Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Morrison’s weathered face looked even older in the harsh hospital lighting. “Based on the progression we’ve observed, even with a successful surgery, I estimate he has… perhaps a month.”

The family fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them like a shroud.

“Maybe it’s better to let him go peacefully,” Mrs. Haxton whispered, tears streaming down her face. “He’s suffered so much this past year. All those treatments, the pain… for what? To buy a few more weeks?”

I stepped forward, moving past the family members toward the nurses‘ station. No one paid attention to me – I was just Ethan’s guest, irrelevant to their family crisis. I spotted the patient chart and picked it up, flipping through the pages with practiced ease.

Ethan was speaking now, his voice a calm center in the emotional storm. “What are our options for identifying the

toxin? Have we exhausted every possibility?”

“We’ve consulted with toxicologists worldwide,” Morrison replied. “No one has been able to identify it..”

I continued scanning the chart, my mind processing the information rapidly. The blood work, the neurological findings, the toxicology reports all painted a clear picture to my trained eye.

“Excuse me,” the attending physician had noticed me with the chart. “That’s confidential patient information—”

“Let her see it,” Morrison interrupted, studying me with newfound interest. “Miss Morgan, you are here.”

I nodded without looking up from the chart.

Mrs. Haxton turned to her son, confusion mixing with irritation. “Ethan, who is this girl? Why is she looking at

William’s medical records?”

Before Ethan could answer, I closed the chart and handed it back to the nurse. “I can perform the surgery.”

The statement hung in the air for a moment before someone in the family group scoffed. The attending physician looked at me as if I’d suggested performing a ritual dance instead of brain surgery.

“Young lady,” he began condescendingly, “this is a delicate procedure that requires-”

“What’s your success rate with this particular procedure, Doctor?” I asked, my voice cool. “How many subdural hematomas have you operated on where the patient had this specific toxicology profile?”

He blinked, thrown off balance, “Well, this is an extremely rare case-

“So none,” I concluded. I turned to Ethan, whose eyes had never left my face. “I can do it.”

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Chapter 138

Ethan’s expression remained unreadable. “What about the toxin?”

“I’d need to run additional tests to confirm exactly what it is, but based on these readings, I have a strong suspicion.” I met his gaze steadily. “It’s treatable.”

Ø(91)

“Ethan,” his mother protested, “you can’t seriously be considering letting this… this child operate on your father!”

“What’s your success rate?” Ethan asked me directly, ignoring the growing murmurs around us.

I didn’t hesitate. “One hundred percent.”

The attending physician actually laughed, a short, incredulous sound. “That’s impossible. No surgeon has a perfect record with this type of procedure, especially given the complications.”

“The toxin complicates things,” I acknowledged. “But it’s not insurmountable.”

Mrs. Haxton stepped between us, addressing her son. “Ethan, please. I know you’re desperate – we all are – but this

is madness. I won’t allow some random girl to experiment on your father in his final hours.”

Ethan’s gaze hadn’t wavered from mine. In his eyes, I saw something I recognized – the calculated risk assessment of someone accustomed to making life–or–death decisions.

“Prepare the operating room,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Get her surgical scrubs. She’ll

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