My Vindictive Wife Stole My Surgery for Her Lover, Now She's Begging for Mercy

After the hospital chief's daughter suffered a sudden heart attack and fell into a coma, my wife hid the surgery time from me.

She wanted her medical school junior, Julian, to take my place as the lead surgeon so he could get promoted to an Attending. Because of her lie, I missed the critical operation.

By the time I rushed to the hospital, the Chief was screaming at me, accusing me of having zero professional ethics.

That was when I realized my wife had set me up. She had forced me out of my own operating room just to pave the way for Julian.

"If you want to help him so badly, he can have it. Im done."

Heartbroken and utterly disgusted, I walked away from the surgery.

My wife, Chloe, practically glowed with triumph as she ran to take credit in front of Julian. After all, if this bypass surgery succeeded, Julian would be promoted straight to Attending, securing both fame and fortune.

What they didn't know was that this specific coronary artery bypass graft was extremely high-risk. In the entire country, I was the only surgeon capable of pulling it off.

Even if Julian stood at that operating table, he would only fail. He might even destroy his entire medical career before it even started.

And my dear wife was about to pay a devastating price for her blind favoritism.

Chief Richard Evans's daughter, Seraphina, suffered from congenital heart disease. Without immediate surgical intervention, she wouldn't survive.

But the night before the scheduled surgery, my wife, Chloe, told me the procedure had to be postponed. She claimed Seraphinas pre-op lab results didn't meet the safety standards.

Two weeks ago, Seraphina had been rushed to the ER in a deep coma. I had worked for twenty-four hours straight without sleep to save her life.

However, her condition was deteriorating rapidly, and she desperately needed a second, corrective surgery.

To prepare for this, I had spent the last fortnight burying myself in medical journals, constantly refining the surgical plan. But the night before, Chloe informed me that Seraphinas blood work was unstable and that we needed to stick to conservative treatment for a few more days.

That night, I didn't sleep a wink. I stayed up trying to figure out another way to manage Seraphina's symptoms.

But the next morning, when I finally rushed to the hospital with a revised plan, I was told that Julian had already taken my place in the operating room.

Chief Evans slammed his office door and threw a furious punch right at my jaw.

"Ethan Vance! I trusted you because of your reputation, and because you saved my daughters life once before. I handed her over to you!

And you didn't even show up for the surgery? Do you have any idea that because of your negligence, my daughter almost died on that table?!"

I froze, my mind going completely blank.

Before I could even process what was happening, the office door burst open.

Chloe marched in, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Ethan! Did you stay up playing video games all night again?!"

"The surgery was scheduled hours ago! We called you more than a dozen times, and you didn't answer a single one! Is a patient's life worth less than your stupid games?!"

Looking at the sheer rage in Chloe's eyes, I realized she wasn't acting. She genuinely hated me right now, playing the righteous hero defending the Chief's daughter.

"Chloe, what are you talking about?"

It was she who had told me just two days ago that Seraphinas labs were bad and the surgery was postponed.

I had spent days in my study researching for nothing.

And now, in her mouth, I was just a lazy husband who stayed up playing video games?

"What? You think just because Im your wife, Ill cover up for an irresponsible doctor like you?"

"I don't care if you play games on your days off, I let it slide because I thought you were just stressed. But today of all days! You actually showed up late because of it? Ethan, you disgust me."

"If Julian hadn't stepped up to take over the surgery and save Seraphina, this entire hospital would be paying for your stupidity right now! Do you even care?!"

Hearing Chloe lay it out like that, I would have to be brain-dead not to get it.

She had gone through all this trouble, spinning a web of lies, just for Julianher precious junior from medical school.

Chief Evans only had one daughter. Whoever saved her would have a golden ticket to the top of the department, maybe even become the next Chief of Surgery.

Anyone would drool over such an opportunity. But in the end, Chief Evans had chosen me because I was the one who performed the first successful surgery.

It should have been a good thing, and I was completely confident. But Chloe had been miserable about it. She had even sneered at me when we were alone.

"Ethan, you look so honest on the outside, but you sure know how to kiss the Chief's ass," she had said. "You're just using your seniority to block talented younger doctors who don't have your connections."

At the time, I was too focused on the upcoming surgery to care about her sarcasm.

Now, I realized how incredibly stupid I had been.

She had intentionally lied about the lab reports, making sure I would miss the surgery, just so Julian could steal the spotlight.

Just as I was about to defend myself, the office door opened again.

This time, it was Julian.

Seraphina's condition was highly complex. It couldn't be cured, only managed. Since I had performed her first surgery two weeks ago, her body was still incredibly weak.

The second surgery was supposed to be a delicate, highly precise adjustment to stabilize her heart, followed by careful monitoring to see if a third surgery would be necessary.

Seeing the smug grin on Julian's face as he walked in, you'd think he had cured heart disease forever.

Chloe, who had deliberately dressed in a sleek, form-fitting designer dress today, stood right next to him.

If you didn't know any better, youd think they were the married couple here.

The moment Julian walked in, he bowed his head with fake humility. "Dr. Vance, Im so sorry. Why are you only getting here now?"

I stared at him, my eyes ice-cold.

No one knew better than him why I was late.

Seeing that I remained silent, Julian continued, "I don't know what kept you, but Seraphina's condition became critical. We couldn't reach you.

As your resident, and the only other doctor who assisted in her first surgery, I felt I was the only one who understood her case."

"So, I took the liberty of leading the procedure. Dr. Vance, please don't be angry with me."

His voice grew softer and softer. Even though I hadn't uttered a single word since he entered, he was putting on such a pitiful show, making it look like I was some big, bad bully.

"Julian, youve been his assistant for three years. Youre more than ready to lead your own surgeries," Chloe cut in, her voice dripping with warmth.

"This was entirely Ethan's fault. You did the right thing by stepping up for the patient."

"You don't need to care about Ethan's feelings. He doesn't own this hospital. A doctor who shows up late and lacks basic ethics has no right to blame you."

Hearing my wife's words, a sharp, stabbing pain went through my chest.

When Julian first joined the hospital three years ago, he made so many mistakes that no attending surgeon wanted to touch him.

It was Chloe who had begged me, crying, to take him under my wing.

And I had mentored him for three long years.

During those three years, he went from a mere observer to my first assistant.

He messed up countless times. If it weren't for my quick reflexes and instant corrections on the table, several patients would have lost their lives under his scalpel.

In fact, after Julians first major blunder, I had told Chloe that he wasn't cut out for the operating room. I suggested he transfer to rehabilitation or outpatient care.

But she refused to listen. She made excuses for him over and over, even picking massive fights with me because of it.

"Ethan, Julian is my college junior! Hes only in his twenties. Cant you have some patience and teach him?"

"So what if he made one mistake? Nobody is born a master surgeon!"

Back then, I actually believed her. I thought maybe I was being too hard on him, that maybe with time, he would improve.

Now, I finally saw the truth. Chloe didn't just see Julian as a college junior.

Staring at the pathetic, scheming duo put on their little show, my fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white.

But then, thinking about what was to come, a sudden sense of relief washed over me.

"Since you think you're ready to lead, then this patient is officially yours," I said calmly.

Julian froze, staring at me in utter shock. He clearly hadn't expected me to give up so easily.

He quickly shrunk back behind Chloe, feigning anxiety. "Dr. Vance, I didn't mean it like that. I know you think I'm not ready to lead yet. I... how could I steal your patient?"

Chloe immediately snapped, "How is this stealing, Julian? If it weren't for you, Seraphina would be in a body bag by now. Ive seen how hard youve worked these past few years. You just lacked an opportunity."

"As long as you handle Seraphina's post-op care perfectly, youll easily become the youngest Attending in this hospital. I believe in you. Don't sell yourself short."

My own wife was dragging my name through the mud while telling another man not to sell himself short right in front of me.

I let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Fine. Since everyone has so much faith in you, Julian, Seraphina is your responsibility from now on."

Julian wanted to reject it again to keep up his humble act, but after feeling Chloe squeeze his hand, he swallowed his words.

I turned to Chief Evans and tendered my temporary leave.

As I walked out, a loud, triumphant laugh echoed behind me. "Was it exhausting leading your first major surgery?

Don't worry, I'm going to gather everyone from the department tonight to throw you a massive celebration!"

In the five years I had been married to Chloe, I had performed countless successful surgeries, yet she had never once thrown me a celebration dinner.

And she was celebrating Julian now? The surgery wasn't even technically a success yet.

Julian had only handled the secondary stageessentially just stitching up and stabilizing the initial repairs.

I had researched Seraphinas case for weeks. It looked like a standard coronary bypass on paper, but the anatomical details were incredibly intricate.

The success of the surgery lay entirely in the microscopic details.

If there was even a tiny issue with the blood flow, she wouldn't just fail to wake up; she would suffer a cascade of severe complications and subsequent relapses.

A perfect bypass could last for over a decade, allowing the patient to live a normal life. But a botched one would ensure they never got off the table.

And with Seraphina's current state, she couldn't be transferred abroad. I could confidently say that in this entire country, no one but me could successfully manage her case.

Julian thought he had succeeded. But Seraphina hadn't even opened her eyes yet.

If she didn't wake up within seventy-two hours, it meant he had botched the vital micro-sutures during the procedure.

Chloe didn't come home until very late. Seeing that I was still awake, she cast a contemptuous look at my laptop screen. "Are you still looking at Seraphina's charts?"

"This case belongs entirely to Julian now. Why are you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?"

"With his skills, hell handle it perfectly. Ethan, let me warn you: you were the one who walked away. No one forced you. If you try to back out now and steal credit, don't blame me for making your life hell!"

No matter the time or place, Chloes loyalty always lay with Julian.

"Don't worry," I said, not even looking up. "I'm just reading. I won't get in the way of Julian's big promotion."

With that, I closed my laptop, grabbed my things, and moved to the guest bedroom.

The next morning, the moment I arrived at the hospital, Julian ran into my office. He demanded that I hand over all my recent research and notes on Seraphinas condition.

"As my assistant, didn't you get a copy of her medical file?" I asked, looking at him coldly.

Typically, the lead surgeon and the assistant need to coordinate closely, discussing the patient-specific surgical plan thoroughly before scrubbing in.

But Julian had never bothered to discuss anything with me.

He always did whatever he wanted, never showing me an ounce of professional respect.

"Well, yes," Julian stammered. "But I was afraid my notes weren't as comprehensive as yours, Dr. Vance."

"You're a lead surgeon now, Julian. You don't need to call me your mentor anymore. I can't afford that title."

Julian's face flushed with anger. Before he could speak, the office door was kicked open violently.

Chloe stormed in, her eyes blazing with fury. "Ethan, cut the crap! Youre Julian's mentor. Isn't it your job to help him?"

"Stop being so incredibly petty. Where are your professional ethics?!"

My eyes turned cold. "Im not like some people," I said quietly. "Whether I have professional ethics isn't for you to decide with a few cheap words."

Chloe had left the door wide open. The hallway was bustling with doctors, nurses, and patients, and several of them stopped in their tracks to watch the drama unfold.

"Ethan Vance! Julian has called you his mentor for three whole years!"

"He called me his mentor, yes. And for three years, I have a clear conscience about everything I taught him. But why don't you ask himhas he ever treated me like one for a single day?"

Chloe rolled her eyes at me. "Julian has been nothing but respectful to you. Hes never done anything to hurt you. Stop trying to twist the truth."

"You're just bitter because he took over Seraphina's surgery. But that was your own damn fault! He only stepped up to clean up your mess!"

"Not only are you not grateful, but youre also actively sabotaging him. Do you think we actually care about your stupid, worthless notes?"

"Someone as narrow-minded as you doesn't even deserve to wear a white coat!"

Chloe screamed at me, completely losing her composure just to defend Julian.

I watched her quietly until she finished her tantrum. "Are you done? This is my office. If you're done, please get out."

Chloe stared at me in absolute disbelief.

In all our years of marriage, this was the first time I had ever kicked her out.

"Fine! We're leaving! But let me tell you, Ethanonce Julian cures Seraphina, youll be crawling back to beg us!"

After she slammed the door, the office finally fell quiet.

Ignoring the whispers from the staff outside, I leaned back in my chair, massaging my throbbing temples.

I couldn't understand how Chloe and I had ended up like this, spitting venom at each other.

We had known each other since we were kids. We used to have so many sweet memories.

Even my decision to go into medicine was because of her.

When I was a kid, I was obese and constantly mocked by my classmates.

They gave me horrible nicknames and would corner me in the alley behind the school to beat me up.

Every single time, Chloe would be the one to stand up and protect me, chasing those bullies away.

Afterward, she would take me back to her place and bandage my wounds.

The butterfly bandages she applied were always so neat and pretty. I would refuse to take them off for days. From that moment on, I swore to myself that I would grow up to be someone strong and capable, just like her.

Eventually, I did. I became an accomplished surgeon, just like her. But she... she had changed.

I sat alone in my office for a long time, until my colleague and close friend, Marcus, dragged me out to get some dinner at the cafeteria. Only then did I realize it was already evening.

Marcus told me he hadn't dared to disturb me earlier, but seeing me shut inside all day, he was worried. He wanted to get me out of the office to clear my head.

The moment we walked into the cafeteria, we saw a crowd of doctors and nurses crowding around Julian and Chloe.

"Congratulations, Julian! I heard Seraphinas surgery went perfectly. You're going to be a superstar in the department soon!"

Julian blushed, waving his hands modestly. "Fame and promotions don't matter to me. All I care about is saving lives."

Hearing his hypocritical speech, I felt a sudden urge to laugh.

Of course, Chloe had to chime in right behind him. "Our Julian has the skills, the guts, and most importantly, a compassionate heart. Hes not like "some" people who stay up playing video games and abandon their patients."

"Some people are so incredibly petty they even hide their research notes. They have absolutely zero respect for human life."

Marcus couldn't take it anymore. He started to stand up to confront them, but I held him down by his shoulder.

I shook my head at him and smiled. "I've seen plenty of rabid dogs barking in public."

"If I bark back, wouldn't that make me just as low as them?"