Chapter 3 Did We Just Witness A Miracle

Eliana hadn't laid eyes on Johnny for two years and a half, but his face was etched into her memory as if time had stood still.

She staggered towards him, seizing his wrist. He was on the phone, mid-conversation, but the moment he saw her, his eyebrows knit together in recognition. It dawned on him that she was the woman from downstairs, and suspicion clouded his expression.

So she was here to have a one-night stand. She had dismissed those guys just because she thought they were not worthy of her.

But as the thought crossed his mind, Johnny's eyes flashed with distain.

"Miss, you ought to conduct yourself with more decorum." His tone was as cold as the winter wind as he believed she was trying to throw herself at him.

But before he could say more, Eliana's hand shot up, delivering a stinging slap to his face. The sharp crack of it echoed, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"You bastard!" she spat, her voice trembling with pent-up emotion.

After the slap, the world spun around her like a carousel out of control. The alcohol hit her full force, and she crumpled, her body giving in to the dizziness.

Johnny's reflexes were quicker than his thoughts; he caught her before she hit the floor. "Hey, wake up," he urged, shaking her gently, but Eliana's eyes remained shut. Instead, she muttered weakly, "You... bastard..."

Johnny was left staring at her, speechless, as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

When he carried her into the room, Carl nearly sprayed his drink across the table. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What on earth happened? Isn't she the woman from downstairs? What did you do to her?" Carl had seen her earlier, the woman who had taken down several men with sheer tenacity. Her striking features were impossible to forget.

"I have no idea," Johnny muttered, confusion etched on his face as he carefully set Eliana down on the couch.

The next morning, when Eliana woke, she felt as though her head was being hammered from the inside.

She blinked against the harsh light, realizing she was alone in the room, covered with a dark suit that wasn't hers.

Fragments of the previous night flashed in her mind-had she really seen Johnny and slapped him across the face?

That couldn't be right. He was supposed to be abroad.

Surely she had mistaken someone else for him. But then, whoever it was hadn't retaliated, which struck her as oddly decent, considering she had slapped him for no apparent reason.

As she struggled to piece together the puzzle, her phone rang, piercing through her thoughts. It was a call from Stefan Boyd. Stefan had been an older schoolmate during her college days, now working at the most prestigious hospital in Tricvale.

"Hello, Stefan?" She answered, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Eliana, I heard from Brenna that you're planning to return to work," Stefan said, his tone brisk and to the point.

"That's right," she replied, surprised that word had spread so quickly.

"Are you free now? We have an urgent case-a nineteen-year-old girl involved in a severe car accident. None of us have been able to stabilize her. I was hoping you could come take a look."

"I'll be right there," Eliana responded, the urgency in his voice snapping her fully awake.

She didn't even bother to change out of yesterday's clothes before rushing out.

On the way to the hospital, Eliana scanned the patient's condition on her phone, her eyes darting over the critical details. But traffic was a nightmare, and with every second that ticked by, the patient's condition grew more precarious. Time was running out.

Before she arrived, Stefan was already preparing for the worst. "We can't wait any longer," he said, resignation heavy in his voice. "Even if Eliana were here, it might be too late."

"Announce the outcome to the family," Stefan instructed one of the doctors, his tone grim.

"Stefan, do you realize who is waiting outside? The Allen family is no ordinary family-they hold enormous sway. This is their only daughter. If we tell them she's gone, they could ruin us," the doctor warned, his voice low and tense.

"I'm aware of who they are," Stefan replied solemnly. "But we have to be honest. There's no other way."

The doctors reluctantly agreed and went out to deliver the heartbreaking news to the family.

"We're sorry. We've done everything we could," one of the doctors said.

Leah Allen, the girl's mother, shook her head in denial, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "No, please! I'll pay anything-just save my daughter! There must be something more you can do!"

Another doctor stepped forward, his tone somber. "Your daughter was brought in too late. Her heart was nearly punctured, and the injuries to her head and legs are severe. Even a miracle might not save her. And even if she does survive, she might never walk again."

Leah's legs gave out beneath her as the words sank in, but her husband caught her before she could fall.

"No... My daughter will be alright..." Leah whispered, refusing to accept the grim reality.

At that moment, a voice rang out with authority, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Let me try."

Stefan turned, his eyes widening as he recognized the voice. "You're finally here," he said, relief and surprise mingling in his voice.

Eliana strode forward, her presence commanding the room. "Get everything ready," she ordered, her tone brooking no argument.

Stefan hesitated, concern etched on his face. "Her heart is barely beating. Are you sure you can do this?"

"How will we know unless I try?" she shot back, her resolve unshaken. There was no time for hesitation.

Eliana had come straight from the bar, the scent of alcohol still clinging to her clothes. The mask covered her face, but the smell lingered, a stark reminder of the night before.

Vance Allen, the girl's father, eyed her with suspicion. "What kind of doctor are you? You look like you're barely out of school! And is that alcohol I smell on you? How can you possibly save my daughter?"

"I did have a drink, but that won't stop me from doing my job. Now move, or your daughter's life might slip through your fingers," Eliana responded, her voice firm and unwavering.

With that, she swept into the operating room, her mind focused solely on the task at hand. The patient's condition was dire, but Eliana moved with the precision of someone who had danced this dance a thousand times before.

It had been three years since she had last held a scalpel, yet the movements felt instinctive, as if no time had passed at all.

The other doctors watched in awe, their eyes wide with astonishment. "She's... incredible. I've never seen anything like it."

"Wait... Is the patient's heart... beating again? Did we just witness a miracle?"

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone held their breath. Finally, Stefan exhaled, relief flooding his features. Eliana was indeed an excellent doctor.

But three years ago, Eliana had walked away from it all, announcing her sudden marriage and vowing never to perform surgery again. Even Stefan had thought it a tragedy for such talent to go to waste.