't want to wait anymore.

Following the email prompt, I added Louise as a contact.

[Hello, I'm Thiago. I look forward to cooperating with your hospital.]

After sending the message, I used my computer to draft a resignation notice and submitted it to the hospital.

As soon as I clicked submit, the hospital made an announcement in the work group chat.

[@Everyone @Thiago, Due to patient complaints, the hospital conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that Dr. Thiago did indeed trade stocks on her computer during work hours. This constitutes a major error during work time. The hospital firmly rejects this kind of irresponsible behavior! To set the record straight, after deliberation, the hospital has decided to issue disciplinary action against Dr. Thiago]

The hospital immediately posted the announcement in the group chat and on the bulletin board.

My name was completely nailed to the pillar of shame.

Before I could feel angry, the deputy director called.

"Thiago, I heard from Director Harrell that you're dissatisfied with the hospital's decision?"

Before I could respond, he continued.

"Thiago, you're a veteran of this hospital. You should understand hospital rules. You made the mistake first. You should accept the criticism."

I laughed. "Deputy Director, did I really make a mistake?"

I didn't understand why, even now, he was still lying.

He coughed lightly.

"Thiago, the patient complaint is verified. The hospital has no choice. No matter how resentful you are, you should be understanding toward the hospital."

"Of course, you are a veteran who's worked with the hospital for so many years. The hospital still values you. Although there's really no way around this year's promotion slot, there will still be opportunities next year."

"You have to believethe hospital still values you highly."

"Values me?"

I looked at the group announcement. "Valuing me means stealing my promotion slot year after year. Valuing me means framing and slandering me for negligence to steal the promotion slot? Valuing me means publicly humiliating me?"

"If this is your way of valuing me, I really can't accept it."

Seeing I wasn't complying, he laid it all out.

"Thiago, you're not young anymore. You should wise up. The disciplinary notice has already gone out. The entire industry will see it. Do you think with your disgraceful record, besides our hospital, any other hospital would want you?"

"If you continue being ungrateful, I can guarantee youleave this hospital, and you won't even be able to stay in the medical profession."

"Think about your parents, your child, your car loan and mortgage. Don't be impulsive."

My breathing caught.

Just because I'm middle-aged with heavy burdens, they were certain they could control me. That's why they dared to bully and exploit me so brazenly.

"Go post an apology statement. Rest at home for a few days. That'll be the end of it."

"Thiago, I value you. This is for your own good. I'm willing to give you a chance. You need to cherish it."

His tone was relaxed, completely confident, as if certain I'd continue to endure just like I had all these years.

"I'm truly touched by your kindness."

I hung up directly.

I looked at the surgery schedule in my hand.

Three days from now, there was a brain arterial dissection aneurysm surgery. The patient was... a renowned mathematical scientist.

The lead surgeon column had my name. The assistant was Williams.

I closed the page, stood up, gathered my things, and walked out.

They thought I was easy to control. They thought I didn't deserve promotion?

Since the promotion slot went to Williams, let him do the surgery.

I wanted to see whether this "favored son" they spoke of could successfully complete this operation!

I left the hospital and went to Aisha Hospital. This was an international chain hospital.

In terms of resources, they were first-tier, in a league of their own.

Their cooperation intentions with me were very clear and direct. Even after learning about my disciplinary action from my former hospital, they immediately signed a contract with me.

The salary and benefits were exactly as previously discussed.

Chief of Neurosurgery. Annual salary of 0-000,000. My own medical team and laboratory.

To celebrate my joining, Aisha even held a special welcome reception, publicly announcing my addition to the medical staff and showering me with praise.

I was praised so much I felt a bit embarrassed.

But seeing the value and friendliness Aisha Hospital showed me from top to bottom, my heart warmed.

On the second day after I joined Aisha Hospital, my phone was flooded with calls.

When I woke up, I had over fifty missed calls, all from the deputy director and the hospital director.

Seeing I hadn't answered, they kept sending messages.

Before I could read their messages clearly, my phone rang again. Still the deputy director.

After a few seconds' pause, I answered.

The deputy director's furious shouting immediately came through.

"Thiago! The surgery's about to start! Where are you?! Get over here now!"

I spoke calmly.

"I resigned. I sent my resignation letter to the hospital email. Didn't you see it?"