Dr. Lee's phone rang, shrill in the quiet of her office. She answered, her voice softening as she heard her father's worried tone.
"Dad, what's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
"It's your mother," her father replied, his voice strained. "She's been getting worse. I'm finding it hard to take care of her alone."
Dr. Lee's expression softened further. Her mother had been struggling with mental health issues for years, and it was taking a toll on her father. "I'll come home right away," she promised. "I'll talk to HR about taking some time off."
After hanging up, Dr. Lee headed to the HR department, her mind preoccupied with her mother's condition. As she walked down the corridor, she bumped into Dr. Smith.
"Dr. Lee, how are you?" Dr. Smith asked, steadying her by the elbow.
Dr. Lee forced a smile. "I'm fine, thanks. Just dealing with some family issues."
Dr. Smith's expression turned sympathetic. "Sorry to hear that. What's going on?"
Dr. Lee hesitated, then shared her concerns about her mother. "I'm actually on my way to HR to request some leave."
Dr. Smith nodded understandingly. "Of course, family comes first. I hope everything works out."
As they stood there, Dr. Lee's frustration with Dr. Eve bubbled up. "Speaking of work, I just had the most infuriating conversation with Dr. Eve. She tried to play smart, telling me that Roman's case has been transferred to her."
Dr. Smith's expression turned amused. "Ah, yes. Dr. Eve did mention that to me. In fact, she's been working on Roman's case with Dr. Anderson."
Dr. Lee's eyes widened. "Well, she didn't mention that part to me. Just acted like she was doing me a favor by telling me."
Dr. Smith chuckled. "I'm sure she didn't mean to cause any trouble. Dr. Eve is a talented doctor, and I'm sure she'll be a great asset to our team."
Dr. Lee nodded, still feeling a bit miffed. She bid Dr. Smith farewell and continued on her way to HR, her mind still preoccupied with her mother's well-being.
Dr. Lee's mind wandered back to the meeting with Victoria three months ago. Victoria's proposal had been straightforward: keep Roman in a coma forever, and Dr. Lee would receive a large sum of money and access to advanced treatment for her mother. Dr. Lee had been torn, not just because of the moral implications, but also because of the desperation that came with watching her mother's mental health decline.
Every day since she turned 16, she'd witnessed her mother's gradual loss of grip on reality. The pain and helplessness she felt were overwhelming. Her mother's once sharp mind was now clouded by the fog of mental illness, and Dr. Lee felt like she was losing her piece by piece.
As she walked to the HR department to request leave, Dr. Lee's thoughts were a jumble of emotions. She thought about her mother's laughter, her smile, and her warmth, all slowly being consumed by the darkness of her illness. Dr. Lee's heart ached with every step, knowing that she might not be able to do anything to stop it.
When Victoria made the offer, Dr. Lee had been tempted, not by the money, but by the promise of treatment that could potentially help her mother. She knew it was a Faustian bargain, one that would require her to compromise her medical ethics and potentially harm Roman. But the thought of her mother's suffering made her consider it.
Dr. Lee's thoughts still lingered on the offer from Victoria. Despite her initial reservations, she had ultimately decided to accept the proposal. She knew it was a morally complex decision, but the promise of advanced treatment for her mother was too enticing to resist.
With a heavy heart, Dr. Lee began to make subtle adjustments to Roman's treatment plan, ensuring that he would remain in a coma. She rationalized her actions by telling herself that it was for her mother's sake, that she was doing it to give her mother a chance at a better life.
As the days went by, Dr. Lee's actions went unnoticed by her colleagues. She was careful to cover her tracks, making sure that everything seemed normal. But the weight of her secret bore down on her, and she had that feeling that she was losing herself in the process.
Dr. Lee entered the HR department, she felt a sense of resignation wash over her. She knew she had to take care of her mother, and she would do whatever it took to give her the best life possible, even if it meant putting her own career on hold.
The HR representative listened attentively as Dr. Lee explained her situation, and soon, the paperwork was being processed. Dr. Lee felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she would be able to take care of her mother.
But as she left the HR department, Dr. Lee could foretell that her decision would have consequences.
Dr. Lee made a conscious decision to keep her leave of absence and the transfer of Roman's case to Dr. Eve under wraps, deliberately choosing not to inform Victoria Sterling about these developments. She knew that Victoria was expecting her to keep Roman in a coma, and Dr. Lee was willing to go along with that plan. However, she didn't want Victoria to know about the change in her work schedule or the fact that Dr. Eve was now in charge of Roman's care.
By keeping this information to herself, Dr. Lee was able to maintain a sense of control over the situation. She knew that Victoria was a powerful and influential person, and she didn't want to risk Victoria interfering with her plans or trying to manipulate Dr. Eve into following her orders.